Oil for cold conditions

[FreeJack]

Greetings all!

I've got a problem I have been trying to solve for a few weeks now. Maybe a TurboBuick owner in a cold climate could give me a bit of advice.


I'm in Colorado. Just moved here from Florida.

On really cold days, when it get below 20 my car will not start. First I thought it was just bad gas, Florida gas may have water in it and froze my lines. Yesterday it started fine and I drove it all over! Well today it will not start. It tries, the engine turns over but it will not continue. I am now leaning to maybe the oil is a bit too thick and the engine will not run.

My question is this. What would be a good oil to put in it after I get it heated up and running again.

I was thinking 5w30 Synthetic...

Thanks!

 

[BLACKOUT]

5W30 synthetic sounds good... if you are in an area that has -30 to -40 there are 0W30 synthetics also made. Most engine wear in normally driven automobiles occurs ar start up due to delayed lubrication, due to too thick an oil.

 

[PhenixCityGN]

I would use the 5w-30 surrounded by a vehicle that would be less absurd for use during a colorado winter

 

[FreeJack]

Looks like I'm going with 5w 30.

Thanks

 

[bsdlinux]

I am now leaning to maybe the oil is a bit too thick and the engine will not run.

What the hell?? I've never heard that before.

 

[blown okie]

What the hell?? I've never heard that before.

just think about it.

 

[ronbuick]

I have a friend that has a ranch in Montana and in the winter months all they use is syn. oils in their vehicles cause they start and turn over much easier, they need to get out and feed the cattle, they are just south of Miles city.
hth helps, also I would add a additive to the oil cause of our friendly EPA all the oils with the starburst symbol have all the good stuff the older cars need have been removed if you have flat tappet cam. you want a happy camshaft, so feed it with the right addirives, or you could use a 5-40 syn, which has a very low pour point also, and not worry about the additives.

Ron

 

[ronbuick]

PS, I would use Valvoline Synpower 5-40, but that is up to you.

Ron

 

[FreeJack]

It looks like it was the oil. I got it running after putting a heater uner it for a few hours. Let it idle for about 30 minutes to warm up, went to Auto Zone and got Mobil One 5W30 and a PF52 filter. I went home and did a oil change so I know the oil was still hot. This morning it was around 15... Car started up just fine!

Maybe my oil broke down faster than I thought it would and at the lower temps gummed up?

The guy at Auto Zone recommended this oil additive I think the name was Miracle Oil or something. If this is not good. Give me a name of one I can get.

Thanks

 

[ChavoLC2]

Additives

There has been quite a discussion on how oil has changed over the years by oil companies because of EPA,emissions, etc etc. Our engines need the stuff (zddp)especially engines with flat tappet cams. Wouldn't put Miracle oil in it at all. There are lengthy very informative threads/posts on ZDDP the additive . Kirbans sells what you need by the case. What weight of oil did you have in your car that it wouldn't crank over 90wt? Do you park your car outside? Have 50wt. dino oil in engine(it's thicker then molasses) an the temp in the mornings is below freezing and car starts up, well you learn something new/interesting everyday. Glad it started with oil change. Can't argue with success . Back to additives GM makes a product and so does STP(blue bottle I believe) which you can get at local auto parts store

 

[bsdlinux]

My RP 20-50 works great even in the 20s here and even when I'm running E-85. Quit using crap oil. I got tired of using additives, no reason to use a cheaper oil and then add additives in these cars.

 

[FreeJack]

I put Mobil One 5w30 in. I don't think that oil has the proper additives for our engines. Auto Zone near didn't seem to have anything except the miracle oil.
I'll check discount.

Here's another thing that may be a problem... Maybe not. It didn't dawn on me until after the oil change and I was checking for leaks and letting it run for a while there was a lot of condensation coming out of the exhaust. Could that mean a higher amount of water in the fuel?

 

[FreeJack]

I was doing research ZDDP on the internet. I came across this website...

