oil for the trip
 

Im planning on taking a road trip from ca to oklahoma in dec. Im trying to decide if i should make a oil grade change before i go. It gets colder in new mexico and oklahoma so should i go with a lighter grade? Im running 20w-50 right now. Should i just keep it that way?

Re: oil for the trip
 

anyone??

Re: oil for the trip
 

My mechanic suggested to me to use 20w50 all the time because of a higher millage vehicle like mine. I use Castrol 20w50 high millage oil and will use it year round. Temperature does have an effect on the performance of the oil's viscosity and if Oklahoma's temp during winter is constantly below freezing then you might want to use a 10w30 oil. I also used Castrol 20w50 GTX in a high millage Trans-Am and it started and ran fine even when the temps were below freezing.

Re: oil for the trip
 

BTW, it cost me over $25.00 today just for 5 quarts of oil and a Fram oil filter for an oil change! Bought the stuff at Wal*Mart for $4.27 a quart; that beat the $4.99 price at Auto Zone!:lol:

Re: oil for the trip
 

Thanks for the reply man. Wont hurt if i stay with the 20w-50 cool.
Thanks for they reply.

Re: oil for the trip
 

shell rotella t still has zinc in it At leaste I think it still does

Re: oil for the trip
 

If it's a regular grade oil yes it will as the oil will thicken in the colder temps as where a synthetic oil won't. I've been running castrol synthetic 5/w30 oil in my '90 Burb for a few years now and have never had a problem.
I did have an experience about 15 years ago running 20/w50 oil in my olds 442 with a 455 engine in the winter up here. One morning I went out to start the car and was watching the oil pressure gauge after I started it(aftermarket mechanical model) and it took almost 2 FULL MINUTES for the needle to begin to move and didn't register full oil pressure until almost 2minutes,45 seconds later!!! And at a high warm up idle of almost 1200 r.p.m. I decided right then and there to go get it changed out to 5/w30 wt oil.
So in closing, I would STRONGLY suggest changing to a loower grade oil for the trip through the "colder climates" of Oklahoma & New Mexico. Oh and watch out for them polar bears roamin' around out there
have a safe trip.