What Kind Of Oil?
Super Moderator
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,288
From: Amityville, New York
in the colder weather the oil has a harder time getting circualted.
if you read any manual it will tell you in colder weather
to use a thinner oil, and in warmer weather to use a thicker oil
It even says it in the RX-7 owners manual for christs sakes, lol
if you read any manual it will tell you in colder weather
to use a thinner oil, and in warmer weather to use a thicker oil
It even says it in the RX-7 owners manual for christs sakes, lol
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5
Yup, hotter=thicker, colder=thinner.
That's because oil thins when it gets hot. Ever try heating up cold oil in a pan. Cold oil rolls around slower, that's because it's still thick, but after it gets hot, it rolls around much easier, that's because it's thinner.
So to promote circulation, you will need thinner oil in winter because it's too hard to circulate thick oil around the engine when it's so damn cold. It will take a much longer time to get thick oil to the places it needs to be than thin oil.
With that said, 10W30 is best for winter.
I think you should use synthetic, they tend to flow much better than regular dino, and for those that think "no, no, synthetic don't burn in rotaries" that's old news. Modern synthetics burn just fine in rotaries (all burn less than 500F), and leave a much lower ash content than dino when burnt. Just don't ge the cheapies. Get quality synthetics like: Royal Purple, Amsoil, Redline, and NEO.
I personally prefer Amsoil, it's killer stuff.
That's because oil thins when it gets hot. Ever try heating up cold oil in a pan. Cold oil rolls around slower, that's because it's still thick, but after it gets hot, it rolls around much easier, that's because it's thinner.
So to promote circulation, you will need thinner oil in winter because it's too hard to circulate thick oil around the engine when it's so damn cold. It will take a much longer time to get thick oil to the places it needs to be than thin oil.
With that said, 10W30 is best for winter.
I think you should use synthetic, they tend to flow much better than regular dino, and for those that think "no, no, synthetic don't burn in rotaries" that's old news. Modern synthetics burn just fine in rotaries (all burn less than 500F), and leave a much lower ash content than dino when burnt. Just don't ge the cheapies. Get quality synthetics like: Royal Purple, Amsoil, Redline, and NEO.
I personally prefer Amsoil, it's killer stuff.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 127
From: Florida
Originally Posted by Rob x-7' date='Oct 2 2003, 02:50 PM
actually in colder weather, thinner oil is called for
Senior Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 260
From: Fountain Valley, CA
If we wanted to get technical, the Workshop Manual states...
-20 - 32 degrees Farenheit= 5W-30
-10 - 90 degrees Farenheit= 10W - 30
-10 and up = 10W - 40, 10W - 50 (if it goes higher than 70 degrees)
20 and up = 20W - 40, 20W - 50
I use 20-50 personally. And is Mobil 1 considered "cheapy" oil? I love synthethic, but I hate spending 40 bucks every 3K mi, it gets a bit pricey.
-20 - 32 degrees Farenheit= 5W-30
-10 - 90 degrees Farenheit= 10W - 30
-10 and up = 10W - 40, 10W - 50 (if it goes higher than 70 degrees)
20 and up = 20W - 40, 20W - 50
I use 20-50 personally. And is Mobil 1 considered "cheapy" oil? I love synthethic, but I hate spending 40 bucks every 3K mi, it gets a bit pricey.
