COLD... is my oil too thick?

[amaurer]

Every time I sort out my cold starting problems it just gets even COLDER and they come back.

We're down to -25C here and the BJ42 wouldn't start even with the hose heater. The BJ73, which never had any problems before, also wouldn't start.

Both have large batteries and I checked the glow - all good.

The problem is just that they turn over too slowly. Maybe this is stupid but... should I be using something lighter than 15W-40? Its been a long time since I considered changing oil - my recollection was that 15W40 was the "all temperature" option... but maybe that was "California temperatures" that I was considering.

?

If I switch to a 5W-40 it'll be a synthetic... so I have to worrk about leaks when switching to the synth?

 

[Douglas S]

15w40 is too thick. Slow cranking and increased wear.

 

[wrongway around]

I live in Vancouver,b.c. Canada and really never see any sustained temps below freezing, but not a hope in hell that I would be running 15-40 in the winter with my truck. Way to thick I've been told by people who's knowledge I respect. Any reputable amsoil distributors on the forum you deal with that can confirm.

 

[Doug384]

The answer to your question is .... yes! Get 5W40 into that rig before you waste your starter motor. Some even go to 0W40 which is the way if you have no block heater or supplementary heat available to warm the block before cranking. Synthetic seems to crank easier than non synthetic but as far as the leaks go... better to have a weepy engine that runs rather than a dry one that will not.

I remember the good old days getting caught with 20W50 in a gas engine at -25F. A session of cranking, not very long, melted the solder out of the winding terminations at the commutator of the starter. I repaired it on the work bench but not after getting some very cold hands removing it, laying on the cold, hard ground in the snow cursing my tardiness in staying ahead of the weather with respect to oil viscosity in the sump..

 

[markthemenace]

Every time I sort out my cold starting problems it just gets even COLDER and they come back. We're down to -25C here and the BJ42 wouldn't start even with the hose heater. The BJ73, which never had any problems before, also wouldn't start. Both have large batteries and I checked the glow - all good. The problem is just that they turn over too slowly. Maybe this is stupid but... should I be using something lighter than 15W-40? Its been a long time since I considered changing oil - my recollection was that 15W40 was the "all temperature" option... but maybe that was "California temperatures" that I was considering. ? If I switch to a 5W-40 it'll be a synthetic... so I have to worrk about leaks when switching to the synth?

I find 15W40 no problems for me in Vancouver. These old 24v trucks start like no diesel I've ever owned! Like magic!

If I was seeing sustained temps of -25 though, I'd switch to Mobil1...maybe 0w30 or 5w40. 15w40 really is too thick. Here's a test...leave a cup of oil outside and try pouring it in the morning.

 

[Cancruiser]

I switch to Chevron Delo 5W40 (Synth) during the winter months and never had a problem starting down to -25 (no heater or plugin). I would have run it year around if it was not too expensive. and yes, it makes a difference starting, warming up and accelerating.

Other diesel owners here also recommend Shell Rotella 0W30 or 5W30. Either will work just fine for cold winters.

15W40 is honey goo in cold weather. For comparison, look up the datasheet for each oil you are/plan on using and check things like viscosity at certain temps and pouring point..etc.

 

[blis]

I use 5w50 on my 12ht, works fine down to -30c atleast...

 

[lowenbrau]

Probably too thick but for what its worth I've never used anything but 15-40 in a diesel. Most of the time my rigs will start to -20C without being plugged in. The Cummins does start in a bit colder. Fortunately we don't get really cold weather here so if it does go to -30 I'll either plug it in or I'll just wait until the sun comes out again.

If I drove enough to change oil seasonally I'd consider a thinner winter oil but running thin oil in the summer and my old rigs would have no oil pressure. The Dodge gets changed every Christmas whether it needs it or not (about 12,000km/ yr)

 

[gerg]

Rotella synthetic t5 0-40 has a good rep. Not a good idea to run 15-40 at that temp id say. Starting issues asside, your cam and lifters wouldnt get oil for a long time when its that thick. the pour test is a great visual. Your lifters and cam see some of the highest contact pressures in your engine and are the last to get oil.... sucks.

