Cold temps coming (0f), need some oil advice (Jeep 4.0 I6)

[DirtyApe]

Well, looks like today is my last chance to do an oil change in my (new to me) Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ I6. It has 80k on the clock and had a diet of Valvoline Durablend 10w30 its whole life until I got it about 2 months ago.

I switched over to Pennzoil 10w30 dino and Purolator premium plus filters.

So they are calling for some really cold temps for S. Illinois , down to possibly -5 and highs in the teens some days.

I'm a 'newbie' about this still. Would there be any additional protection and ease of cold starting by going back to the 10/30 durablend for the winter with my oil change today?

The 4.0 I6 uses right at 6qt, so I know I could mix 3 full synth and 3 dino, but I'm still a bit perplexed by doing that. The OCI is 3k regardless, about 2/3 city driving, and about 1/3 to 1/4 over 55mph speeds.

So, should I stay with the Pennz 10/30 dino or pour in durablend 10/30 blend or mix up my own? Either way I'll go back to the 1030 dino in the Spring but that cold start last night at 14f didn't sound the greatest..

Since I'm still new at this, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Marc

 

[farrarfan1]

Why not just use 5W30 Durablend? Or 5W30 Pennzoil? Either one should solve cold weather starting problems.

 

[DirtyApe]

Hi

Well, was looking up in the manual and it specs 5w30 for the V8 models and 10w30 for the I-6 models. I don't currently have any leaks or consumption, but am a bit leery about going to a thinner oil and all. I'm mainly looking for something in the same grade that will pump a little easier until it warms up for the next few months..

 

[Big John]

How much thinner do you think a 5 weight is compared to a 10,well not much at all.If you wanna run a 10 weight and want better cold weather starting I would use a synthetic 10w,whatever brand you like...

 

[Drew99GT]

I'd go with a 5w30 High mileage oil. High operating viscosity within it's grade, and still gives 5w cold starting protection. Unless you want to pay for synthetics like Mobil/GC.

 

[DirtyApe]

quote:

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Originally posted by Big John:
How much thinner do you think a 5 weight is compared to a 10,well not much at all.If you wanna run a 10 weight and want better cold weather starting I would use a synthetic 10w,whatever brand you like...

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Honestly I'm guessing not a lot of difference between 5 and 10, but being new to this.. You are talking full synth 10w?

 

[DirtyApe]

quote:

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Originally posted by Drew99GT:
I'd go with a 5w30 High mileage oil. High operating viscosity within it's grade, and still gives 5w cold starting protection. Unless you want to pay for synthetics like Mobil/GC.

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I was looking at some of the HM oils today, and a lot of them stated ' seal conditioners' and such wording. A search on here came up with some info that seal swelling can occur and once you stop using the HM oil they start shrinking and leaks occur. I did notice the even in the ST synth blend they had a new car formula and a high mileage.

 

[penzdude]

while not nearly as cold as illinois, here in my neck of va last night, it was 27 degrees with a the wind blowing at 25+ mph. we are right on the coast, so it was the cut right through ya kind of cold. we also got a dusting of snow. i think the wind chill was around 15. using castrol gtx this go round, 5w30 weight. started with no problems at all, about the same as my usual pennzoil 5-30, known for it's good cold temp properties. penzdude

 

[Gary Allan]

If you're having cold start concerns then I'd go to a synthetic. A 0w30 if you are a short trip type, where the oil won't reach the higher temps, or a 0w-40 if this is a highway commuter. I don't think you'll see much difference between a 10w30 and a 5w30 worth mentioning.

 

[Big John]

quote:

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Originally posted by mh2800:

quote:

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Originally posted by Big John:
How much thinner do you think a 5 weight is compared to a 10,well not much at all.If you wanna run a 10 weight and want better cold weather starting I would use a synthetic 10w,whatever brand you like...

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Honestly I'm guessing not a lot of difference between 5 and 10, but being new to this.. You are talking full synth 10w?

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Not much difference at all between 5w and 10w and yes I was thinking of a 10w synthetic for your needs,sorry for not being to the point in my reply..

 

[Patman]

If it were me I would never consider running a 10w30 dino oil in anything below about 20-30F, let alone 0F! Definitely go with 5w or 0w oils here.

It's darn cold here today, the coldest morning so far, only -12F!! Yikes!

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
If it were me I would never consider running a 10w30 dino oil in anything below about 20-30F, let alone 0F! Definitely go with 5w or 0w oils here.

It's darn cold here today, the coldest morning so far, only -12F!! Yikes!

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I totally agree. If you put a quart of 5w and 10w30 outside when it's like 5 to 10 below, you'll see a big difference, even with some synthetics.

 

[wwillson]

mh2800,

In the winter I'll bet that your oil temp never reaches more than 170F. 5w30 will be just fine in the winter and summer both. I run 0w-20 or 5w-20 in my GM 5.3 during the winter - no problems, but remember when the oil is only 170F the 20wt oil is more like a 30+ wt oil.

Wayne

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnBrowning:
Well where I am at right now in Michian in two days the snow has piled up slightly above my knees.

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I heard Wakefield (extreme western UP) got 30 inches last week.

 

[427Z06]

IMHO, Mobil 1 0w40 would be the one of the best choices as it's complements the Jeeps desire for thicker oil at operating temperature, but will still flow satisfactorily at substantial sub-zero temps.

However, if you don't want to spend that kind of money, I'd consider one of the GF-4/SM 5w30s for the winter months. Given the J300 specs, I would think they'd be good down to -4F. Unless your running it real hard all the time, plowing, towing, autobahning, I don't think the oil will get up to the same temperature it does in the summer, thus it's not going to thin out as much. Many of the GF-4/SM 5w30s (Trop Artic, Conoco, Motorcraft, Mobil DC, etc) are also mostly Group III base oils, so they should be close to many of the real syns as far as cold flowability.

 

[JohnBrowning]

TallPall, I am at the inlaws in the Thumb. We are on a Farm about 2 miles from Lake Huron! My inlaws are farmers. They have been putting me to work. I have quatered out a deer outside and filled and loaded 30 bags of corn by hand. Each bag depending on size weighed 70lbs to 150lbs. I also carried one deer from their tool shed to the basement to thaw out. I carried over my sholders like a person for about 400 yards uphill through knee high snow with ice under it.

My wife latter told me that she wished she would have had a camrea handy to get a picture of me with the deer.

Latter today I will be working on tractors. You have to plug them in when it gets this cold a few hours before you start them up.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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400 yards uphill through knee high snow with ice under it.

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..both ways?

 

[427Z06]

Yep, this cold weather is really something. It only got to about 68F here today. Suppose to drop down into the twenties a couple nights this week. Burrrr....

 

[Eddie]

I ran my 95 4.0L Jeep 156,000 miles on Mobil 1 5w30 in the winter and 10w30 Summers in Northern ILL. I changed oil& filter every 5,000 miles(Purolator oil filter). Sold it running great with no problems to my son-in-law who now has ~ 190,000 on it. ed

 

[Fastzntn]

That 4.0 liter Jeep inline six is a great motor. Sorry for the