winter oil change

Ricoh · 10-07-2009, 08:29 AM

Just a quick question as I am still a novice diesel owner. Should I switch to a different oil for the winter? It now has 14-40 in it. I live in Ottawa ,Ontario ,Canada and it gets pretty friken cold up here in the winter. Anything else I should be changing or adding for the cold temps. 05 Chevy ext cab 2500 HD.

Thanks

Rick

Follmer · 10-07-2009, 08:48 AM

I would switch to a synthetic oil. I recommend Schaeffer 7,000 or 9,000. Schaeffer is a very dependable and long lasting oil. We have equipment that we change oil in and when i start dumping it the oil hardly looks used. It comes out a light brown rather than black. I send oil analysis samples in and then usually they will have me increase the intervals.

Thats what I would recommend. But for winter change to a thiner oil and preferably a synthetic. Hope that helps!

**Chevy*tough** · 10-07-2009, 09:18 AM

well i would recommend AMSOIL Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Oil and Amsoil Ea Oil filter when used together you are guaranteed up to 3XOEM miles or 1 year between oil changes if properly flushed with Amsoil Engine Flush.

also for WINTER fuel treatment i would go with the AMSOIL Diesel Concentrate Plus Cold Flow Improver

and for SUMMER i would go with AMSOIL Diesel Fuel Additive Concentrate and AMSOIL Cetane Boost Diesel Fuel Additive
Let me know if i can help you get these at wholesale prices??

maxxflip · 10-07-2009, 09:29 AM

Switch to 5w40 mobil 1 is probably the most accesable any will do perferable SYN
Check antifreeze freeze point at least -45, use a winter front it will dramaticly speed up warm up time and keep the truck at operating temp not to mention keeping your feet warm, winter wiper blades, make sure block heater is working, i run winter rated tires
so i can stop with 13,000lbs behind me thats all for now ill edit if i think of anything else

bluearc74 · 10-09-2009, 02:40 PM

I was going to throw an adhesive 250 Watt oil pan heater on my truck and just keep using the 15W40 non synthetic instead of changing back and forth. A buddy of mine here in Canada as well has been doing exactly this without any problems. The mechanics at DSG diesel shop actually recommend staying with non synthetic and using 5w40 or 0W40 in the winter. There isn't really any times where I am unable to plug the truck in anyway. If I do decide to stay non synthetic what do you guys recommend for brand wise? Any help on this would be great. Also putting 5W40 synth in the transfer case is the way to go or what?

**ob_1jr** · 10-09-2009, 03:15 PM

As for the original question, i would just make sure you at least have pan heaters on your truck. I also contemplated switching back and forth between 5w40 and 15w40. There is no reason to do that. I use 5w40 year round. I have used delvac 1 and now i am using AMSOIL in 5w40.

I feel at least for myself it is important to use a synthetic oil in the cold, not to mention the extended drain intervals with it.

As far as the transfer case, it was recommened to put 5w30 in there not 5w40...will it make a difference though, probably not as long as it is a synthetic oil....at least in the extreme cold of the north.

bluearc74 · 10-09-2009, 05:16 PM

Doesn't amsoil recommend Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Oil only in 2007 and newer trucks and Series 3000 SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil in pre 2007?

**zack** · 10-09-2009, 05:22 PM

i run shell rotella t 15w40 dino oil all year round, and it gets to -50 here at times, never used a winter front, never plugged in, never any issues starting.

**Dirtbikindad393** · 10-09-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricoh

Just a quick question as I am still a novice diesel owner. Should I switch to a different oil for the winter? It now has 14-40 in it. I live in Ottawa ,Ontario ,Canada and it gets pretty friken cold up here in the winter. Anything else I should be changing or adding for the cold temps. 05 Chevy ext cab 2500 HD.

Thanks

Rick

Well to better answer your question how many miles a year do you drive the truck? If you drive the truck 30k miles a year or more then you could switch back and forth for summer and winter. I really think you would be just as well off by running a 5W-40 oil all the time though. With the bitter cold you get up there you should be looking into a synthetic oil.

**mrmanners** · 10-09-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluearc74

Doesn't amsoil recommend Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Oil only in 2007 and newer trucks and Series 3000 SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil in pre 2007?

Chris, 15W-40 first, 5W-40 second and 5w-30 third according to the product look up guide in your PC area. 5W-30 has the colder pour point but the 5W-40 has the newest additive packages. Truthfully either one will work. I just stay with the same weight when I am recommending for folks.

Take care,