The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop What weight oil for cold weather ?

What would be a good viscosity of oil to use in my 216 motor for Winter weather?

I probably would not start it up if it were any colder outside than 30 degrees but I'd like to use a modern multi viscosity oil like say a 10w 30.

I get days in the forties through out the winter and want to use the truck on those days but think that straight 30 weight would be a bit hard on the six volt starter.

Suggestions ?

10w30 should work fine

Bill

I would agree with Bill. 10w30 is a good all around oil. We use it a lot up here, and it gets below -30 sometimes.
It will be interesting what other thoughts are out there.
Jim

I used 10w30 for 20 years in my truck, but the last 5 years I have been using 5w30, since thats what all my new cars are using. Either way seems just fine.Oh I should add, its been 32 years since the last rebuild. You can draw your own opinion.

I read in the gallery about guy who swore by the 5w30 in his 216. I also think there is something to the 5w part of the equation. I recently bought an '86 GMC conversion van from my neighbor's estate. He had always used 10w40 and the van had always puffed blue smoke when he started the engine. When I got it, I was prepared for at least a valve job, but I changed the oil and put in 5w30. Now it doesn't smoke when you start it, and that was 20000 miles ago. The engine has 160,000 miles on it too. I have another Chevy 4.3 with 265,000 miles on it and it doesn't smoke when I start it either...I also use 5w30 in it. I have a '78 Chevy with 350 in it that I used 10w40, and it has Smoked blue since it had 20,000 miles on it...I bought it new. I also had Jasper rebuild it, and it started smoking almost immediately the same way...when you start it, it smokes blue. I haven't tried it yet, but I am going to put 5w30 in it and see what happens. Just my thoughts, but I am thinking that there is something to the 5w30 that's a good thing. Jim