motor oil for hot climate

[boatneck]

My Ford F150 is supposed to have 5w-20 according to Ford and having moved to Southwest Florida, I'd feel more comfortable with a 10w-30, especially during the hot seasons. Any comments, suggestions? Some say never use a 10w-40. Why? Lube dude?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I dont see 10w30 or 10w 40 being a problem in a warmer climate.Synthetic is sometimes a good choice.If you are going to try a synthetic,make sure you have no oil leaks first.Not even a tiny leak because it has a possibility of becoming a big leak.Not in all cases but surely in some.I have a Honda that works great with synthetic and a Jeep that developed a leak immediately after a synthetic change.Charlie

 

[Pascal]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

With the 5w20 being recommended for you Ford I would not go anywhere near any 10wXX oils. The clearances in those motors are designed for the lighter oils. <br /><br />I would consider a 5w30 in the hot weather but nothing more and I think I would make that 5w30 a synthetic oil for sure. Your engine should be new enough for synthetic and not have the leaks and other high mileage problems yet.<br /><br />JD

 

[jimr]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Ford uses 5w20 semisynthetic. At work we use 5w30 until the vehicles are off warranty then switch to 15w40 and we don't have any problems to speak of. I have changed 1 engine in a police car in the 3 years i have worked there and that was because the officer ran it out of oil. Look in your owners manual it will tell you what is usable.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I believe Pascal has it figured.<br /><br />I remember when the 5W-20 oils first came out and the first thing out of my mouth was, "NOT IN MY VEHICLES".<br /><br />Well, now that these engines and oils have been out for awhile, they are both performing "VERY" well, so I have changed my mind.<br /><br />The 5W-20 oils are a semi synthetic allready and I would say a 5W-30 in a synthetic would be my choice as well if in very hot weather and towing, and as Pascal has said, "Stay away from the 10W.

 

[b20]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

could you clear up something for LD?in australia they recommend 15W-50 in most engines.if you say 'stay away from 10Wxx" how do you feel about 15Wxx?<br /><br />thanks

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Acctually B20 most Aussie cars these days call for a 5w or even 0w but when you look at the chart in the workshop manual (the scale that shows what oil to use depending on ambient temps) there is a large margin - for example 5w20 and 15w40 can be used when ambient temps are between 5 & 40 degs C.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Mark42]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Consider a lower temp thermostat. Somewhere around 190 or 192. Have to order them from speed shops or Ford parts counter. I could not get one for my 98 Lincoln from Napa or others. Running 190 in there now and it doesn't ping on plus, and only a occasionally on regular. Side benefit is the lower cost of plus over premium, and an additional 0.5 mpg increase according the the cars computer over a few months time. <br /><br />Plus lower underhood temperatures can only help extend the life of hoses, belts and maybe the oil.

 

[Pascal]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I would not hesitate to use a 0w30 or 5w30 synthetic oil in an engine in 95% of the ambient tempuratures encountered in north america.<br /><br />The field tests by Esso when they were developing the 0w30 part synthetic included fleet tests of class 8 trucks hauling Canada/US trips for over a year.<br /><br />The trucks using the 0w30 recorded less oil consumption than they had on previous oils and a slight increase in fuel economy - according to esso.<br /><br />Also, Shell (and maybe others)is using a low viscosity oil in their sponsored formula cars with good results on all counts.<br /><br />JD

 

[Scaaty]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I believe and will not change my mind that the 5w and 0w is just bull**** to meet the lower C.A.F.E standards.....I run 10w30 winter and 10w40 summer, ......but on to the question. Hot temps run a 5w syn. I just love a oil opinion in the morning!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Something we need to get out of our heads is that thicker is better. I admit to thinking this way once.<br /><br />The first # you see is the (W)inter desiganation, so it will get up to preasure quicker. The next # is how thick it will get when the temp of the engine gets hotter meaning it will run at that weight when the engine gets hotter. A 5W-20 will crank when cold at a 5W, and run no thicker than a 20W when hot. If your engine will allow a 30-50W then there isnt anything wrong in doing so under the right temps. I dont like a 30 point spread in an oil like a 10W-40 in a conventional oil as they have to use too many viscosity improvers and that can cause sludge buildup. Not the same however with a 20W-50 as the base oil is more stable and dosnt require as many inprovers. Synthetics dont suffer from this problem though.<br /><br />I only ment that you shouldnt use a 10W if your engine requires a 5W oil, but if you live in a climate where your temp never gets below freezing, it would likely be fine.

