I own a 1992 firebird, with the 3.1L V6. It has 123,000 miles on it, and I have been running 20/50 racing oil in it. Currently 90% of my driving is highway miles in southern Texas, but I'm going to move to Dayton, Ohio on a job transfer. It gets very cold in Ohio, at least compared to my South Texas standards of temperature. Does anyone think It could hurt my engine if I switch to a 5/30, or perhaps a 10/30. What about 10/40? All suggestions will be appreciated, well except leaving the car behind. By the way, the car will be moved on a trailer, I will not drive it to Dayton.

thanks,
Craig C.

 

10W30 will suite you fine.

 

Just make sure not to go with thick oil that cold weather won't help it loosen up, I use 10W30 and go to college in Western MD, close to WISP if anyone knows where that is.

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Other than the actual viscosity, a major difference between a 5W and 10W oil is that the 5W has to be able to pour at -20 degrees F, while the 10W (or any other rating above that) does not.

If the car sits outside and the temp gets below -20 at night, that can be an important factor to consider.

However, good ol' synthetics (typically) pour well below -20 regardless of the viscosity rating, and provide better overall protection anyway.

FWIW, the -20 pour point was adopted after the winter of '83-'84, when the midwest experienced over a week of bone-chilling temps that went below -20 every night, with day-time highs below zero. The factories paid for a lot of engines with spun bearings after the owners started them up with gel in the crankcase for oil. A GM rep admitted, though, that they didn't have a single warranty claim on engines that had AMSOIL or Mobil 1 in the crankcase during that cold snap. Rather than finally indorsing synthetics, they just imposed that -20 pour point for 5W oils instead.

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I remember that!!!!!! My family (Mom, Dad, sis & bro) and I had just came back from a vacation in Florida the 3rd day that happened!!!!!!! My Dad's Cadillac had sat out there (@ O'hare airport) and of course, wouldn't start!!!!! We has to wait 3 1/2 - 4 hrs. for my oldest sister to come pick us up.

I was gonna suggest that you get the 5W-30 also. It gets very cold here in the Midwest, as well as very HOT!!! Living here is like moving to Alaska in the winter, and then to Florida in the summer. But you don't have to pack and move. The drastic weather comes to you.

AJ

 

10W-30 Mobil1 and a block heater will do ya fine. I've started cars at -40C with a block heater(-35C with a manual choke and without a block heater) and haven't had a prob with the 10W-30.

I start pluggung in around -10C(it's been hovering around -15C for the last week here). This makes starting a lot easier, and eliminates the cold idle time(engine goes right to 450 - 500 rpm).

Don't forget the gas line anti-freeze. Coming from a warmer clime, you'll likely pick-up some condensation, which will plug the fuel filter if it freezes.

 

Thought I'd post because I used to live in the Northeast and I moved to Florida and I will be moving back to the Northeast in about a week also. I had a 92 3.1L when I lived in northern MD and I always used the 10W30 and never had any problems, but I always kept my car in a garage. I'd just use the synthetic and not forget all the different antifreezes.