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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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So, I read every thread that had the words oil and winter in them and what I am looking for is a straight forward what are you using oil wise if you drive your Y in cold temps. I am looking to change the oil today and it is starting to get in the 30-40 range in the mornings and only going to get colder. Thanks
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By Ted - 16 Years Ago
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For my 272 driver, I use 10W-40 year round. I'm in the Central Texas area so the temperatures rarely gets below the twenties in the winter but do see extended periods of time where the temperature is above 100°F.
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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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I drive my bird all the time . Winter isnt as bad here in NC as it is in other places but , I use Castrol 20w-50 in my car year round. Of course its only in the 30s a couple days every winter before it warms up . If it gets cold and stays that way i drive my other car till it warms up. I use synthetic in it as its a Benz.
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By stlroken - 16 Years Ago
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I use Castrol straight 30 year round, don't drive much during the winter months. Never had any problems except the straight weights are getting hard to find.
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By paul2748 - 16 Years Ago
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I use 20-50 year round in one car (302), 15-40 (Diesel) in my 56 Bird year round. No problem spinning either over during the winter.
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By speedpro56 - 16 Years Ago
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I've run 15w-50 mpbil 1 synthetic for years with no problems, now I'm trying 10w-40 royal purple synthetic and it seems to be doing fine. No problem putting lots and lots of miles on these engines with no problems at all. I have'nt seen straight w ever do as well as a multi w oil. I bought a 56 merc back in the late 70s showing 130,000plus miles that looked brand new inside the engine, no wear on the bearings etc and the old man changed the oil every 3000 miles since it was almost new. The oil he used was 10w-40 Havoline. From what I understand now is that oil need to have a 40w in the weight designation too have enough zinc to keep from wearing the lifters out. If sticking with the 30w you may want to add a small can of zddp to protect the lifters and cam lobes. This is what I've learned from the guru's on this site and they seem to have it pretty well right.
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By crenwelge - 16 Years Ago
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I ran 10w40 in my first Y-block almost 50 years ago and I still do except now with ZDDP. I have never had a lubricant related problem. I run 5w30 synthetic in my 08 and 09 Chev pickups and 15W50 synthetic in my Mercedes turbo Diesel.
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By 1964fordf100292 - 16 Years Ago
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I use 15w40 rotella deisel oil in my truck yr round. i live where it gets 40 below. it does take a lil time for the oil pressure to come round but from what i've researched thats the only oil that's readily available around here that has the higher zinc content. No parts stores around here carry the valvaline vr1 racing oil and the racing oils with the higher zince content is out of my price range.
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By HT32BSX115 - 16 Years Ago
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1964fordf100292 (10/4/2009)
I use 15w40 rotella deisel oilin my truck yr round. i live where it gets 40 below. it does take a lil time for the oil pressure to come round but from what i've researched thats the only oil that's readily available around here that has the higher zinc content. No parts stores around here carry the valvaline vr1 racing oil and the racing oils with the higher zince content is out of my price range.
If you're starting your engine in -40 (cold-soaked) temps......even with 15W40 your bearings are NOT getting oil for quite some time and your rockers are running "dry" for several minutes!!
Just switch to Shell Rotella 5W-40, Mobil1 5W-40 Turbo Diesel Truck, or any good synthetic. In that temp, I would even consider Mobil 1 0W-40!! You can buy 5qt containers of it at Walmart even for about $22
Cheers,
Rick
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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Thanks everybody, I got really sick so did not get to the oil yet and will take all this info into consideration. I will say, a little off topic, that I will not or will I ever buy anything from Walmart. I am a Union guy and although I do not or can not always buy union and/or American, I can avoid Walmart completely. Sorry for the mini rant but if you know anything about that company and you care about how companies treat thier employees you would make every effort not to go there as well. Pay more for Ma and Pop.
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By speedpro56 - 16 Years Ago
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With the 15w it actually flows pretty well at freezing. Not as good as 5w but I've seen no problems with 15w 50 or 15w 40 in cold startups.in cold startup it's the 15w in the 15w-40 thats working. Been using this stuff for years and it will go thru the bearings and up thru the rockers in short order not in minutes if everything's in good working order.I use pressure gauges and not idiot lights for accurate measures as well. The synthetics stick too the metal parts anyway to help against dry startups.
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By speedpro56 - 16 Years Ago
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Now if you're gonna be running around in 20 to 40 below then I would be going to a thinner oil than what I just mentioned above.
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By HT32BSX115 - 16 Years Ago
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speedpro56 (10/6/2009)
With the 15w it actually flows pretty well at freezing. Not as good as 5w but I've seen no problems with 15w 50 or 15w 40 in cold startups.in cold startup it's the 15w in the 15w-40 thats working. Been using this stuff for years and it will go thru the bearings and up thru the rockers in short order not in minutes if everything's in good working order.I use pressure gauges and not idiot lights for accurate measures as well. The synthetics stick too the metal parts anyway to help against dry startups.
Yes, but he said MINUS 40*F  .......that's nearly 70 degrees F below freezing!..... just about anything except synthetic is sludge at that temp!!
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By speedpro56 - 16 Years Ago
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You're right, that's why I reposted after my earlier response, I didn't catch the -40. WAAAAAYYYY too cold for me
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By paul2748 - 16 Years Ago
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If I lived an an area that was 40 below I would use a block heater - period
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By cbass139 - 16 Years Ago
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It does get close to that cold on days here but I will not be driving on those days. I alread have a block heater, just have to install it but I have a little bit before that is really neaded.
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By HT32BSX115 - 16 Years Ago
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Up here in the (great) NW, if I'm going somewhere in below freezing wx I use the block heater AND I put a small space heater in the cab.
I connect a timer so BOTH come on about 3-4 hrs before I'm going...... both the block AND cab are toasty when I'm ready to go!!
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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paul2748 (10/6/2009)
If I lived an an area that was 40 below I would use a block heater - period I'd MOVE,next door to Gary, or Florida! 
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By speedpro56 - 16 Years Ago
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Me too Ha! Ha!
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