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Old 10-18-2020, 01:14 PM   #82
LSA
 
Drives: Fast
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: My Garage
Posts: 76
Quote:
Originally Posted by Msquared View Post
It's remarkably hard to find a solid answer on what temps are used for the cold-temp nominal viscosity rating. The most common answer seems to be that the low number is rated at 0F, or -17.8C. There is a also a pour point often published for an oil that tells us what temp it stops flowing altogether.
What's important, and what I was pointing out, is that the published viscosities for most oils are at 40C and 100C, and that even a 0w-XX oil has much more resistance to flow at 40C than a "thick" oil (like straight 50w) at 100C. IOW, all the talk about a 0w-XX oil only having benefits in very cold climates is just wrong, because it has much better flow during a "cold start" at 104F too.
Based on the EE video, I think this is incorrect. I think the cold “W” number is sub freezing.

It’s an SAE standard, so it should not be that hard to find. I’ll look up the SAE paper later when I have time.
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