ZddPlus - ZDDP Additive for Classic Cars - Agricultural Equipment

Has anyone heard of them or used this? $10.00 a bottle is not much to save my engine.

Also.... Does this stuff mess with emissions? I'm getting my car ready for Colorado Emissions.

Thanks

 

[GNRick]

When my car became hard to start it was the beginning of the end for my MAF. IF you still have the factory MAF you might want to carry a spare.

 

[FreeJack]

hmmm... Never thought of that. I do have an extra Cardone MAF. I will have to thow it is in the trunk. It was just weird that when it was in Florida I never had a problem starting. But since it has seen temps around 15 it was a pain to start. I didn't drive it from Florida to Colorado but had it on a car transport.

Since the oil change no more problems (knock on wood). Kinda weird.

I did experience a strange thing. I was coasting down a long grade outside Golden, CO on I-70. I was at about 65MPH my Check Engine Light came on. When I got to the bottom of the grade and started up the next the light went off. I will need to hook up turbolink and see what the codes were. But that is another weird thing. My car has never thrown a code. Maybe the MAF is going. I had a MAF go on a GN is owned. But it would start but run real crapy. Like it was missing real bad. This kinda of starting problem is different. Like the one or two injectors working or maybe two cylinders are firing. Nothing sustaining. Just fire fire stop... fire fire stop.

Thanks for that tip! I may need to order an new one (probably Cardone) as another spare.

 

[GNRick]

hmmm... Never thought of that. I do have an extra Cardone MAF. I will have to thow it is in the trunk. It was just weird that when it was in Florida I never had a problem starting. But since it has seen temps around 15 it was a pain to start. I didn't drive it from Florida to Colorado but had it on a car transport.

Since the oil change no more problems (knock on wood). Kinda weird.

I did experience a strange thing. I was coasting down a long grade outside Golden, CO on I-70. I was at about 65MPH my Check Engine Light came on. When I got to the bottom of the grade and started up the next the light went off. I will need to hook up turbolink and see what the codes were. But that is another weird thing. My car has never thrown a code. Maybe the MAF is going. I had a MAF go on a GN is owned. But it would start but run real crapy. Like it was missing real bad. This kinda of starting problem is different. Like the one or two injectors working or maybe two cylinders are firing. Nothing sustaining. Just fire fire stop... fire fire stop.

Thanks for that tip! I may need to order an new one (probably Cardone) as another spare.

A buick mechanic recently told me that Buick MAF's were crap from day one. When yours gives up the ghost I would go the translator route. That is what I did. Here in Illinois we get 15 degree weather and my car starts fine. I hope you make a lot more money now, having gone from sunny florida to cold Colorado. I bought some land in Fla. three years ago and can't wait to retire there in 6 years. I'm tired of Illinois winters!

 

[FreeJack]

Where in Florida?

I hope you have lots of retirement. Florida is not as cheap as people think anymore. Almost as bad as New York or New Jersey, Taxes and all. I was tired of the constant heat and humidity. Try working on a car in 90+ heat with 90% humidity! Sucks the life out of you! And yes!!!! I went up at least 25K a year here! Same job! State income tax sucks, and now emissions.

BUT WHAT A VIEW!!!!!

Check this out! This was the start of my problems!

It is now in the garage all the time!

A buick mechanic recently told me that Buick MAF's were crap from day one. When yours gives up the ghost I would go the translator route. That is what I did. Here in Illinois we get 15 degree weather and my car starts fine. I hope you make a lot more money now, having gone from sunny florida to cold Colorado. I bought some land in Fla. three years ago and can't wait to retire there in 6 years. I'm tired of Illinois winters!

 

[GNRick]

I bought 10 acres in a little town called Ona. It is currently an orange grove. It is 45 miles east of Bradenton. I like ocean instead of mountains, but that's just me. It is 20 miles south of Lakeland, not far from Sebring. I know hot weather is bad, but cold winters and snow is worse to me. I hope they do something about rising homeowner's insurance rates. Well I better stop typing or they will move this to the lounge.