Winterize....Alberta bound.

[prairiefire]

Thanks for all the tips guys. We don't see real winter out here on the coast so It's great to have some insight as to where it can get real cold. So what I'm gathering is I should run a lower weight synthetic ( i.e. 5w40). I can probably skip the inline heater since I have a block heater. It may be a good idea though since I have yet to overhaul my ip and the van will be sitting in camp for a week at a time. I plan on getting my battery/alternator tested. Battery, glow plugs, water pump and thermostat are all about 2 yrs old. A/F is only a little over a year old. I'll check the strength of it and possibly change with a new thermostat in their for good measure.

[prairiefire]

15w40 synthetic won't cut it? Still to thick.

[Mr. Flibble]

15w40 synthetic won't cut it? Still to thick.

Yes, for those conditions you want 0w30 or similar if possible. The lower that first number, the better. Best to actually test your glowplugs, some of mine have failed after a year and a half. You want to know that they work as opposed to guessing. You may also want to have a spare or two to have in your glovebox.

[prairiefire]

Guess I'll grab some 5W40 Rotella T6. I think that's all we have around these parts. I'll get Butch to look at the glowplugs. I still have my originals...some may still work. If not I'll grab a spare off him. ;)

[Erebus]

I now run 5w40 year round, since Calgary can get below zero any month of the year.

When I first got my Delica in 2008, block heaters hadn't been figured out so I put in an in-line coolant heater. Then a couple of years later I added the block heater. An in-line heater is horribly inefficient, since the heated coolant will, by convection, flow up into the radiator to cool off.

When I replace my radiator last year, I replaced the hoses and removed the in-line heater. I have noticed no difference between having both versus only the block heater.

When it is below -10, I like to have the block heater going for at least an hour before engine start. But I've started it at -20 with no block heating. The Deli didn't like it, and it took about a minute of cranking before it ran without the starter helping it, but it started.

By the way, I'm still running my dual Japanese batteries. I'm suspecting they were pretty new when I got the vehicle 5 1/2 years ago, since they are still going strong. So not all Delis come with dead batteries!

[nxski]

One thing to note about 5w40 in very hot conditions...it will leak out anywhere it can, especially the synthetics. I found this while driving it hard in the USA during summer and even though I was only 6000k through my normal 20,000km cycle, I changed it immediately to 15W40. I've been informed that it can be problematic to run thin oil too because it's too liquid to provide good protection. Some use it year round and depending on how hard you're driving, where you're driving or how long you're driving for, it may be worth switching it from Winter to Summer.

[Erebus]

One thing to note about 5w40 in very hot conditions...it will leak out anywhere it can, especially the synthetics. I found this while driving it hard in the USA during summer and even though I was only 6000k through my normal 20,000km cycle, I changed it immediately to 15W40. I've been informed that it can be problematic to run thin oil too because it's too liquid to provide good protection. Some use it year round and depending on how hard you're driving, where you're driving or how long you're driving for, it may be worth switching it from Winter to Summer.

I don't really get that. The 5 or 15 is when the oil is ambient temperature, they will both be 40 weight when at engine operating temp. Are you suggesting that when the engine is cold, the 5w will drip out between engine parts?

[nxski]

When it was cold it dripped out of every seal as well as while it was hot. CVI warned me against running it while I was on my trip through the southern states during summer.

I won't bother to pretend I know anything about oil but if lighter is better why does heavier oil even exist?

[psilosin]

I won't bother to pretend I know anything about oil but if lighter is better why does heavier oil even exist?

Heavier oil exists quite simply because as oil ages it tends to eat more and exercise less.

[CREGAN]

I won't bother to pretend I know anything about oil but if lighter is better why does heavier oil even exist?

Heavier oil exists quite simply because as oil ages it tends to eat more and exercise less.

Well played. Dr.Psilosin -Delica M.D.

[Mr. Flibble]

I won't bother to pretend I know anything about oil but if lighter is better why does heavier oil even exist?

Heavier oil exists quite simply because as oil ages it tends to eat more and exercise less.

This is why I use P90X for all my oil needs.

[403delica]

Last 3 posts = best posts ever

[nxski]

Last 3 posts = best posts ever

Agreed! Thanks for the simple explanation. my 5w40 worked very well in the winter but started to leak out a lot on the hot freeways down south (about 1L in a long 1000km drive). Since Butch had warned me about it I switched to 15W40 and proceeded to drive 15,000km and only lost another 1L over that entire time. If the oil weight didn't cause this could abyone shed some light on what might have?

[Spearo]

Ban all OIL THREADS!

FWIW, I started using 0/40 this year and the difference is notable in -25C. But I always switch to 15/40 in the Spring so haven't seen the leakage you guys mentioned.

Erik

[jan_anna]

I now run 5w40 year round, since Calgary can get below zero any month of the year.

I've recently purchased an L400 and brought it here to Calgary. can you tell me where you purchase your 5w40.