Originally Posted By: buster
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Yes this past winter some records were certainly broken. Even in my more southernly part of Ontario we saw over night temp's often into the -20Cs and I think we hit -24C once. In years past we've had the over night low get no colder than -12C over the entire winter.
All my cars are garaged so I still didn't start anything at temp's much below freezing.
I do agree that if temp's are dropping down into the -30Cs then MRV would be a spec' to start considering, but just occasionally into the low -20Cs isn't cold enough and any light 5W-30 syn will perform just fine.
That said, due in part to AFE 0W-30's lowish 3.0cP HTHSV and average VI I think it will still be somewhat lighter than most 5W-30s at less extreme start-up temp's so it's still and excellent 30 grade winter oil choice.
Maybe if we petition XOM hard enough, they will jack the VI of this up into the 215-220 range using the new, top shelf asteric VIIs?!
These VM'ers are not being used yet in any high performance grade oil that I'm aware of - Redline, Amsoil Dominator, Maxima, Total, Joe Gibbs and Mobil 1.
It is possible that if Mobil bumped the VI up of the AFE, it wouldn't retain it's excellent high temperature deposit and oxidation resistance.
For most cars, especially Toyota, the high temperature stability isn't as important so it's a non-issue there.
I don't agree with that assessment at all.
It's not simply a matter of switching polymer VM to get a higher VI without also also using a lighter base oil otherwise the final product will be too heavy.
So in the case of AFE where is the economic motivation (business plan) to scrap the current formulation which has remained largely unchanged in over a decade?
It's the same reason that most of the aftermarket that has added a 0W-20 to their product line for use in vehicles that now specify the grade aren't going the ultra high VI route. It's cheaper not to.
As for TGMO 0W-20s high temp' deposit and oxidation resistance, from what I've seen it's excellent.
The new Subie BRZ and Scion FR-S are often seeing extremely high oil temp's on the track in excess of 275F without issue.
This also applies to Sustina 0W-20 which also produced an excellent UOA in a tracked FR-S under such conditions.
These are oil temp's that one would never otherwise use such a light 0W-20 so it's a total non issue.
