Thread: Oil Change with Topsider or similar
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Old Apr 18, 2011 | 11:48 PM
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onehundred80
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Default Re: Oil Change with Topsider or similar
Originally Posted by dtinker
Technically you are probably correct, but even hot it was pretty thin. I am going to buy something similar to the Top sider. I used to get under the car all the time, but I'm older, fatter, and not as flexible as I used to be. Still like to work on my car though, but just need an easier ( for me) way to do it.
Oil gets thinner as it gets hotter. Full stop.

Multi-grade oil is selected on the basis of initial starting temperature but at normal operating temperature it has to stay thick enough so it isn't useless. At low temperatures it has to be thin enough to work until the engine reaches the normal operating temperature.

If you lived in a climate with a constant temperature you would not need a multi grade oil. The reason being that the correct oil would be thin enough in the cold engine and remain thick enough at the operating temperature.

In a warmer climate you could use a 5W or a 10W oil which would be damaging to do in a cold climate.

The oil film has to be of a sufficient thickness to prevent metal to metal contact. The oil forms a cushion on which parts move, if the cushion is too soft (oil to thin) it will get squeezed away, to hard (oil too thick) and the cushion cannot form.

That's the way I see it.

The Canadian Crossfires at least (maybe all Crossfires) come with a block heater and this would have to be used when the 0W-40 oil was not suitable for the ambient temperature. The heaters use would be beneficial on cold days anyway.
 
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