Winter 0W30 & Pennzoil Platinum 5w30

[iaw]

Ok, so I've done some limited research on oil (I'm not a car person yet, but I'm getting there so bear with me) and one of the things I've read is that during the winter you may want to use lower viscosity if the temperature gets below -29C which in my area it does (NB).

I've also that on other sites some people say Pennzoil Platinum is "thin enough to be rated 5w30" and what I'm wondering if what people are using on the oil spec to compare the "thinness" of an oil?

 

[spacedout]

Full synthetic oil will have a much lower cold pour temperature than a normal Dexos synthetic blend oil(like the dealer fill oil) comparing the same viscosity. Owners manual says you can use 0W30 in the winter months and with the temperatures you are dealing with it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Coldest temperatures I've started my 1.4T in with 5W30 Mobil 1 is -20F(-29C), had my cruze 4 winters and hit those temperatures each year. I plan to use 0W30 this winter because my cruze would hammer like the upper valvetrain wasn't getting oil for at least 20 seconds when that cold.

 

[iaw]

Here's the link I'm referring to where people describe PP being like a 0W30 compared to Mobile 1:

0w-30 thicker than 5w-30 Pennzoil Platinum | Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Cars/Pickups/Vans/SUVs | Bob Is The Oil Guy

PP happens to be on sale for $31 (plus another $10 rebate available online ... so $25) for 4.73L here at Canadian Tire.

 

[The Champ]

-29 C is really not all that cold - even for conventional 5W30 oil.

I've actually started cars many times when the air temp (not windchill) was below -50 C back when I lived up in Northern MN.

Any Dexos certified 5W30 will work fine in your climate. But a Dexos certified 0W30 will also work fine if that would make you feel better.

Just as an FYI - In my '64 GTO, I run Mobil 1 15W50 oil (this is Mobil's recommended oil for performance cars with flat tappet cams - it has a high level of ZDDP). The pour point of that oil is -45 C. I don't run my GTO when the temp is below zero, but I could.

Now I would not run that oil in my Sonic because it's not needed and it's not Dexos certified.

But Mobil 1 5W30 is Dexos Certified and has a pour point of -45 C.

 

[iaw]

Just did some quick research and it looks like by far Catrol Edge STP 0w30 clearly has the best low temp viscosity rating according to their spec sheets.

 

[iaw]

Looked at some of the 5w30 ratings and ratings go something like:

1. Castrol Edge Syntec (or FTT a rebranded)
http://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/Files/B6D6425DB1187C8480257C12006048F5/$File/BPXE-9CXU94.pdf

2. Royal Purple
http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/wp-content/uploads/PS_API_MotorOIl.pdf

3. Mobil 1
Mobil 1? 5W-30 | Car Engine Oils & Products | Mobil? Canada

4. Pennzoil Platinum
http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/produ...atinum-SAE-5W-30-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil.pdf

5. Valvoline
http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/synpower.pdf

Didn't look at AMS oil since I'm in Canada.

 

[spacedout]

There's a reason GM's engineers recommend 0W30 oil in cold climates like yours, otherwise they would not have printed in in the owners manual. I plan to use Mobil 1 0W-30, The bottles have green on them and say Advanced Fuel Economy.

In my Cruze and now my Sonic, I have the dealer fill with 5W-30 Mobil 1, Most of the time my dealer uses Part number: 89021614 which comes up as a 55 gallon drum of GM performance Mobil1(corvette Oil). If a dealer is using loose quarts of Mobil 1, I've seen the part number 12345885. When I asked about 0W-30 Oil a few years ago, they didn't have any but said I could bring in my own(dexos approved of course) and they would change at a reduced rate. This was before the all new Silverado in 2014 Started using 0W-20 Oil so things may have changed.

To quote the manual(page 10-11 on my 2015 manual):

"Viscosity Grade: Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade engine oil. Cold Temperature Operation: In an
area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −29°C(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be
used. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low
temperatures.”

 

[spacedout]

Didn't look at AMS oil since I'm in Canada.

That oil is not dexos approved so you are risking your warranty by using it or any other oil that doesn't pay for GM for the dexos label. amsoil guys will try to tell you different but I've seen numerous guys over on the Cruze forum fight and loose that battle. Amsoil could be a great oil, I just would not risk a $50 oil change that may cost me thousands for the price of an engine.

No matter what oil you choose make sure its Dexos approved and has the label, not like amsoil that makes misleading claims on their bottle that say "exceeds Dexos1 requirements". That may be true but without them paying for the license, its not dexos1 approved oil.