synthetic oil help generator start better???

[QueBota]

I document all fuel and miles driven in my 2001.5 Ram Cummins, I pick up a little over 1 mpg running Mobil 1 5w-40. Now at approx 140K, fuel mileage is still increasing slightly. During warmer weather I can avg. over 20.5 miles per tank. Engine is also a bit quiter with Mobil 1 and seems to spin up a bit more freely, not to mention easier winter starts. Also, oil temp runs approx. 10 degrees F cooler.

Q

 

[namesray]

Over the last couple months I have messed with this generator to try to get it to start better. Once winter set in, it wouldnt start. Changed spark plug, didnt help.

Finally took it to a guy, and he adjusted the valves. This morning, at zero degrees f, started on second pull. I never would have guess valve adj.

As for if the synthetic oil would help it start, roll over easier, I now dont believe so at all. Just figure I let ya all know. Thanks again for all rsponses.

 

[Copperhead]

My portable generator has to ride in a box on the frame rail of my semi truck in the cold. It starts fine all the time when I need it. I use the Amsoil 10w30 4 stroke oil in it. Great for year round use. I use the same oil in my John Deere zero turn and a couple of other applications, so having it on hand for the generator is just another use.

 

[davesl708]

Over the last couple months I have messed with this generator to try to get it to start better. Once winter set in, it wouldnt start. Changed spark plug, didnt help.

Finally took it to a guy, and he adjusted the valves. This morning, at zero degrees f, started on second pull. I never would have guess valve adj.

As for if the synthetic oil would help it start, roll over easier, I now dont believe so at all. Just figure I let ya all know. Thanks again for all rsponses.

namesray, do your own test. When I lived up north and temps were routinely below 0f my car started much easier with syn.

Get a cup of the same weight oil in both dino and syn. Put them in the freezer overnight. Then set both cups on a board or tray and tip them over at the same time. See which one runs to the bottom first. Simple test that will show which will flow through your cold engine the best.

 

[Copperhead]

Yeah, in cold, synthetics are king. Well, even in heat. Whether one realizes the true benefit of them, that is for each person to figure out. I picked the 10w30/30w Amsoil 4 stroke stuff because it is a straight 30w, with no viscosity improvers, that also qualifies as a 10w30 because of the cold flow synthetic characteristics. Stuff is real stout. Does a great job on my smaller engines. And since we are not talking about mass quantities of the stuff needed, it is pretty cost effective even on a tight budget.

 

[ray66v]

namesray, do your own test. When I lived up north and temps were routinely below 0f my car started much easier with syn.

Get a cup of the same weight oil in both dino and syn. Put them in the freezer overnight. Then set both cups on a board or tray and tip them over at the same time. See which one runs to the bottom first. Simple test that will show which will flow through your cold engine the best.

Nothing I have ever changed to synthetic, has started noticeably better.

Mobil1 10w30 synthetic, minimum pour point, -42F
Valvoline 10w30 conventional, minimum pour point -36F
Similar results are also there for lubricity.

Yes, the synthetic is better. But, it's 2015, there is no substantial difference anymore, until you get to the extremes. At 0 degrees F, the differences are still minimal.

I have to put 20w50 synthetic oil in aircraft engines in the winter all the time. Even at 20F, it doesn't want to come out of the bottle.

 

[Copperhead]

Well, it is not the same components, but my semi truck transmission and diffs automatically get the warranty extended by the OEM from 500,000 miles to 750,000 miles if synthetics are used in them. So there must be some sort of benefit or the OEM's (Eaton and Meritor) would not extend the warranty by 50%. And that has nothing to do with cold, hot, north, south, anything.

But you are also comparing a 10w30 across the board. Of course they are similar in cold flow pour point, after all, they are both 10w30! But you sure will not find a conventional 5w30 or 0w30, and those will pour at cold temps that will have a conventional performing like grease. And my comment on what I use, it is a straight 30w Amsoil. But it performs like a 10w30 even though it is not a 10w30. It needs no viscosity improvers to perform equally with a 10w30. Find a conventional straight 30w that has a cold flow pour point of -36F. Not going to happen. But a straight 30w synthetic will. And what of viscosity improvers? You need substantially more VI to make a conventional 10w30 than a synthetic version. And VI is what shears and breaks down under pressure. Some applications can really make a motor oil scream for mercy because it shears the VI's in a nasty way. I had a Delo 400 LE 15w40 do that in my Detroit Series 60.

There is a lot more going on with an oil than just whether it is a conventional or synthetic. It is a package thing. You have to take all factors about an oil into account as to whether it is better performing than another. The base oil is just one piece of the puzzle.

 

[ray66v]

Again, not saying the synthetic oil isn't better.

Extreme temps, and longer intervals. Clearly the synthetic has the advantage.

However, under normal conditions, the specifications show, much of the fabled "difference" is no longer there.


I am familiar with Amsoil ACD. And have used it.

 

[MossRoad]

Isn't 5w30 dyno oil the same viscosity as 5w30 synthetic? Its 5 viscosity when its cold and its 30 viscosity when its hot? So if the OP puts the exact same weight synthetic oil in instead of dyno oil, it will probably do nothing for cold weather starting, as it will be just as thick.

It has nothing to do with the benefits of synthetic oil when it comes to wear and longevity, which is a completely different subject.

Here's a good read on viscosity....
Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

 

[MHarryE]

Isn't 5w30 dyno oil the same viscosity as 5w30 synthetic? Its 5 viscosity when its cold and its 30 viscosity when its hot? So if the OP puts the exact same weight synthetic oil in instead of dyno oil, it will probably do nothing for cold weather starting, as it will be just as thick. It has nothing to do with the benefits of synthetic oil when it comes to wear and longevity, which is a completely different subject. Here's a good read on viscosity.... Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

As you read in the link attached, dino oils need VI (viscosity improvement) additives to make, for example, a 10 oil into a 10W-30. With time, temperature, and pressure, these additives shear down and you can be left with the lower number oil all the time. Good quality synthetic oils do not need viscosity enhancers and therefore are not subject to shear down so a 5W-40 oil will remain 5W-40 after 500 hours just like it started out.