I normally run Mobil 5W30, but winters here can be (are) brutal- several weeks of below 0 temp the norm. I thought the 0W might might be advantageous in this nasty environ.
I'm sure I've heard of others doing this. I live in a place - IL - with very cold winters as well, and I'm sure I've come across threads discussing someone using it. I can not recall honestly, however, if it was on this board, another board, or in discussion outside. It does make a great deal of sense to me though.
I've been using Mobil 1 0-40 ("European Car" formula) since 1,000 miles. I thought it would suit the -30 to 100+ degree weather we get here in NW Texas, and if it's good enough for Porsche... I change at 7500 intervals, though most of my driving is highway, and have just passed 52k without so much as a rattle. I've had a great history with Mobil1, I put 95,000 very, very hard miles on my A2 GTI and it still ran like a dream.
it's not cold enough here in boston, but i know some guys in maine do it.
i'm not really comfortable switching weights once i've run 1 kind for a long time, but most people are fine with it.
in your condition, it's probably a good idea to run it for the winter months. cold starts are tough, and it takes a while to get to op temp when it's -10 outside. the faster the oil's up from the pan, the better. (imo)
i read on the mobil web site of RACING 0w-30 mobil 1. this sounds very interesting and is street legal. it is a different formula than the supersyn but is of course full synthetic.
I'm very intereswted in mobil 0w, i've used it before in other vehicles and it worked :tongue:
i use 15w-50 in my motorcycle because of the additives, the racing mobil 0w looks from the web site to have many additives for friction i suppose like mg, ca, etc. but it is not specific. i don't know much but i'd love to hear input on this oil from anyone in the know.
a google search revealed this stuff is pretty highly thought of- guys at bobistheoilguy.com speak highly of it- those guys are the oil "gurus". Looks very different than the supersyn, much more geared to performance. Could be a very promising oil
STi oil here in Japan is 15w-50 but alot of well known tuning shops suggest 5W-50 I couldn't seeing it hurting it.
FYI crappy oil is bad I witnessed last weekend first hand what crappy oil+3k rpm for appr. 2 min equals. Watching a brand new motor blow is just sad to say the least!!!
Personally I'd stay away from 15W50 on such tight tolerance motors- a fellow over @ nasioc ran it for track days thinking heavier was better for those demanding conditions. Had his oil tested- lots of sign of wear. Ran Mobil 1 5W30, a couple of more track days and tested again- much, much better results.
I had my Motul 5W40 tested after some grueling driving- very, very satisfactory results. Too expensive to run in the winter though.
The Mobil 1 R 0W-30 is not API cert'ed, ostensibly due to its additive package and possible effects to catalytic converters in vehicles that use some oil. I've never used it but have heard good things about it as everyone here also has. If you do use it make sure your receipts just show "motor oil" or "0W-30 oil" or something like that instead of "Mobil1 R" so the secret is safe from service managers checking up before warranty work etc.
If you're paying for Motul 5W-40 you might try the Mobil1 5W-40. I don't use the motor even nearly as hard as you do with your motorsport participation, but I've had very good results with the M1 5W-40 nonetheless so it might be worth a shot. It's readily available and has the API symbol.
You should have no problem switching back and forth between grades for winter/summer or whatever reason in any case, though it'd be simpler to find something that works year-round. I think the M1 0W-40, 0W-30 or even the 5W-40 would do the trick for you even in winter since the thickest of the lot, the 5W-40, still pumps better than any conventional oil I can think of below 0C.
I suspect the M1 R 0W-30 would be at least marketed as an oil that frees up more power compared to an API synth (M1 0W-30 API SL, for example). It might even actually do that for all I know.
Incidentally, it is now 7C at my home in southern California, which is ridiculously low!
I wish it was 7 C here now , it's -17 F here now, had a balmy high of 0 F today.
I wouldn't pay the price for the R for winter use (it's pricey too)- wife's daily driver, doesn't see any "action" till summer. I might give it a go for "summer" though, I wouldn't be suprised if it freed a little go get 'em- as long as it protects.
I read your results from Blackstone on the 5W40- looked good, I also used Blackstone for my Motul testing- had to send a virgin sample in as well, as they had never seen it before.
Big Sky <---------- waiting patiently for ice age to end
i used 0-30 mobil 1 last winter in the wrx. the engine sounded like **** when it was cold. almost like it was too thin. that stuff is like water when its cold. i couldn't wait to get it out of there. however i have used it in my silverado and some of my other cars and have had no problems. but for the wrx, not going to use it again.
i use Amsoil 0-30 series 2000 in my teg in the summer, and its parked for winter. for the wrx i dont know what to use yet, havent had to change oil yet. but i was thinking of a amsoil 5-30 or 0-30 for the winter. we can get to -40c here in Alberta.
Since you are seeing -40C (or -40F for that matter, since it's the same temperature -- I always liked that odd fact) I'd say at the very least use M1 0W-40 year round, or any Amsoil 0W etc. Since the Amsoil stuff is a bit thicker than M1, you could probably just use a 0W-30 Amsoil year-round and be done with it (same for M1 0W-40). All this IMO.
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