15w-40 below 20*

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Dec 26, 2016 | 07:08 PM

#16

CincyPSD

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jul 2016

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Just wanted to let you all know I appreciate your comments. I think it's pretty clear I was being abit paranoid re a couple marginally cold starts. But like many on this board, I'm OCD about my truck!

Dec 27, 2016 | 07:02 AM

#17

capt caper

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 1,664

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CincyPSD

The most wear comes from starting cold and driving right off hard.... best to remote start and let it get warmer for a while..

Dec 27, 2016 | 07:18 AM

#18

Tom

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Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 25,479

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From: Isanti, MN

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt caper

The most wear comes from starting cold and driving right off hard.... best to remote start and let it get warmer for a while..

There are a lot of engineers who would disagree with that.

Is Warming Up Your Car Bad? - Road and Track Magazine

Nobody suggested driving hard the minute it fires off, but idling is the worst way to warm an engine up.

Dec 27, 2016 | 07:22 AM

#19

senix

Super Moderator

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 37,379

Likes: 1,863

From: Frederick, MD

Driving right off after start up, doing it gently, will get the motor up to operating temps faster, thus reducing wear.

Letting it idle for lengthy periods will increase the time to get to operating temps, if it ever does.

Dec 27, 2016 | 08:25 AM

#20

troverman

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Joined: Apr 2013

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From: NH

Kubota dealer recommends 15w40 all year round. I questioned him, he insisted. I have run it year round in my tractor without issue...but the "low oil pressure" light does stay on for about 1 second or so when starting in cold weather.

Dec 27, 2016 | 09:02 AM

#21

allcool

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 212

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99150

You are correct in your thinking.....but the OP was worried about cold start for 2 or 3 days at 10 to 20 degrees. I don't think he will have any issues!
And BTW, I personally use 5W-40 full synthetic myself because I believe it to be superior to 15-40 dino, but I wouldn't run out and change from dino to synthetic for the reasons he posted unless I was close to due for an oil change and wanted to switch.

Yes I understand what op was looking for. And I agree with you, he won't have issues, but...IMO, even a few cold starts at 10° using 15-40 dino oil, is more wear and tear on our engines than when using the correct oil for the temps. Will it kill the motor, probably not.

Would i go out and change it,? well, since I only use synthetic oil in all my engines, like you and many others here, we probably would never be in that position. But if I bought a used truck that had 15-40 dino oil in it, and knew I was going to be for multiple days in temps <20°, yes I would go out and change it to 5-40. Wouldn't you..?

My right foot puts more than enough extra wear on my motor, so anything I can do to prevent excessive wear is what I do. And 5-40 synthetic does it for me.

What I'm saying is, why not use a 5-40 (T6 ?) for what,$5(?) more a gal jug and not have to worry about it all year long from -20° too >100°. Cheap piece of mind for most, no...?

IMO, even though Ford says 20°> for 15-40 is ok, to me its pushing the envelope for that heavy of a weight dino oil. Many manufactures only go to 32°> for 15-40.

jmo

Dec 27, 2016 | 09:09 AM

#22

Tedster9

Post Fiend

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 19,311

Likes: 97

From: Waterloo, Iowa

The old school flat tappet or solid lifter engines need a better oil these days, what I discovered drilling down into this in my "research" online is a lot of folks run 15w-40 year round in everything they own, from weedwackers all the way to roadgraders. It simplifies things, that's for sure.

Dec 27, 2016 | 09:09 AM

#23

allcool

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2014

Posts: 212

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by troverman

I'm very familiar with Kubota, and disagree with your dealer, as does Kubota... Your in NH, it get below -0 ° many winter days up there,, no..?
Must be Kubota dealer job security in NH...lol

http://www.kubota.com/service/LubricantMaintenance.aspx

KUBOTA OIL VISCOSITY RECOMMENDATIONS

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE
Below 32° F (0° C) 10W-30
Above 32° F (0° C) 10W-30 or 15W-40

jmo

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Dec 29, 2016 | 11:05 PM

#24

Dakster

Lead Driver

Joined: Dec 2013

Posts: 9,762

Likes: 115

That's OK, all the Ford dealers here say 10W-30 FoMoCo oil and to keep the coolant at 50/50 even though the manual (which I showed them) disagrees... So I do things myself.