i'm running redline 20w50 and in the new city i'm in it's about -10 right now and can get up to -30.

i've also been doing a lot of really short drives and the car barely warms up.


on the back of the redline 20w50 it says that it will flow faster than a 10w30 down to -30.

is this true? am i good?


I run 20w50 because my car has over 300,000 km on it and when revving it it barely gets over 4 bar now and idles at 2 bar with the needle shaking.

 

that stuff is to thick in the winter, imo.

most ideal would be the *M1 0w50 or 5w50.

they make good winter oil.

i'm at about 4.7~4.8 bars running it at near 170 k miles and good cold startup.























*my only post on this thread.

 

I run 2050 year round in Denver. I don't drive it very much in the winter tho and usually only if its over 40 degrees.

 

I switch to 0w40 mobil 1 for the winter, I've had to start my car in -15f weather a few times. 20-50 is too thick for anything below freezing.

 

944 Owners manual is pretty clear about cold temperatures and oil viscosities..
I run 20w50 June - Sept,
5w-40 Oct - Feb,
15w-40 Mar - May

Either Shell Rotella or Valvo VR1..
Even an excellent synth like Redline has got to be too thick at startup @20w/50 in sub freezing temps.
In fact, Redline's page for 20w50 specifically warns against cold weather use :

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=8&pcid=21
(And what is up with those cold cranking simulator numbers ?)

But, I'd suggest that as long as you are comfortable with it, you leave it in all winter and let us know next Spring and tell us your findings...

 

I run 20w50 year round and have never had a problem. I also use 20w50 in customers cars with high miles and have only seen positive effects in my years as a european car tech

 

I'd throw in a qt of 0w-40 M1 or two...

Personally Run 15-50 Mobil1 and then mix in (about 50% if a dead-winter change) 0-40...

 

It really depends on the synthetic. Some synthetic 20w50 oil have a pour point that is colder than 5w-30 dino oil and should be fine in the winter. The oil company could probably label these oils as 5w50 but choose not to as to avoid confusion and concern for the wide viscosity range.

With synthetics the label is not as meaningful as it is on dino oils and you really need to look at the full specs. For example, compare Castrol dino oil to Redline 20w50. The Redline 20w50 pour point is as good (low, cold) as the thinnest Castrol GTX, 5w20:

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp...X_PDS_2012.pdf

http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=8&pcid=21

-Joel.