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

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford

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.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

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. 

55Birdman  Hickory NC

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.

Location:Washington,Ia

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.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

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.

-Gary Burnette-

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.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

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.

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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1955 F-600/272/E4OD// Disclaimer: No animals were injured while test driving my F-600 except the ones I ran over intentionally!

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This post was created using OpenSuSE Linux x64 and Firefox

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.

1958 F100 292

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

"Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice."

-Henry Ford