The car is a 2004 chrysler pacifica, so yes fuel injected. Is the synthetic oil worth it? I live in michigan so winters can get quite cold even into negative temps, and over 100 in summer.
2007-08-30 16:33:00 · 9 answers · asked by Nick 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Letting cars "warm up" is a fallacy and does not need to be done. In fact, it can cause damage.
When you start a car and let it "warm up" you are letting the engine warm up but not the rest of the car. The transmission stays cold, the brakes stay cold, the power steering stays cold, etc. Then when you start moving the hot, well running engine puts a strain on everything as they are still cold.
Start the car, make sure the windows are clear and drive. Take it easy at first as you let the entire car warm up. After 10 minutes of driving, everything is equally "warmed up" and the engine does not put a strain on anything.
This will also save you a ton in gas as you are actually getting some use out of the gas besides letting the car "warm up."
The same is true with synthetic oil as with regular oil.
I think you would be better off in the long run to use regular oil and change it and the oil filter every 3000 miles. Synthetic oil gets expensive unless you drop back on the oil changes to every 10,000 miles.
Just as an aside, I save my used oil and use it for winter heating. Amazing how many BTUs are in used oil. I get double the use out of it that way!
2007-08-30 19:19:50 · answer #1 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That Pacifica should require a 5W/30 in that type of temps. You could go with a synthetic at the same weight or go with a 0W/30 weight for your really cold winter times. This type of stuff is made for those cold climates. If you keep the car in a garage you just start and go, but let it warm up a bit just to get heater nice and toasty.
Recommend Mobil 1 or Pennezoil Synthetic
2007-08-30 16:43:11 · answer #2 · answered by JASiege 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would use synthetic, you're a prime candidate.
balmy weather, extreme cold, synthetic will work great for that, as it doesn't freeze, and doesn't break down with heat.
you let it warm up the same way you would with regular oil.
you probably won't need your oil heater, but any help you can give is better than having the oil have to get itself to temperature. just because synthetic flows in ice cold doesn't mean it's going to be a fast flow like when it's regular weather.
2007-08-30 19:13:34 · answer #3 · answered by Eric F 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Synthetic oil will flow to critical areas much faster in cold temperatures and also stand up to heat much better than petroleum based oil. I'd let it idle a minute or two in really cold weather and then drive gently till the temp gauge was normal. I live in Florida and use Amsoil Synthetic 0W-30: http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1463115&page=StoreFront/tso
It would also be ideal for Michigan winters since its pour point is like -60F.
2007-08-31 14:24:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it is worth it especially in MI. Try changing your oil in late Nov or Dec and watch how well the oil flows into the engine. The regular oil will take forever to flow. As for warming the car up, I usually only wait for a minute while I put on my seat belt, and adjust the radio, and check the mirrors. If you want the car to warm up, just to get the heater going, that is up to you. I have a remote starter on mine for that purpose. It makes getting the ice off the windows a lot easier.
good luck.
2007-08-30 16:47:47 · answer #5 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't make any difference. Your question doesn't exactly make sense, especially since you followed it up with "is it worth it". You don't need to let a car warm up at all. If you're letting it warm up for your own comfort, then it doesn't make any difference.
I have no clue how you'd connect these two factors. You may have been told that the friction of the oil is important for generating heat in your car. That's not true. It's just silly. The heat comes from internal combustion (the fire).
2007-08-30 16:39:23 · answer #6 · answered by Firebird 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the summer, you never warm it up. In the winter, you don't warm it up any longer than it takes to brush off the windows, unless it is colder than about 25 degrees below zero on the Fahrenberg temperature scale you southerners use. In winter I use a synthetic blend
LOLOL! I am in Manitoba, previously I lived in Saskatoon and Edmonton. After 42 years of driving, I know winter pretty well.
2007-08-30 22:52:55 · answer #7 · answered by Fred C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it doesn't make any difference in the oil you use,the engine still takes a certain amount of time to warm up,its not necessary to let it warm up all the way,just let the fluids get circulating real good on it,that will be good enough,but using synthetic oil is worth it,it make the engine last a lot longer,and helps with gas mileage also,it just lubricates everything a lot better,it cost more,but its worth it i use it and change around every 8500 miles,good luck with it.
2007-08-30 16:44:54 · answer #8 · answered by dodge man 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's usually the same no matter what the oil is; at least a minute. I do more than that to make sure it's ready to go. Watch the temp gage, that should give you a clue if it's ready to go or not. Good luck!!!
2007-08-30 16:41:15 · answer #9 · answered by roritr2005 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