[Shotimes] Anyone want to talk about oil?

[Ron Porter]

First off, the opinion of mechanics about motor oil is not any more valid
than the opinion of your proctologist. Because you change it doesn't mean
you under the chemistry & engineering behind it.

Remember that the coolant in your engine gets to above the boiling point,
and stays there (hopefully!!) regardless of the outside temperature. Pretty
much the same with you motor oil. Gets to 250-ish, plus or minus a few
degrees, regardless of the outside temp. The engine block/heads and other
metal parts get hot enough to fry an egg on, regardless of the outside temp.
A swing of a few degrees (relatively speaking) in outside temps from 70 to
100 degrees don't matter much.

Car mfrs are conservative, and they test in in every climate and altitude. I
would go with their recommendations.

Your mechanic buddies also need to learn that newer engines rely on high oil
volume, and not high pressure like older engines.  To loosely quote an old
commercial from one of the oil companies, most wear occurs at engine
startup. "Thinner" oil helps you out more there. Also, bearing and other
engine clearances are tighter than in the "old days", or for what is used on
pure race motors.

They are correct in keeping with regular oil changes, though. There are many
SHO engines on these lists that have gone 150-200-250-300K+ miles, most with
hard driving their entire lives. I would say that most folks have followed
the mfrs recommendations (as I have over the years) and have had no issues.

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jonathon Beisler
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 12:22 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: [Shotimes] Anyone want to talk about oil?


I know that oil has been talked about on this list ad nauseam, but what the
hell.  I was talking with two of my cousins over the weekend, who are both
mechanics.  Some how we got around to talking about oil and viscosity.
Living in here in sunny, hot, Florida as we do, they stated that they are of
the belief that heavier weight oil is best for the engines because it gets
so hot down here and that even if 5W-20 for my MPV (duratec 3.0) and 5W-30
(SHO 3.2) are recommended for the engines that it really isn't best for the
motors when it's hotter than H-E-double hockey sticks down here.  I have
noticed in the past that the oil going in really it like water.  They said
that the manufacturers put that kind of oil in to reduce drag on the
internals and thus improving fuel economy for government regs.  So, they
suggested 20W-50 for summer and no less than 10W-40 for winters.  Not to get
into discussions about oil brands and types, does anyone have any comments
and would 20W50 be to!
o much for my engines?  They did end up saying that regular oil changes are
the most important thing for the engines, so I am just curious as I am very
anal and going outside builder recommendations is hard for me.  Please help
an anal man ease his mind.  Thanks!  JB
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