Are you using this oil in 110+ degree temps?

I have tried to find the answer with no luck. I see of a few people reporting they used this in 100 degree temperatures with good results.

I live in Phoenix, AZ and it is getting pretty hot. I dont know how safe I feel running 0w-30 in these temps.

I read that this oil is thicker and is more like a 40 weight. Any input is great.

Thanks

Why are you worried about running this in the summer?

Assuming your not changing your oil ever 2k-3k, I'd go in this order:
Shear Stable 40 weight > Shear Stable 30 weight > "Regular" 40 weight > "Regular" 30 weight
Better > Worse

If you are changing your oil often:
Shear Stable 40 weight > "Regular" 40 weight > Shear Stable 30 weight > "Regular" 30 weight
Better > Worse

I consider GC to be an exception though. It's reasonably priced and receives high praise from true oil experts.

GC is close to a thin 40 weight oil. OR GC is a thick 30 weight oil.
However you want to see it.

GC is an extremely shear stable oil - meaning, it stays close to its original viscosity. This has been proven through UOAs (Used Oil Analysis) and through lab tests.
I'll try to find the link where some guys ran real tests. (Not the at-home tests.)

Just wait for some posts...

Some are gonna say, "You crazy to run a 30 weight in hot weather or any weather!"
Others will say, "Use 5w-30, it don't matter."

My personal input, use GC and get a $20 UOA if it really worries you.

Why are you worried about running this in the summer?

Because of it being too thin and the upcoming summer.

Just wait for some posts...

Some are gonna say, "You crazy to run a 30 weight in hot weather or any weather!"
Others will say, "Use 5w-30, it don't matter."

My personal input, use GC and get a $20 UOA if it really worries you.

I figured I would get mixed inputs. I know it is my car and in the end, I am going to be dealing with it if I mess it up.

I kind of want to put some thicker oil in there just to be safe, but I have GC sitting in my garage right now.

I am putting on a vf-28 soon. It is not much bigger of a turbo but the engine will be putting out more power than stock.

but GC is thicker than are most other 30s

Use it. GC is good stuff. See FD's FAQ on BITOG for a good bit of info...

probably ok - why take the chance? What if it hits 115 and you are stuck in traffic?

What chance? German Castrol is a very thick 30 weight oil. It offers excellent protection in almost all conditions. I live in northern LA county where the temps often reach the 110's in summer. I've been running GC since shortly after break-in and returned excellent UOA's regardless of the weather.

ive also heard lots of good things about GC and would like to try it for myself, but where do you guys get it besides autozone? Between the two autozones near me one was OOS and one only had 2 bottles, any consistent places to get it?

I would use it. I'm not using it in 110+F temps, but last summer my car saw quite a few days at 100.

Here's my UOA from last summer (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=867745&referrerid=767)

After 6k miles, it was still thicker than most unused 30 weights. I just took my current fill to 7,500. As FD777 mentioned, you want a shear stable oil in those temps. Ester based oils (GC, Motul, Redline, etc.) should hold up best.

Do a search on bitog to see if anyone has experience with it in the Southwest.

kg - In the U.S. you can only get it at Autozone.

-Dennis

kg2128,

There should be a ton of AutoZones in So Cal. (Unless you're in the outskirts.)

Your best bet would be to call them first and find out which carry GC.
It'll save you a lot of time and gas :D

As bluesubie implied, Other than AZ, there are no other places to get it.

I think GC might be too thick for my application in the winter (5 miles commute each way daily).

My UOA came back on a 7,500 mile OCI with 2.3% fuel dilution and the GC thickened up to 66.4 SUS. I never thought I would be saying that a 0W30 is too thick. :lol:
That's the magic of the elves I suppose. ;)

Full UOA will be posted later in a new thred.

-Dennis

I just switched to Castrol Syntec 5w-50 yesterday from M1 5w-30 and had a track day today. So far, so good.