0w20 oil?
Since oil viscosity tends to increase with age, would it make sense to top off with 0w20 oil to keep the oil thin especially during start up?
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Are you sure the vis increases? As the viscosity modifier breaks down, it should decrease.... For example, a 10W40 will become a 10W30 after 5000 miles - or close to it.
Modern oils are really thin - they even work in Alaska... so no worry, So Cal is just fine. To protect your engine, I would go the other way, from 5W20 to 10W40. Lose the fuel economy - there is none to start with anyway ;) And, if really concerned, use premix in the fuel. Extra lubrication the easy way.... do a search here for the recipe. |
Note: This is from memory and a long time ago. I think I am correct.
For conventional oil, viscosity decreases over time from polymer shearing and thermal breakdown. Note: the w does not stand for weight. The w stands for winter, or something similar. Using 0w20 for example: The 0 refers to the flowability characteristics in cold. The oil will flow like a 0 weight in cold. You want the oil to flow as quickly as possible when you start your car, especially in the cold. A very thick oil would not make this possible. The 20 means the oil will be a 20 weight under stress. The polymers cause the oil to thicken to turn a 0 weight into a 20 weight. As the polymers get broken, the oil looses its ability to 'thicken' to a 20 weight. So, as the oil gets older and older.. you have a 0w20.. 0w19.. 0w18.. etc.. So, not only does your oil get dirty over time, the level of protection drops. A 0w20 conventional oil is a 0 weight oil. For synthetic, this is not the case. A 0w20 synthetic is a true 20 weight, not a 0 weight that thickens under heat and pressure. It just has the flowability characteristics of a 0 weight in cold. I would not use a 0w20 unless you are in a very cold area. Hope this helps.. and I am correct :) -B |
I think Polak said a while back that he uses 0w20. You might want to shoot him a PM to see how it works for his 8.
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Maybe for performance reasons ?
I'll have to ask him at the next meet. |
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