Lowest temp ours become unhappy

[Interleukin6]

Temperature will drop to -14F in Boston this weekend, which is the lowest temp I have experienced. I need to start my 2022 LTD LT 2.7T at 1 am to get home after my work. Will cold start like around -14F damage the 2.7T engine? I will make sure not to drive in 5-10 minutes but just wonder what is the lowest temp our trucks become “unhappy”? Please share your experiences especially who live in cold places. Thank you.

[diyer2]

Do you realize people use these trucks in colder places like oh say Alaska.  

[customboss]

6 minutes ago, Interleukin6 said:

Temperature will drop to -14F in Boston this weekend, which is the lowest temp I have experienced. I need to start my 2022 LTD LT 2.7T at 1 am to get home after my work. Will cold start like around -14F damage the 2.7T engine? I will make sure not to drive in 5-10 minutes but just wonder what is the lowest temp our trucks become “unhappy”? Please share your experiences especially who live in cold places. Thank you.

You have a Dexos Approved 5w30 synthetic in it? If so it worry free. Start it up idle for a bit and drive. I have the same truck and with cheapo Dexos1 GEN 2 Quaker State Synthetic I operated at -27F absolute temp not wind chill adjusted which machines can't feel.  It was started in a garage that was 20F or so but sat outside while I was a VA clinic and restarted just fine at -27F! 

 

Our oil pumps can handle it and move even low cost Dexos approved oils fine. A better brand of synthetic works even better. Rest assured that 2.7 will do fine in B town. 

[newdude]

Won't hurt a thing and will fire right up.  Battery might protest a bit but that's it.  And it will likely go into an elevated idle to warm things up even, around 1500rpm.  Been through a couple days this winter in Western NY of near or below zero with mine and had no issues.  

 

When GM develops their products they cold soak them down to like -40F or -50F or something, inside one of those climate rooms to test cold starting, etc.  And 2.7T is a gas powered engine so no diesel fuel to run the risk of gelling.

 

 

Edited February 1 by newdude

[Interleukin6]

I am not sure my engine oil is “Dexos Approved 5w30 synthetic” but I have changed oils at Chevy dealer. Yes, I know people in colder places also use our trucks but they also use engine block heaters that mine doesn’t have. Thank you so much for good information!!! 

[Black02Silverado]

You'll be fine.  Unless your battery is weak, which is unlikely, it will start and run just fine.

[Grumpy Bear]

[steve8]

Geesh, we're tougher than that here in Mass.

Start it and drive.

[silveradosid]

interesting graph grumpy, why do you think 5-30 covers a wider spectrum than 5-20. ecspecially on the cold side

Edited February 2 by silveradosid

[BIGDOGx]

Should be fine, just auto start and let warm up. It is days like that though that will let you know if your battery is starting to fail.

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, silveradosid said:

interesting graph grumpy, why do you think 5-30 covers a wider spectrum than 5-20. ecspecially on the cold side

 

I could only venture a guess. Some difference in additive chemistry OR difference in base oil blend. Even base oil choices. 

 

I picked this chart from dozens only because it had the straight weights on it.

 

This chart below may work better. Note the Cranking and Pumping numbers are MAXIMUMS permitted. I just happen to have the specs for COSTCO Kirkland Dexos 5W30 from Warren Oil the blender. That data shows the pumping viscosity to be 15,000 cP at -35 C and the Cranking visocosity to be 4,400 cP at -30 C. Both well below the maximum specification. An example of how chemistry of the actual blend can have a MAJOR influence on the performance of an oil. Some 5W30's struggle to not exceed the maximums. PQIA.org has a list of oils and their data. Spend some time there and see the ranges in production. Not a complete list but long enough to be quite informative. 

 

[customboss]

54 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

I could only venture a guess. Some difference in additive chemistry OR difference in base oil blend. Even base oil choices. 

 

I picked this chart from dozens only because it had the straight weights on it.

 

This chart below may work better. Note the Cranking and Pumping numbers are MAXIMUMS permitted. I just happen to have the specs for COSTCO Kirkland Dexos 5W30 from Warren Oil the blender. That data shows the pumping viscosity to be 15,000 cP at -35 C and the Cranking visocosity to be 4,400 cP at -30 C. Both well below the maximum specification. An example of how chemistry of the actual blend can have a MAJOR influence on the performance of an oil. Some 5W30's struggle to not exceed the maximums. PQIA.org has a list of oils and their data. Spend some time there and see the ranges in production. Not a complete list but long enough to be quite informative. 

 

Lower cost formulations use pour point depressants to get cold crank #'s to pass SAE spec. Not a secret for formulators.  That will not ensure pumping or gelation index pass. In other words I can slickify a formula to crank because of lower friction in the liquid but it may pump like the SLIME my grandkids squish and throw against the wall.  

 

Formulations using higher quality base oils will need less of pour point depressants and will pump since they remain liquid. 

 

The biggest danger for lower quality oils formulations is gelling and acting like slime. Believe it or not it happens around slow cooling at 50F and below.  

 

 

 

 

[Dirk13]

12 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

 

Should I be putting 15W-40 in my truck for the summer? According to this chart, the manufacturer specified 0w-20 isn’t good for summer temps!!

 

 

[Grumpy Bear]

On 2/2/2023 at 11:06 AM, Dirk13 said:

Should I be putting 15W-40 in my truck for the summer? According to this chart, the manufacturer specified 0w-20 isn’t good for summer temps!!

 

Let me ask a question or two @Dirk13. What do you value more, your warranty or your motor? The OEMs meeting their governmental fuel goal or your engines life?

 

That chart is painted in really broad strokes and based on an assumed standard surface roughness. How you answered those questions will present the options you have to meet those goals. 

 

IMHO, and believe me, you will have no trouble finding people to tell you my opinions do not matter, there isn't a mass-produced motor that isn't Asian that should be running any oil with a 100C viscosity lower than 10 cSt AND with an HTHS less than 3.0 and that oil needs to have the ability to hold those numbers for its entire service life. That alone will eliminate about 2/3 of all *W30 oils and a few used 0-5-10W40's. It's an opinion. You are more than welcome to disagree.