kitsapfreerider

Instead of hijacking a similar thread i'm starting my own. What oil and additives would be best for cold(-20) winter use and a loud lifter tick? I have 129xxx right now. Right now i'm thinking Seafoam and ATF, run it 25-30 miles. Change with 10w-40 and restore.

ZachsXJ

For temps that cold a 10w40 is too thick of an oil. You'd wanna run a 5w40 or something similar

Abovetimberline

I would even run 5w30 and use a block heater when it is setting,there is alot of additives that you can use,some that claim will cure ticking lifters.I

kitsapfreerider

Everyone tells me i dont need a block heater. What type would you suggest? I'm running a 5w30 right now.

Abovetimberline

I do not live in an area where it gets to -20,but if I did i would have a block heater just to keep the water and oil warm,you can buy them aftermarket or oem heaters from the dealer. If you do not want to use a block heater I would at least use an additive like lucas,slick 50,zmax,to prevent cold dry starts. The lifter ticking is not a huge problem in 4.0s,they seem to like it.

UserID6095

I have Marvel Mystery in her now and it has helped the lifters quite a bit. I run 5w30 for the cold temps here (-10*) with a Mopar filter. Starts up nice and easy, gets to operating temp in under 10mins.

sems

It is around -20*C (-4*F) here during the day and about -30*C (-22*F)at night. I just run normal 5w30 oil, zero additives. Plug it in every night on a timer to turn on two hours before I leave for work. It will warm up the coolant in the block, but a block heater will not do much of anything for warming the oil. You can pick up a magnet oilpan heater which work very well and get the oil nice and warm. Even in the -40*F area I have had no problems with hard starting with just the block heater.

kitsapfreerider

i'll try the magnetic oil pan for now. I let it warm up for about 5 minute each morning. I went through two quarts oil this last two months. No leaks so I think i'm burning it on cold start ups.

Is there anything else that would speed up the cold starts because i'm getting my first responder certification and I would like to not kill my jeep if my pager goes off.

UserID6095

Remote starter so you can start it before you walk out. Wont change how fast it warms up but atleast it will be ready when you go outside.

kitsapfreerider

That's a good idea. You think I would have thought of that. haha

ZachsXJ

Yeah thats a good idea if the oil is thin enough to lube the bearings, thus the 5w30 or 5w40. When you get that cold you gotta be really careful about starting a vehicle to keep from starving parts of oil due to it being too thick. I think the smartest thing to do would be keep it in a garage at refrigerator temps or even a bit colder. Anything above 20F and you should be okay. That or a pan and block heater.

Dwinthrup

I have never ever plugged a vehical in and never will, I know people who do plug in the cars and they don't really seam to be benificial in the long run. I live in mn granted it's not the coldest place on the planet but I've started my cars when it's been -30, just let the engine warm up and you'll be fine is my theroy. But thats just me also I always use 5W30 in the winter.

whowey

Lucas is a thickening agent... or the opposite of what the OP needs.

Slick 50 is one of the worst things out there. Teflon is the active ingrediant in Slick 50. Teflon was never intended to be suspended in a liquid form. Dupont has said repeatedly that they do not recommend the use of Teflon in an engine as teflon will scuff and damage engine internals.

Z-max is just a thin colored mineral oil. It doesn't carry an type of an effective additive package. It will simply thin the oil and lower the effective level of protection.


OP... At -20 you should be running a 5w-x oil at the thickest. A 0w-x would be a option also. Start with a quality oil and skip the crap in a bottle additives. A pump style block heater would also be a good choice. A freeze plug style would be somewhat effective, but only heats a small portion of the engine.

Abovetimberline

There is a reason why they are widley used products,Maybe amsoil would help him also.

quickster2

On our 2001 we use Rotella 5W40 full synthetic year round. Excellent cold weather performance and extra viscosity in summer for a motor whose oil pressure is on the low side.