Oil viscosity Q
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From: Ontario, Canada
Oil viscosity Q
Hi again, I have an interesting thing happening in my truck since I changed oil to a 0w-30 synthetic rotella...
I changed it in anticipation of uber cold temps thinking I was doing the right thing but now I am wondering is too thin not so good as well?
The engine starts very easily in the cold of course but seems to be sort of slightly surging while it idles? I am not sure if this has anything to do with my new oil that is pretty runny or not but it was operating fine until I changed from 10W-40 about a month ago.
Planning to change back to maybe a 5W-30 or 40 shortly and will advise how it works out, I figure oil is cheap compared to engine repairs!
Dave
I changed it in anticipation of uber cold temps thinking I was doing the right thing but now I am wondering is too thin not so good as well?
The engine starts very easily in the cold of course but seems to be sort of slightly surging while it idles? I am not sure if this has anything to do with my new oil that is pretty runny or not but it was operating fine until I changed from 10W-40 about a month ago.
Planning to change back to maybe a 5W-30 or 40 shortly and will advise how it works out, I figure oil is cheap compared to engine repairs!
Dave
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From: Southwest VA
I have never seen 0w 30 Rotella full synthetic. I use and reccomend 5w 40 full synthetic Rotella or the petroleum based Rotella 15w 40......easily available at Walmart. I would NOT use 5w 30 or 10w 40.....these are for gas burners.....you need an oil rated for diesel engines. As far as the surging......mine does this when cold.....always has....makes tons of funny noises when you get in low temps also. Do you use your block heater ?
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Maine
Hi again, I have an interesting thing happening in my truck since I changed oil to a 0w-30 synthetic rotella...
I changed it in anticipation of uber cold temps thinking I was doing the right thing but now I am wondering is too thin not so good as well?
The engine starts very easily in the cold of course but seems to be sort of slightly surging while it idles? I am not sure if this has anything to do with my new oil that is pretty runny or not but it was operating fine until I changed from 10W-40 about a month ago.
Planning to change back to maybe a 5W-30 or 40 shortly and will advise how it works out, I figure oil is cheap compared to engine repairs!
Dave
I changed it in anticipation of uber cold temps thinking I was doing the right thing but now I am wondering is too thin not so good as well?
The engine starts very easily in the cold of course but seems to be sort of slightly surging while it idles? I am not sure if this has anything to do with my new oil that is pretty runny or not but it was operating fine until I changed from 10W-40 about a month ago.
Planning to change back to maybe a 5W-30 or 40 shortly and will advise how it works out, I figure oil is cheap compared to engine repairs!
Dave
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Ontario, Canada
Yeah Im a 7.3 guy... I just got some 5W-40 synthetic and will use that. I do use the block heater but when I had the 15W-40 in it on a really cold day it would be very rough to start up. The temps here get a bit nippy at times. I certainly feel the 0W-30 is just too light for this engine, it is Rotella synthetic so hopefully no damage caused but I'm switching it to the 5W.
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And just so you know, it isn't the "0W" part that makes it too thin, it is the "30" part.
0W30, 5W30 and 10W30 all have the same thickness/viscosity at operating temperature. The difference between the three is that they have different thicknesses/viscosity when they are cold. It is for this reason that I have switched to running 0W30 in my Jeep and my Excursion.
Bob is the oil guy explains it further: Motor Oil 102 - Bob is the Oil Guy
0W30, 5W30 and 10W30 all have the same thickness/viscosity at operating temperature. The difference between the three is that they have different thicknesses/viscosity when they are cold. It is for this reason that I have switched to running 0W30 in my Jeep and my Excursion.
Bob is the oil guy explains it further: Motor Oil 102 - Bob is the Oil Guy
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Ontario, Canada
That was interesting thanks, I will be doing the 5-40 when I get it back from my other project of re-springing, will write a just my opinion blurb about it shortly.
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