Stuttgart996

just got back home from my girlfriends and my car did not like running in this weather. Once it warmed up it was fine but at start up it was pretty bad. Just wondering, i am running 20w 50 oil right now and i know that this isnt the right oil for cold weather but i didnt damage anything driving it for about 5 miles,all under 3k rpms did I?
Let me know and do you guys think i should change oil just for winter driving even when its 30 out?

adrial

Yes, I think its a good idea to change to thinner oil for winter driving even when its 30 out.
I change to Amsoil Synthetic 10w40 in the winter.

It's unlikely that you did any real damage.

xsboost90

if i were ever to drive my car in this weather i would put in 15w40 shell rotella- factory recommended oil- i doubt you hurt anything if you let it warm up a few minutes before you drove it.

TurboTommy

Once it warms up, it doesn't really matter how thick the oil is, damage wise; the subsequent drive is no problem. The real issue is the cold start-up with that oil, that's where the damage potential is.

Mike1982

I would switch to some thinner oil. I don't drive my car in the winter anymore but when I did I switched over to something thinner. During the winter you aren't pushing the car hard anyways, so you can get away with it. You should notice a HUGE difference during the start up. Right now with the thick oil it might take 5 seconds or so get full oil pressure but with the thinner oil you should get full oil pressure under 2 seconds. The other thing I would do it let it idle for 60-90 seconds before I would drive it, not take rpm's above 3k for the first 5 minutes and not more then 25% throttle.

Jake951

For winter driving (in New England), I ran 5W30 synthetic. As TurboTommy says, the real issue is at startup, when you need to get oil flowing immediately. As you found out, the heavier oils are not so good when it's really cold. If you are running 20W50 synthetic you might get away with it, but if it's dino oil, that's not a good idea when the temperature is in the single digits(the owner's manual says the lower limit for 20W50 non-synthetic is around 15-20F).

DrZ1

I live down south where the temp yesterday am was 20 degrees and in a couple days it will be 50 with a high of 76, It is hard to pick an oil w/ thes fluctuations. I use ROTTELA T 15w-40

Also, I use the car as daily driver

With 120k on the clock, I am fearful to switch to synthetic.

Steve

Acetylene

I live in FL and run 20w50. It will be 79-80 tomorrow...I think the obvious answer is to keep the oil your using and just move

Stuttgart996

okay so what oil should i use for the winter, i am going to buy it today?
and i dont want synthetic.
thanks
chris

reno808

chris how about not driving it. the salt is going to KILL your car. yeah i drive my car once in a blue moon in the winter but who cares my clear coat is coming off and my paint is fading

Stuttgart996

i have to drive it the audi is getting painted, and the road are clear now it rained like 3 times.
k so what oil should i use?

reno808

i would go with the diesel oil or worst case 10-40.

Stuttgart996

haha

Stuttgart996

okay so what kind of 10w 40

xsboost90

shell rotella- 15w40- what they came w/ stock.