5w or 10w question

[humbledeere]

Hi,

Thinking of staying with 10w30 for winter snowblowing (X500) as the machine is kept in heated garage (never colder than about 42degrees)

 

[browns40]

Welcome to the forum. I wouldn't worry a bit about it... you're storing it in the 10W-30 temperature range, then the oil's not cooling while you're working it until you put it back at 42...

 

[humbledeere]

thanks - i am just a nervous nellie. never had a real machine b4 and don't want to mess her up.

 

[IH3444]

If worried, then change oil to Mobil 1 10w-30. Flows better than a 5w at low temps, and protection of a fully synthetic at operating temps. Synthetics provide the resistance to shear forces at the connecting rod bearing 3-4 times greater than a conventional oil. few quarts, cheap insurance.

 

[RalphVa]

Why not use a 5w30 or 0w30 year round? The 0w30 Mobil 1 is what I use. It's okay for light duty (e.g. don't go for 200 hour drains) diesel use. I even used it in my 1983 Benz diesel. It gave 1 mpg increase over 5w40.

Even a 0wxx will be heavier at startup than the "xx" value at operating temperature, even startups in the hot summer.

Ralph

 

[lightninboy]

It sounds like you'll get by with 10W-30 in southeast Wisconsin and a heated garage.