Viscosity Grade recommendation for Death Valley

[OilUzer]

Death Valley is about 130F.

For my 0/5W-20 passenger cars, I prefer using a good 40 weight synthetic or at a minimum a very stout 30 unless I'm driving downhill.

Last 2 trips to Nevada, I used 40 and iirc, it wasn't even hotter than 95F.

What do you use or recommend?

 

[JavierH19]

Also a thick 30 or 40. those are awful temps.

 

[Oillover]

In my 0w20 spec'd daily, I've swapped it for 10w30 in the summer and 5w30 in the winter.
It meets the manual specs in the Indian market (same vehicle), the engine runs quieter and I notice no difference in fuel economy.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Like any other climate, it depends on the car and usage

 

[I<3oil]

0W-8

 

[OilUzer]

0W-8

Looking for an excuse to buy a new car? Honey, engines toast! lol

 

[Chris142]

Its hot here too. 10w30 in our cars at the moment.

0w20 in the MIL sentra.

The thermometer in the FJ stops @122.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Death Valley is about 130F.

For my 0/5W-20 passenger cars, I prefer using a good 40 weight synthetic or at a minimum a very stout 30 unless I'm driving downhill.

Last 2 trips to Nevada, I used 40 and iirc, it wasn't even hotter than 95F.

What do you use or recommend?

For what application?? Honda Fit ??? Miles on engine? Normal OCI?

 

[BrendanC]

budget: QS Euro 5w-40, middle cost: M1 0/5w-40 and boutique: HPL PCEO 5w-40

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Death Valley is about 130F.

For my 0/5W-20 passenger cars, I prefer using a good 40 weight synthetic or at a minimum a very stout 30 unless I'm driving downhill.

Last 2 trips to Nevada, I used 40 and iirc, it wasn't even hotter than 95F.

What do you use or recommend?

Ambient doesn’t mean squat. What’s your oil temp running? Considering most engines these days have some sort of temperature regulation and they stay roughly the same as engine coolant temp during normal operation (track use is a different story), the coolant temp is 55-80% more than anything ambient on the entire Earth. Unless you’re doing TT racing through Death Valley, there’s no reason to change grades. Based on science, not emotions.

 

[slo town]

My wife and I have traveled to DV on multiple occasions - in the winter and spring. Just to clarify, are you really driving through it during this heat wave? If so, you should reconsider.

If you're staying there you'll be able to do nothing more than hang out in your hotel room, which hopefully has a stout AC. Forget about going outside during the day time.

Any any rate, I'd be more concerned with tires than I would your oil choice. I hope your vehicle won't be heavily loaded. Keep your speeds down. If your tires have a B temperature rating, forget it.

Scott

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

My wife and I have traveled to DV on multiple occasions. Just to clarify, are you really visiting it during this heat wave? If so, you should reconsider. You'll be able to do nothing more than hang out in your hotel room, which hopefully has a stout AC. Forget about going outside during the day time.

Any any rate, I'd be more concerned with tires than I would your oil choice. I hope your vehicle won't be heavily loaded. Keep your speeds down.

Scott

Last summer, I was out in the CV with my son for work, and we not only visited DV but also SLO for the night to make a stop at Hearst Castle, and Stovepipe Wells Visitor Center was 122* while we were there. We didn’t go hiking or anything, were simply driving thru to get from SLO back to Vegas while seeing new things. It was obviously really hot, but actually more tolerable than Indiana when we got to 95% and 70%+ RH.

 

[I<3oil]

Looking for an excuse to buy a new car? Honey, engines toast! lol

It’s good enough for Toyota, it’s GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

 

[ripcord]

Death Valley is about 130F.

For my 0/5W-20 passenger cars, I prefer using a good 40 weight synthetic or at a minimum a very stout 30 unless I'm driving downhill.

Last 2 trips to Nevada, I used 40 and iirc, it wasn't even hotter than 95F.

What do you use or recommend?

Whatever is in the car in your driveway right now... and keep it in the driveway! It's too hot to be driving in Death Valley. One little coolant leak and you'd be in a world of hurt.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The engine temperature is 200 F, 70 degrees more than the air temperature in Death Valley. It’s rpm that heats up the oil temperature. GM trucks run 0w20 in west Texas.

 

[AZjeff]

People will go there now to experience 130 degrees. Are you one of them?

 

[Warstud]

Its hot here too. 10w30 in our cars at the moment.

0w20 in the MIL sentra.

The thermometer in the FJ stops @122.

View attachment 229121

View attachment 229122

WOW

 

[DirectRejection]

0W-8

LOL.
That fuel dilution burns right off,
don't ya think ?.
Unless I'm towin',
I'm sticking with
highest quality 0W8 in my sled.

 

[OilUzer]

Ambient doesn’t mean squat. What’s your oil temp running? Considering most engines these days have some sort of temperature regulation and they stay roughly the same as engine coolant temp during normal operation (track use is a different story), the coolant temp is 55-80% more than anything ambient on the entire Earth. Unless you’re doing TT racing through Death Valley, there’s no reason to change grades. Based on science, not emotions.

I see what you are saying, however most if not all owner's manuals have a ambient temperature / Oil viscosity chart recommending thicker oil in summer time.

I have a same route I take many times and yesterday was 91F and my oil temp was about 12F higher than the same route when ambient temp is 64F. This is based on my records taking the same route and with pretty much same (no) traffic, same speed/rpm, etc.

Each engine is different and it's not a one-to-one correspondence but in my case 27F increase in ambient temperature resulted in 12F increase in oil temperature.

There is a reason there are all these recommended engine oil viscosity / temperature charts!
It is "based on science, not emotions!"

 

[OilUzer]

Now don't make me awaken the MOFT Crew.

Was cleaning up the house and found a bunch of cassette tapes didn't know I had and one of them is Awaken the Giant within by Tony Robbins.
Chapter 5 he talks about the need and importance of MOFT!