0W vs 5W engine oil

use to run block heaters in ND winters, but that was with 10/40 oil

now that we have 0/xx oil, no longer run a block heater, but will do a remote start during cold snaps to keep the battery charged up or help it not freeze up.

the tundra sits outside 24/7/365 and we have not had a starting issue since we drove it home late feb-2023.


did have it not start up since the wife was house sitting over a long weekend and we had a brutal cold snap and she didnt remote start it during the whole time. had to bring over a trickle chargers to get the battery back to spec

we consider brutal cold snaps to be colder than -10 or -20F ambient

 

Damn, you guys are beast. That is cold.

 

IDK how people submit themselves to that kinda weather.

 

Because the alternative is living in Phx where I live. Yeah, it's great 4-5 months out of the year, but brutally hot 5 months out of the year. For example, it's "fall" and our high temp by the end of the week is expected to be near or at 110 degrees. It's almost friggin October and it's 110 degrees. That's why I'm moving to Wisconsin next year after my youngest graduates high school. I'm sick of living in hell. Give me some below zero time any day. I can get warm a heck of a lot easier than I can cool down.

You could also live on the coast and get a temperate climate year round, but then you have to deal with a lot of other issues and most people can't afford to live there. I would rather freeze to death than live in Cali, and I'm from Cali.

 

I'll take 55 degrees over 110 any day.

In fact, temps of 0 F and above with no wind chill are comfortable enough for skin and lungs. Can spend hours outside and it's alright. Below that - yeah, have to cover face.

 

I towed my boat to put it in storage from Jefferson GA to Charleston SC and the truck did great with 5W-30. I don't know if it was a placebo but the motor seems to pull smother in the mountains.

 

Grinding metal over metal is never smooth. That's why thicker oil feels smoother as it adds more protection against friction.

 

You speak the truth!

 

As you know Im looking to move out to the SW, maybe AZ in a few years, and with my prelim research, Im amazed at how much hotter Phoenix is than other places that arent even that far away. Phoenix is off the list I think, thats just too much and from what I see it doesnt cool down much later in the day or night either. I can understand why you would want to get away from that much heat.

WI weather isnt fun either though, you wont see the sun for months, but maybe you had enough sun for a while, lol. Buy a sled up there though if you live there, and the fishing is great!

 

People who lived all their life under sun (does not need to be scorching hot, just sunlight every day) don't immediately realize they'll probably develop a depression within a few weeks/months after move to under clouds. That's what wife and I have got after moving from 200+ sunny days to like under 90.

Frost and sun is best

 

Forecast was revised. 113 on Saturday. This is insanity. I’ve lived here over 40 years. Give me cold and gloom for another 40 and I’ll die happy.

 

this.

I'm acclimated to Houston weather.

cold sux.

 

People in New England suck. They complain all winter long and are surprised each year when it gets cold and snows like they had no idea it was coming.

As someone born and raised in MA.

 

They first complain there's no snow and the next day they complain there's snow. Go figure.

 

i was raised at ft benning until i joined the USAF.

i rather deal with ND winters and summers than heat.

i can stay inside when its -20F and bundle up or not get out of a warm bed, but when its 90+ heat, even inside can get hot with a/c and not amount of nekkidness can cool you off at times

 

Gonna meet another friend up north too- rust- your days of easy wrenching are about to be long long gone haha.

Salt, sand, slop getting everywhere in and on your truck. Prepping / coating and removing the spare so it doesnt just collect salt... get ready! I do love snow and winter but the salt and grime make it less enjoyable.


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Glad to hear the engine runs great on 5w-30. I will for sure switch to that on my 65,000 mile change .

 

But it's only the end of September....who needs fall/winter anyways lol. I am here in the Valley with you

 

Does mixing oil do any harm or good? For example put the 5 qts of 0w-20 and 2.7 qts of 5w-30.?.

As for the cold, we hit -20 here a couple times a winter. Just stay inside those days and debate a quick trip to FL. It really isn’t bad 0-32 with no wind.

 

There isn't really a point of mixing, the spread isn't that big. I would only mix the same manufacturer in the case of some leftover oil I wanted to get rid of.

 

I used to run 5w-30 in winter and 5w-40 in summer. I know just mix equal 30/40 and call it good year round. Be it a heavy 30 or a light 40.

 

How cold does it get where you are at?

 

5w-20 runs much quieter than 0w-20 in my experience and opinion. The coldest winter start in so cal coast is maybe 45 which is fine for 5w.

 

Anywhere from low 30's to low 40's. Will get some days in the teens.

 

I use to live in Mineesotta, I miss the summers but the winters were brutal, don't really miss 30 below zero for several weeks and measuring the snow in feet, not inches