What is the ideal viscosity for philipine climate?

[mikbik]

I know, this has been a long debate kung ano talaga ang tama o  magandang viscosity ng oil for you climate.
due to our tropical climate tama ba the we should start w/ a 10W, 15W or mas better and 20W??

and end up w/ 40 or 50? i believe that 20W-50 is mostly used in street racing. does it mean it is good beause of the protection in gives during and in hotter conditions?

[squalastic]

20W-50 is thicker than other oils. It offers better protection, especially for older engines. But its thickness makes engine parts move with more effort. It's like comparing efforts in stirring a thick cookie mixture and a thin blend of coffee. Therefore, 20W-50 is not really known to be a performance oil. And if I'm not mistaken, there is no synthetic blend of this viscosity.

The W here stands for winter. The first figure (e.g. 15) is how thin the oil can become as the temperature decreases. A lower number makes cold starts easier, since there is less resistance for engine parts to move. The last figure (e.g. 40) is how thick it can become as the temperature becomes hotter. As I have said, a higher number gives more protection, but a lower one gives the engine less stress.

In tropical climates like ours, the recommended maximum thickness is at least 40.

[mikbik]

20W-50 is thicker than other oils. It offers better protection, especially for older engines. But its thickness makes engine parts move with more effort.

How old is the car? for a 20W-50 oil? Sir, what if I use a 20W50 synthetic oil on a 89 model car and a 94 model?

[speedyfix]

i guess there is no ideal oil for all cars... it will depend on each specific case and what the intended use is.

[johnqpublic318]

One more time...

0W-30, 10W-30 or even 5w-30 is okay for Philippine climate as long as the manufacturer recommends it.  

On some late-model Fords, the recommendation is even 5W-20.  Some Ford engines are designed with tolerances to run on this low viscosity multi-grade.

The lower value on a 10W-30 is its winter grade.  It is the oil's ability to flow and hold its properties at a specific cold temperature.  It does not affect the "hot weather" grade or weight.  A 0W-30 oil will work just as good as a 10W-30 oil in the Philippines.

Older engines need higher viscosity oil because they were designed with greater tolerances.  Using a 20W-50 on newer vehicles that requires 5W-20, 5W-30 or 0w-40 is not the best thing to do.  Cold start wear just increases and so does hp pumping losses.  

Use 20W-50 on your old 70s-80s Lancer with 150,000km or when it's only called for but follow what the manufacturer says on your new engine.

True... I kinda agree that 5W-20 may be pushing it but Ford recommends it on some.  However, I would never use 20W-50 on a brand-new engine unless the manual specifically calls for it.  It may cause more harm than good.

0W is not needed for Philippine conditions but having it does not affect "hot temp" viscosity.

It's common for full-synthetic oils to have a very low "winter temp" grade such as 0W and 5W because synthetics perform "their job" under a wider range of temperatures compared to mineral based.

Having a 0W grade doesn't mean an ultra-thin oil if its actually a 0W-40 and not just 0W!

Philippine ambient temps almost never exceed 39 deg Celsius (around 102 F) and  is nothing compared to the 118F in Arizona where many "hot weather" proving grounds are located.  However, relative humidity is often above 60% so people perceive the Philippines to be hotter.

Humidity isn't a factor in determining the right engine oil viscosity to use.

15W-50 can be used but you'll have a difficult time finding a manufacturer that will recommend it on a 90s or newer vehicle.  

[Conan®]

And if I'm not mistaken, there is no synthetic blend of this viscosity.

I just purchased Redline Synthetic Oil 20W 50 for my Nissan 200SX Turbo. Check your car's manual. Mine says it's ok to use it.