Using 5w50 in a 5w30 application

[richport29]

Came across this ad on kijiji. They've been using Syntec 5w50 in a 3800 series ii engine. I sent a message, the response was simply it's the best oil you can put in your car. The car has low mileage, but how much wear from the poor cold flow
properties of the 5w50?

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-...QAdIdZ496749853

 

[147_Grain]

Suspect that you would not put this in your vehicle in the Canadian winter at minus 30 below.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Suspect that you would not put this in your vehicle in the Canadian winter at minus 30 below.


And I quote. That is some sound advice.

 

[richport29]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
Suspect that you would not put this in your vehicle in the Canadian winter at minus 30 below.


I was thinking the same. The pour point of the 5w50 is only -22. In Quebec for that matter.

 

[accent2012]

Car must have a lot of metal shavings due to the lack of oil flow when starting the car from a cold start....

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: richport29
I was thinking the same. The pour point of the 5w50 is only -22. In Quebec for that matter.

I suspect it's substantially lower than that. Castrol's data sheets are notoriously inaccurate, filled with generic data and minimums/maximums for the viscosity in question. There are conventional 15w40s with pour points significantly lower than -22 (C or F). I'm not going to buy a -22 pour point on the 5w-50 at all.

As for cold temperature starting, remember that we Canucks used to use 10w30 conventional in the winter.

 

[richport29]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: richport29
I was thinking the same. The pour point of the 5w50 is only -22. In Quebec for that matter.

I suspect it's substantially lower than that. Castrol's data sheets are notoriously inaccurate, filled with generic data and minimums/maximums for the viscosity in question. There are conventional 15w40s with pour points significantly lower than -22 (C or F). I'm not going to buy a -22 pour point on the 5w-50 at all.

As for cold temperature starting, remember that we Canucks used to use 10w30 conventional in the winter.


Could be a typo. Here's the link to the PDS..
-22 F, -30C

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_int...S_Sept_2011.pdf

 

[richport29]

On a completely different topic the pour point for GC crushes everything else in Castrol's lineup. -65F, -54C

Best oil for winter?

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: richport29
Came across this ad on kijiji. They've been using Syntec 5w50 in a 3800 series ii engine. I sent a message, the response was simply it's the best oil you can put in your car. The car has low mileage, but how much wear from the poor cold flow
properties of the 5w50?

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-...QAdIdZ496749853


No wear whatsoever. I used GTX 20W50 in my Olds with the 3800 in it to well over 300,000 miles. Only reason I sold it was to buy a 3000GT.

 

[richport29]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: richport29
Came across this ad on kijiji. They've been using Syntec 5w50 in a 3800 series ii engine. I sent a message, the response was simply it's the best oil you can put in your car. The car has low mileage, but how much wear from the poor cold flow
properties of the 5w50?

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-...QAdIdZ496749853


No wear whatsoever. I used GTX 20W50 in my Olds with the 3800 in it to well over 300,000 miles. Only reason I sold it was to buy a 3000GT.


You're located in Texas. The seller on kijiji is in Canada, huge temperature difference... You don't really have any cold starts...

 

[JC1]

I've used the 5w 50 Castrol as well at Motomaster 5W-50 in my 98 Sienna. It was fine on a cold start. I'm in the great white north as well. Although I never did a UOA on them to confirm metal shavings. If it's full synthetic it will work fine on a cold start.

Regards. JC.

 

[aquariuscsm]

How much thinner is 5W50 vs 20W50. 5W50 feels water thin shaking the bottle at room temp,whereas 20W50 feels very thick. Are 5W50's thin on startup,then thickening as it heats up via the vis modifiers?

 

[hemitom]

Not the same comparsion, but i used the syntec 5w50 in a honda fourman 350 four wheeler , it turned over with no problems and started and ran whisper quiet at -20

 

[richport29]

Originally Posted By: JC1
I've used the 5w 50 Castrol as well at Motomaster 5W-50 in my 98 Sienna. It was fine on a cold start. I'm in the great white north as well. Although I never did a UOA on them to confirm metal shavings. If it's full synthetic it will work fine on a cold start.

Regards. JC.


Why did you use a 50 weight? Just curious..
I feel I'm pushing it using GC, lol

 

[dparm]

Pour point is a fairly useless spec. MRV or CCS are what we want.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: Garak
As for cold temperature starting, remember that we Canucks used to use 10w30 conventional in the winter.


Still likely "thinner" than 5W50.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-super-10w30.aspx#
http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/Edge_BLACK_PDS_Sept_2011.pdf

 

[richport29]

Originally Posted By: dparm
Pour point is a fairly useless spec. MRV or CCS are what we want.


I agree, but castrol only use min numbers for those, so pour point is all we have..

 

[RiceCake]

Lets put it this way...


...Anyone flying by the seat of their pants like that on completely illogical "facts" they likely gathered from some grandfatherly mechanic stuck in the past obviously hasn't a clue, and I sure in the [censored] wouldn't be buying a car from them.


For all you know they also "knew" that changing the transmission fluid regularly was a bad idea because it makes them "fail faster" and that their uncle who races cars "knew" that it was okay to add methanol to all their gasoline to "make it faster".

Seen them all and more.

 

[901Memphis]

Your going to be taking a hit on gas mileage.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Those owners are IDIOTS if they put 5W-50 in something that says 5w30 on the cap.