 

[amaurer]

Got Rotella 5W-40 now.

Lets see how that does...

 

[brownbear]

Ive run 0w40 rotella for many years in the winter. When I did the change to "winter" oil I would be surprised how better it cranks.

 

[John Galt]

I run 10w-45 full synthetic year round in a 13B-T in temperatures to 30 below.

 

[amaurer]

Ive run 0w40 rotella for many years in the winter. When I did the change to "winter" oil I would be surprised how better it cranks.

People keep talking about 0W-40 Rotella but I couldn't find it here... 5W-40 was the best I could get.

Maybe its a Canada thing.

 

[BCR4619]

People keep talking about 0W-40 Rotella but I couldn't find it here... 5W-40 was the best I could get. Maybe its a Canada thing.

I run 5w-40 year round... I don't know what else my Chevron carries besides 10-30 and 15-40 all of the delo variety

 

[brownbear]

I run 10w-45 full synthetic year round in a 13B-T in temperatures to 30 below.

Ive done that too. But the difference in cranking speed is quite dramatic. Using thinner oil it just starts better.

People keep talking about 0W-40 Rotella but I couldn't find it here... 5W-40 was the best I could get.

Maybe its a Canada thing.

Quite possibly. 5W-40 will be a good change anyhow.

 

[45Kevin]

Get a magnetic oil pan heater for the really cold nights.

I run 5w-40 all year round as well. I find the block heater is sufficient to get her going on really cold days.

 

[wrongway around]

My bad ,I guess I should have said that the reason I wouldn't use 15/40 is because I not only use my truck in coastal temps. But often travel throughout b.c. and often am miles away from any power source to plug in. Thanks for tips ,just another question to ask a seller or shop what kind of oil they use or recommend.

 

[serenity]

Have a read of the "Bob is the oil guy" website linked in the FAQ, I spent all yesterday reading through that. Midday temperatures where I live vary between around 23 and 40 degrees C and after reading that site I'm planning on changing to a 0w40 or 0w30 even, IMO 15w40 is way too thick for your winter. But do some research on what viscosities each oil has, each brand is different. A 0w40 from shell will have different viscosity to a Mobil 0w40, so you want to look up the data sheets on each and find the one with the lowest viscosity at startup. For instance the following oil has a "startup" viscosity of 75 at 40*C and 13.5 at 100*C which is about the best I have found so far. In a perfect world your oil would have the same viscosity at all temps.

http://www.mobil.com/UK-English/Lubes/PDS/EUXXENPVLMOMobil1_Turbo_Diesel_0W-40.aspx

 

[blis]

Have a read of the "Bob is the oil guy" website linked in the FAQ, I spent all yesterday reading through that. Midday temperatures where I live vary between around 23 and 40 degrees C and after reading that site I'm planning on changing to a 0w40 or 0w30 even, IMO 15w40 is way too thick for your winter. But do some research on what viscosities each oil has, each brand is different. A 0w40 from shell will have different viscosity to a Mobil 0w40, so you want to look up the data sheets on each and find the one with the lowest viscosity at startup. For instance the following oil has a "startup" viscosity of 75 at 40*C and 13.5 at 100*C which is about the best I have found so far. In a perfect world your oil would have the same viscosity at all temps.

http://www.mobil.com/UK-English/Lubes/PDS/EUXXENPVLMOMobil1_Turbo_Diesel_0W-40.aspx

The oil viscosity SHOULD be the same in all oils given the marking is same (0w50 for example) since the viscosity and it's measuring is defined in standard...

 

[vica153]

Are you using a full synthetic? Amsoil, Rotella T6. At temps that low, the same grade conventional has probably 1.5-2x the viscosity of a good synthetic.

Also, your battery(s) are putting out quite a few less amps at that temp. If thinner/better oil doesn't help you could try hooking the battery to a charger.