The "or equivalent" comment means exactly as you describe... check you manual and use what engine oil the manufacturer recommends for your specific vehicle. For Audi's and other higher end brands I have always used full synthetic engine oil.

0W30 is better than 5W30 in extreme cold temperatures as it is thinner when cold. Extreme cold is assumed Arctic conditions.

I use 5W30 year round and plug in the pan heater around -28C and especially below -35C.

 

OK, good; this is what I wanted to hear. Thanks very much.
[Yeah, full synthetic... ! ]

 

The oil is rated on its ability to flow.
The first number tells you about cold temperature. The second number tells you of how it flows in high temperature.

0WX oil flows better in cold than 5WX oil.
The second numbers (in your case 30) describes how the oil flows in 100 degree temperature and it is the same, so for winter 0W30 is better than 5W30.

It raises the hair on my head that you guys use such thin oil. Maybe I need to be reeducated?

 

I guess it all depends what you use your car for.. I know you and I use simular oil.. It states in the maintenance guide for my car, that I can use 5W30, but thats only recommended for those who make short trips and in town driving.. My manual even states the you can use a 15W50 which is recommended for those who do a lot of hwy driving and long drives.

 

In actuallity, If you plot the 5w30 against a 10w40 on a Striebeck curve to determine protection for high temperatures, the 5w30 does better for the higher temperatures than the 10w40! odd isn't it? Put a jar of 5w30 outside in -40c or -40f and try to pour it out of the bottle, you will know for yourself if you think a pan heater is good or not. The oil will not flow. The engine may start but will it get lubrication? I have done this to demonstrate to my customers about cold startups and it is not difficult to decide once it has been witnessed.

 

Hey midrange you goddam ****er I just cleaned the ground and I have no dtc s. Thx

 

Hey, what can I say.. Goddamn ****ers are good for something.. It would have been a little more appropriate to post this in the thread I suggested to clean your grounds though.. I bet some people wonder where that post came from...

Good to hear though..

 

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include -heather
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all come in the box.

 

I dont get the point of these block heaters. Dont you need to plug it in to an outlet? Im sure most parking lots dont have one. Normally if your car is parked at home, if you can, park it in the garage.

 

I cant belive this thread is still going... WOW!

If the engineers didnt put it in, you think you should? Their calcs werent good enough???

Some people.....Geeeez, talk about paranoid