What Oil Are You Running in Serious Cold?

[villainous_frx]

Which battery do you have? Hopefully something with high CCA. Or at a minimum *not* the OEM battery. I swapped in some 0w20 Eneos (Napa had a really good sale a few weeks back) for the winter season in Calgary, we'll see how it goes.

[Pat]

What's wrong with the OEM battery in cold weather?

[glhs386]

Like others have said, nothing wrong with using an off-the-shelf 0W-20. But if you really want the thinnest oil available while maintaining sufficient HTHS for this engine, try this:

https://www.eneos.us/product/eneos-racing-street-0w-20/

A viscosity index of 239 is nuts and is the highest of any oil I'm aware of. The downside is low TBN, which means you don't want to run it for long intervals, maybe 5000 miles max.

[CedN]

I normally only get -20c here so no special oils, thougt about a block heater anyway since i do alot of short runs., though a webasto fuel heater would probably be on my mind if I lived further up north where temps are much lower. Not sure theres a good place to fit it, but having a warm car and engine wherever you park is nice. They are pretty common here.

[Chezboat24]

Originally Posted by villainous_frx

Which battery do you have? Hopefully something with high CCA. Or at a minimum *not* the OEM battery. I swapped in some 0w20 Eneos (Napa had a really good sale a few weeks back) for the winter season in Calgary, we'll see how it goes.

I have a Napa battery - came with the car. Started in the -25 or whatever it was this morning pretty well so I'm fairly confident with it moving forward.

I may need to add some weight to the back soon. The ice is killing this thing, even with studs. It's sliding everywhere, and not in a good way haha

[suppjc]

Hey fellow Calgarian (unless I'm mistaken)

Good thing you are more confident with starting in the cold temp. I plug in the block heater once it goes below -20c for easier start. It hasn't been a problem since I got mine back in sep 2020. I'm wondering what tires you are running with? I did cheap out on winter tires (still winter tires but cheap chinese branded ones), so I decided I will definitely spend more on quality ones, but still I was able to commute every day. As long as I could make the first 50 minutes in the resident area I find it is ok to drive on highway and such.

[Sasquachulator]

My car's all stock and OEM. I started off with whatever factory oil it had, and right now i have whatever toyota OEM synthetic oil is in it lol. I think its 0W20 or 0W30, whatever the rated engine oil weight is.

Dont have any issues starting in winter. Ive never actually used the block heater in any of my cars lol. I keep thinking i might start using it when it gets really cold but....never had any issue starting the car.

The last time i had any significant brand name oil in a car was when my 2006 Corolla XRS was using Motul synthetic of whatever weight oil the car was rated for (5W30 i think?)

Currently using Yokohama Iceguard IG53. They're not as grippy as i'd like. (Fresh Conti DWS06 and Michelin Xice seem to grip better on ice.)

[RToyo86]

Originally Posted by Pat

What's wrong with the OEM battery in cold weather?

It chugs hard when it gets really cold. If my memory is correct they're rated around 300CCA. Mine lasted three years but lived in a garage overnight in the winter the first two. I believe they're comparable to a group 35 battery which are typically rated around 550-600cca.

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

It chugs hard when it gets really cold. If my memory is correct they're rated around 300CCA. Mine lasted three years but lived in a garage overnight in the winter the first two. I believe they're comparable to a group 35 battery which are typically rated around 550-600cca.

Oem battery only lasts maybe 4 anyway. But yes when time to replace I would get a better battery.

[Tokay444]

The same Mobil1 0W40 I run in the summer.

[Chezboat24]

Originally Posted by suppjc

Hey fellow Calgarian (unless I'm mistaken)

Good thing you are more confident with starting in the cold temp. I plug in the block heater once it goes below -20c for easier start. It hasn't been a problem since I got mine back in sep 2020. I'm wondering what tires you are running with? I did cheap out on winter tires (still winter tires but cheap chinese branded ones), so I decided I will definitely spend more on quality ones, but still I was able to commute every day. As long as I could make the first 50 minutes in the resident area I find it is ok to drive on highway and such.

Sorry, just saw this. I'm in Okotoks so close enough.

Currrently running studded Federal Himalayas on my 16" steelies. I think they're 225/55 off the top of my head. I'm on stock suspension. The only extra thing I have is two 50lb salt bags in the trunk for added traction. I haven't had any problems so far.

[CedN]

I run Michelin Xnice Snow in standard size, also rate the Hakkapelitta R3s. Do you run studded tyres over there? That is normally the superior option, but they arent so nice on the dry. For this weight of car i would ideally use narrower tyres if i would optimise it for snow and ice.

[Ultramaroon]

Xnotsonice

[Chezboat24]

Originally Posted by CedN

I run Michelin Xnice Snow in standard size, also rate the Hakkapelitta R3s. Do you run studded tyres over there? That is normally the superior option, but they arent so nice on the dry. For this weight of car i would ideally use narrower tyres if i would optimise it for snow and ice.

Yes - studded tires are permitted in this area of Canada. Haven't had much dry here in town recently so the studs have been putting in work.

Had them on my old car and they're basically brand new so I just swapped them over. The old tires were meaty enough X-Ices but they were dated 2012.