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Ambient temps and oil selection chart interpretation
Does anyone know how to interpret this chart? What do these dashed lines mean exactly? I cant deny, i always thought running 5w40 in canadian winter was a big no no.
If it's cold out, use thin oil.
If it's warm out, use thick oil.
I run 5/40 year 'round and the temps go from -30 to +95 degrees F.
Of more importance is the oil spec: For yours, I'd be comfy with the 229.51. For mine, I try to stay with the 229.52.
How old is the chart?
20 years or more?
New MB approval list is not making weather distinctions, as last generation oils provide protection base on additives, not on oil weight. .
229.52 category oil, who are top recommendation for last generation diesel are not going above 30 weight.
Thanks. That cost like 40% more than 5-30 but for some might be worth it.
This is what I am using in 120F weather, or Valvoline that comes on sale lately.
If it's cold out, worry about the number with the "W" after it, e.g. 5W. If it's hot out, worry about the other number, e.g.40. 5W-40 and 5W-20 will perform about the same on a cold start, and 0W-40 and 10W-40 will perform about the same in hot weather. If you are close to or below the "W" rating in degrees F, e.g. 5W-40 and 5 degrees F. or less, allow enough time for the oil to warm before racing the engine or putting a load on it.
If it's cold out, worry about the number with the "W" after it, e.g. 5W. If it's hot out, worry about the other number, e.g.40. 5W-40 and 5W-20 will perform about the same on a cold start, and 0W-40 and 10W-40 will perform about the same in hot weather. If you are close to or below the "W" rating in degrees F, e.g. 5W-40 and 5 degrees F. or less, allow enough time for the oil to warm before racing the engine or putting a load on it.
You know that as oil warms up it flows easier, right? So 0W-40 will be thicker than 0W-30 when it is cold, but when warm it will flow very easily, almost as easily as water.
That's why you warm up your engine before trying to suck it out through a dipstick.
So 0W-40 will be thicker than 0W-30 when it is cold, but when warm it will flow very easily, almost as easily as water.
That's why you warm up your engine before trying to suck it out through a dipstick.
You know that as oil warms up it flows easier, right? So 0W-40 will be thicker than 0W-30 when it is cold, but when warm it will flow very easily, almost as easily as water.
That's why you warm up your engine before trying to suck it out through a dipstick.
With the newer compositions of oil, it's a little different than the old dino oil, though. What you said is true if it was a straight weight oil. But the way these work is that they act like a 0W (thin) oil when cold, but act like a 40W oil when warm. So that way you get good protection at both startup and when it's hot.
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The first and second numbers arent even on the same scale so there shouldn't be a dash between them like with a range of values. And "thin" or "thick" depends on temp. A 0W-30 might actually be THICKER at operating temp than a 5W-30. It's only thinner when it's below freezing. Depends entirely on the forumaltion.I remember hitting all the AutoZones for German 0W Castrol before they stopped selling it in the USA for that reason. Seemed to stay thicker at operating temp than the USA made varieties. Someone figured out it was because of a single extra additive called Ketjenlub... but anywho...
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