Oil Change Question
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Oil Change Question
Ok, here goes. Coming up on an Oil change in early Jan. Last year when we were living up north I changed to 5W40 for the winter. Darn cold up in IN!.
We're back home in VA now and I've always used 15W40 all year round in the past but, our vehicles were garaged so they stayed warm. Now our trucks sit outdoors overnight most of the time.
Question is: Is it worth it to still switch to 5W40 for the winter months?
I haven't had any trouble starting either truck and we've had a few mornings down in the high teens. I run 5W40 in our Jetta TDI year round but that only holds 4.5 qts vs about 4Gal for the PSD's. Big $$ difference.
DG
We're back home in VA now and I've always used 15W40 all year round in the past but, our vehicles were garaged so they stayed warm. Now our trucks sit outdoors overnight most of the time.
Question is: Is it worth it to still switch to 5W40 for the winter months?
I haven't had any trouble starting either truck and we've had a few mornings down in the high teens. I run 5W40 in our Jetta TDI year round but that only holds 4.5 qts vs about 4Gal for the PSD's. Big $$ difference.
DG
Of the next Riffraff East
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From: Concord NC
I'd say, that's completly up to you. I like my 5w40 syn. Sure makes for quiter starts, but it does cost more. I have alway ran 15w40 dino until this year and never had any problems, just wanted to try the syn. and see what the hype was about. Don't know what I will do next time for sure. I coming up on a change soon myself and need to decide if the quite engine is worth the extra $$$. For now I going with yes.
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From: North of Greenville
I'm seeing more and more folks switching to 5w40 synthetic for year-round use. Ford has already announced that it's a good thing for our 7.3's.
I honestly don't see the cost being a huge deal. You can get Rotella 15w40 for what... $9-$12/gallon? Schaeffers 9000 5w40 is only about $16/gallon, and Rotella-T 5w40 is only about $17/gallon. Worst case, you're looking at an extra $32 for an oil change, but what you gain is the consistency of only keeping supplied with one type of oil and not potentially being "forced" into an early oil change just to keep up with the seasons.
Just my $0.02
I honestly don't see the cost being a huge deal. You can get Rotella 15w40 for what... $9-$12/gallon? Schaeffers 9000 5w40 is only about $16/gallon, and Rotella-T 5w40 is only about $17/gallon. Worst case, you're looking at an extra $32 for an oil change, but what you gain is the consistency of only keeping supplied with one type of oil and not potentially being "forced" into an early oil change just to keep up with the seasons.
Just my $0.02
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From: Las Vegas,nv
Originally Posted by zx250
I'd say, that's completly up to you. I like my 5w40 syn. Sure makes for quiter starts, but it does cost more. I have alway ran 15w40 dino until this year and never had any problems, just wanted to try the syn. and see what the hype was about. Don't know what I will do next time for sure. I coming up on a change soon myself and need to decide if the quite engine is worth the extra $$$. For now I going with yes.
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From: Virginia - SW (Riner)
Oil
I think I'll give the 5W40 a try again - the only thing I noticed (what I thought) was a little higher oil consumption. We ran 5W40 last year from Dec - May then switched back to our usual 15W40.
It still wasn't that much though - 1-1.5 qts btw oil changes. (we go 4.5 -5K or 6mths btw changes - usually w/ really good UOA results to boot) We typically don't have to add oil btw changes when we run the 15W40 but again we don't usually get or stay that cold for that long in western VA.
It was really cold up there last year - for days/weeks at a time - slooowwww starts unless they were plugged in. I learned the hard way about having a spare GPR around. (Installed 2 New Batts + a New GPR in -5 deg weather!)
DG
It still wasn't that much though - 1-1.5 qts btw oil changes. (we go 4.5 -5K or 6mths btw changes - usually w/ really good UOA results to boot) We typically don't have to add oil btw changes when we run the 15W40 but again we don't usually get or stay that cold for that long in western VA.
It was really cold up there last year - for days/weeks at a time - slooowwww starts unless they were plugged in. I learned the hard way about having a spare GPR around. (Installed 2 New Batts + a New GPR in -5 deg weather!)
DG
Last edited by dagren99; Dec 27, 2007 at 03:08 PM. Reason: SP
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I think it's worth it. I run Rotella Syn at $16.24/gallon from Wally World. That and the $10 FL1995 make for ~$75 syn oil changes. If I use dino Rotella, it's $50. I prefer syn, so the extra $25 is worth it to me, and I'm not in a particularly cold climate.
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i live in southern california, have always used dino 15w40, but i have been reading up on synthetic and would like to change over to it at my next oil change. what is the temperature range for 5w40 vs 15w40? i think the coldest i have seen is around 30 degrees, and during the summer i can 100 plus.
thanks guys.
thanks guys.
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From: North of Greenville
Well, I've been running 5w40 since last January, and I've seen temperatures ranging from about 15°F-110°F here in the central to North-central Alabama region. In fact, I changed oil in the middle of the summer heat so I have seen both brand new and old oil at both temperature extremes, and there are no issues for me here with the 5w40, so you should be good to go year round with the 5w40.
Someone else will have to comment on the 15w40 temperature ranges.
Someone else will have to comment on the 15w40 temperature ranges.
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From: Sioux Falls, SD
Originally Posted by cjcathey2002
i live in southern california, have always used dino 15w40, but i have been reading up on synthetic and would like to change over to it at my next oil change. what is the temperature range for 5w40 vs 15w40? i think the coldest i have seen is around 30 degrees, and during the summer i can 100 plus.
thanks guys.
thanks guys.
Additionally a good synthetic will handle higher temps better and take longer to oxidize resulting in longer oil life. I easily go 7,500 miles on Schaeffer's 15W-40 series 7000 synth blend, that includes pulling our 31' 5th wheel camper 4-5,000 miles. Many folks go 10,000+ miles on the series 9000 5W-40. If extended oil drain intervals is not a concern it is at least nice to know I do not need to time time oil changes during the camping season.
Like stated above, the choice is personal preference. The oil analysis reports prove to me that the oil is doing a great job. You can't go wrong with a 15W-40 or a 5W-40 in your situation - but I will bet that if you try the 5W-40 in your truck you will like it.
www.schaefferoil.com
http://www.schaefferoil.com/supreme_7000.html
http://www.schaefferoil.com/supreme_9000.html
Rich
Last edited by white Buffalo; Jan 8, 2008 at 02:29 PM.
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