 

[b20]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

thankyou LD

 

[boatneck]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Thanks all for the responses. I got tied up with some remodeling work in the new house( Hurricane Charley fixups). I guess I'll stay with the Pennzoil 5w-20 recommended by Ford. I didn't know that it was semi-synthetic. What I did notice was that when I moved down here to Florida, the oil consumption went from zero to about one quart between changes. Some of that could be from the added mileage for the three round trips of 2200 miles, but I figured that the hotter weather here had to be adding to the oil consumption.<br /><br />Lubedude, thanks for the clear description of what the numbers really mean.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

LD, I agree with the thinking that "Heavier is better" theory and its old school thoughts, but I fail to see what it can HURT? The reason I ask is in my 100,000 Astro Van, which called for 5w30, showed the oil pressure gauge fluttering at idle on a hot day A/C on, traffic, etc. Changed to 10w30 and no more flutter. Now its at 140,000 and its 10w30 summer and 10w40 winter and zero problems anymore. And many moons ago before going to Veit Nam, had a Ford 6cyl that burned so much oil I tried 80/90 gearlube! Worked, but would not turn over under 40 degrees, and anyone on a motorcycle behind me would pass out and crash from the sulpher fumes! It was fun being a stupid kid. So Boatneck, thats my take on your original question. Again, JMHO on another oil question

 

[Pascal]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I agree that oil viscosity will affect oil pressure and consumption in a worn engine. <br /><br />That 80w90 gear oil is comparable in viscosity to 20w40 or 20w50 engine oil. Main difference is the additives they put in - high in the anti-wear lower in detergents. Not good for an engine!!!!<br /><br />Why are you using 10w30 in the summer and 10w40 in winter and not the other way around (or was that a typo)???<br /><br />JD

 

[Scaaty]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Originally posted by Pascal:<br /> Why are you using 10w30 in the summer and 10w40 in winter and not the other way around (or was that a typo)???<br />JD

Not so much a typo as just plain brain fade. I have over 20 engines to maintain just at the "dogpatch", and notes everywhere! And I went to Vietnam ...not Veit Nam...coffee don't kick in like it used too! So...big whoops..(and there will be more!)

 

[Realgun]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

Some of that could be from the added mileage for the three round trips of 2200 miles, but I figured that the hotter weather here had to be adding to the oil consumption.

Actually you are burning off the water in the oil on the long trips. You can get a quart of water and such and it makes you think the oil level is full but it is not when you change it.<br /><br />I have the Ford F-150 also and am going to use the 5w-20 Castrol in it. I live in New Mexico we can see about 10F or 100F. We can have a morning temp of 50F and a evening temp of 90F. <br />There are drain holes in the Heads of the Ford modular V-6 and V-8's that are fairly small. A heavy oil will not drain quite as fast.<br />We have 2 E-150 vans at work that have over 170,000 miles on them and tey work just fine.<br />All the shop does is feed them 5w-20 motorcraft oil and change the oil every 10,000 miles with 2 quarts added between changes. We dont change the oil often enough in my opinion but there are no problems with these vans, they don't smoke and they are hot rodded every day.

 

[dhammann]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

I have always said "stick to what the owners manual says" The manufacturer has spent many $$$$ on R&D and engineering that shouldn't be disputed by the lay person. 10w40 or any oil with more than a 2 grade spread will stick rings and is not recommended by most auto makers, that is probably why that cabbie ran out of oil!!

 

[walleyehed]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

For what it's worth, my 350 Vortec has 240,000 on it now, and nothing but ******5W30 in it.<br />I change between 1800-2500 miles, if I go 2500, it will use about a pint. We've seen 110 deg days in Ks, and Tx, and temps as low as -20F here in Ks. I run 1 quart of Lubriplate CFL oil in place of 1 quart of oil every 3rd oil change (it's a cleaning solvent not known to many)<br />I have no oil pressure problems in summer heat, fact is, it runs the same at temp in summer or winter.

 

[ae708]

Re: motor oil for hot climate

My owner's manual states 5w-30 but also says that in above 0 degree temp that 10W-30 is ok too.