2 winter questions, thinner oil/dry gas ?

[philo_beddoe]

Isn't that a bit thick for these old school engines? I use to put that in my 7.3 turbo diesel f-350.

Your right though, I looked at the chart, those levels are right up there. I'll switch if I get some solid confirmation that that 15w50 is safe for my crate 350 year round. Normally I use Valvoline 10w30 max life syn-blend and add 4oz zddp, lucas brand.

[gunrac]

i'm old school..........run straight 30.......in everything...........no issues.......ohio weather

[SkinnyG]

The "W" means winter.

In the bad old days, you'd run 30 weight oil in summer, and a 10 weight oil in winter.

A 10W30 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

A 10W40 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

The 10W is fine.

And for something different, I'm running a 15W50 up here in Canada.  Through winter, no less.  It will be fine.  Don't fret.

[philo_beddoe]

The "W" means winter.

In the bad old days, you'd run 30 weight oil in summer, and a 10 weight oil in winter.

A 10W30 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

A 10W40 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

The 10W is fine.

And for something different, I'm running a 15W50 up here in Canada.  Through winter, no less.  It will be fine.  Don't fret.

But what if you lived in death valley (130 in the shade) lol.

Nonetheless, thanks for the reply.

[hatzie]

If you're looking for more ZDDP get Shell Rotella T6.  Diesel engine oils tend to have more ZDDP and Detergent additives than their spark ignition counterparts.  T6 is full synthetic 5W40 Diesel oil.

[philo_beddoe]

 But it says its for diesels...

[SkinnyG]

Diesel oil in a gas engine is perfectly fine.  Even if you live in Death Valley.

As Hatzie says, it's higher in ZDDP (good for flat tappet cams) and Detergents (good for everything), and can probably handle more abuse than oils for spark engines - which is another reason why I'm running Shell Rotella Diesel oil in my 10.9:1 engine (with another ZDDP additive for good measure).

[philo_beddoe]

Ok, thanks for the reply. Good info...

[VileZambonie]

The "W" means winter.

In the bad old days, you'd run 30 weight oil in summer, and a 10 weight oil in winter.

A 10W30 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

A 10W40 oil will act like a 10 in Winter, and a 30 in summer.

The 10W is fine.

And for something different, I'm running a 15W50 up here in Canada.  Through winter, no less.  It will be fine.  Don't fret.

A multiviscosity oil rating does not have a summer rating. The first number represents it's viscosity at 0°F (W) and the second number represents its viscosity at 212°F. So a 10W30 will flow like a 10 weight at 0°F and flow like a 30 weight at 212°F

[hatzie]

Diesel oil in a gas engine is perfectly fine.  Even if you live in Death Valley.

As Hatzie says, it's higher in ZDDP (good for flat tappet cams) and Detergents (good for everything), and can probably handle more abuse than oils for spark engines - which is another reason why I'm running Shell Rotella Diesel oil in my 10.9:1 engine (with another ZDDP additive for good measure).

Diesel oil will work just fine in a spark ignition engine.  Most even say so on the API seal...  Rotella T6 is rated for SM, SL, & SH along with the CJ-4 and other Diesel specs. C=Compression ignition S=Spark Ignition.

You want Zinc above 1000 ppm and Phosphorous above 800.  More is just gliding the lily.  Diesel oils tend to have those levels of basic antiwear compounds and some other less common ones like Molybdenum.
Diesel oils will always have about double the Calcium (detergent) of straight spark ignition oils.  Detergent keeps the smaller crud in suspension so it drains out when you pull the oil plug out of the pan instead of precipitating out of suspension all over the engine guts as sludge.