Redline 5w50

[Beemdog]

Originally Posted by Hujan

I've been thinking of mixing M1 0w-40 and 15w-50. Not sure if it works this way, but would 6 parts 0w40 and 3 parts 15w50 be like a 5w43?

Not sure if it's worth all the fuss, but was hoping it might give a little extra protection when tracking, especially given the heat out here lately.

The second number in the multi-grade oil rating is achieved chemically via viscosity stabilizers, so mixing oils with different multi-vis ratings may not be easily predictable. At least with oils in the same brand and type category, you might assume that they use the same chemicals to stabilize viscosity (reduce change in viscosity) over temperature-- but that would still be just an assumption unless you do some research and find out what the oil manufacturer has to say about blending their oils with different viscosity ratings.

It might be safer to assume the first number in the rating (0W- or 10W-, for example), which is the equivalent cold weather SAE rating, would blend more predictably. But again, there would be no guarantee of the final outcome without getting some info from the oil manufacturer or some independent testing outfit. I would imagine that the oil companies aren't that keen on folks concocting their own blends and would prefer they stick with established products.

[Doc Oc]

Not sure about m1 but I spoke with Redline and they said mixing their 5w50 and 0w40 was absolutely fine and would yield exactly what you think as far as vis

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Not sure about m1 but I spoke with Redline and they said mixing their 5w50 and 0w40 was absolutely fine and would yield exactly what you think as far as vis

I'd say just running Redline 0w40 would be fine. It's thicker than Mobil 1 0w40 if you're looking for something a bit heavier.

I'd imagine Redline 5w50 would be equivalent to BMW 10w60 as Redline always tend to have higher viscosity than most other oils at the same weight rating.

I ran Redline 10w60 and wouldn't run it in the M3 again. It's super thick and makes the car feel sluggish compared to Castrol TWS.

[Doc Oc]

True, although the RL 5w50 is a bit thinner (20 vs 23@100c). I went with 7 qrts of 0w40 and not quite 3 of the 5w50...wanted to go just a little thicker to see how the engine responded. Will probably go 50/50 in summer.

[2bits]

Why not just go with 5w40 in that case? Given uncertainties around required or optimal viscosities, it seems a little odd to try and fine tune the viscosity so closely.

[Doc Oc]

Couple reasons. I had access to 8 free qrts of 0w40 and 2 free gallons of the 5w50. The 50 is nearly as thick as tws so I didnt want to run it straight in the winter and 0w (or 5w40) alone isn't a big enough viscosity change from the 5w40 I've been running to suit my needs, so when Redline said it was the same oil I figured why not experiment? Redline 40 is already about 10% thicker than other oils, but I wanted to go a little thicker still, without sacrificing cold flow much. I'm trying to determine if a viscosity change has any bearing on my cold start chatter issue but also wanted something a little thicker than a 40 wt at temp to see if it'd reduce the engine noise that got worse when I put in the pu euro 5w40.

[2bits]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Couple reasons. I had access to 8 free qrts of 0w40 and 2 free gallons of the 5w50. The 50 is nearly as thick as tws so I didnt want to run it straight in the winter and 0w (or 5w40) alone isn't a big enough viscosity change from the 5w40 I've been running to suit my needs, so when Redline said it was the same oil I figured why not experiment? Redline 40 is already about 10% thicker than other oils, but I wanted to go a little thicker still, without sacrificing cold flow much. I'm trying to determine if a viscosity change has any bearing on my cold start chatter issue but also wanted something a little thicker than a 40 wt at temp to see if it'd reduce the engine noise that got worse when I put in the pu euro 5w40.

Interesting. Thanks.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by 2bits

Interesting. Thanks.

Initial impressions are good btw. Haven't had the cold rattle since switching (doesn't mean much yet, only 3 cold starts in) and the engine is noticeably quieter. The mechanical noises that were very obvious after a long run with the pu 5w40 are, so far, much reduced. Of course the redline hasn't sheared yet so we'll see how it sounds in a few thousand miles.

[2bits]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Initial impressions are good btw. Haven't had the cold rattle since switching (doesn't mean much yet, only 3 cold starts in) and the engine is noticeably quieter. The mechanical noises that were very obvious after a long run with the pu 5w40 are, so far, much reduced. Of course the redline hasn't sheared yet so we'll see how it sounds in a few thousand miles.

Glad to hear it. Btw, thinking about the data:
PU Euro 5w40 HTHS: 3.88
RL 0w40: 4.0
RL 5w40: 4.4
RL 5w50: 5.0

A 50/50 mix of 0w40 and 5w50 puts us pretty close to 5w40. Understood that you already had 0w40 and 5w50, and we might argue it could cold flow better than straight 5w40, so not pushing back on your decision. I'm probably looking for similar results to yours, and been strongly considering using RL 5w40 and going from there.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by 2bits

Glad to hear it. Btw, thinking about the data:
PU Euro 5w40 HTHS: 3.88
RL 0w40: 4.0
RL 5w40: 4.4
RL 5w50: 5.0

A 50/50 mix of 0w40 and 5w50 puts us pretty close to 5w40. Understood that you already had 0w40 and 5w50, and we might argue it could cold flow better than straight 5w40, so not pushing back on your decision. I'm probably looking for similar results to yours, and been strongly considering using RL 5w40 and going from there.

That's interesting. I thought for sure the rl 0w and 5w had the same hths. I know they have the same hot vis but maybe I didn't see the hths. Doesn't matter anyway as I didn't have access to free 5/40.. I'll probably go with that for my summer fill if you are sure on the hths...looks like a good option vs mixing.

[2bits]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

That's interesting. I thought for sure the rl 0w and 5w had the same hths. I know they have the same hot vis but maybe I didn't see the hths. Doesn't matter anyway as I didn't have access to free 5/40.. I'll probably go with that for my summer fill if you are sure on the hths...looks like a good option vs mixing.

Yeah pour viscosity at 100c 15.4 vs 15.6, more/less the same. Yet the 5w has 10% higher HTHS which measures viscosity at 150c and high shear.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by 2bits

Yeah pour viscosity at 100c 15.4 vs 15.6, more/less the same. Yet the 5w has 10% higher HTHS which measures viscosity at 150c and high shear.

Funny thing is I looked at a few voa's on the 5w40 and some showed a shit ton of moly while some had none. Any idea if they had a formula change?

[2bits]

I emailed Red Line to see if they have an explanation. Will report back.

[2bits]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Funny thing is I looked at a few voa's on the 5w40 and some showed a shit ton of moly while some had none. Any idea if they had a formula change?

No reported formula change, but David at Red Line did say "the difference possibly between the Euro-Series 5W40 and the regular 5W40 Motor Oil.
The moly level in the ES 5W40 is 120ppm, the 5W40 600ppm."

Without knowing more about the no-moly UOA's, it impossible to conclude more.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by 2bits

No reported formula change, but David at Red Line did say "the difference possibly between the Euro-Series 5W40 and the regular 5W40 Motor Oil.
The moly level in the ES 5W40 is 120ppm, the 5W40 600ppm."

Without knowing more about the no-moly UOA's, it impossible to conclude more.

Hmmm, weird. Here's an example of a couple I saw...no moly at all really:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1264593

http://s140.photobucket.com/user/saa...copy2.jpg.html

[Leonardo629]

Refer to this VOA thread: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...40_Euro#UNREAD

David at Redline is correct on the formulation.

If it was up to me, I run redline 0W40 year round since I'm in So. Cal.

[2bits]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Hmmm, weird. Here's an example of a couple I saw...no moly at all really:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1264593

http://s140.photobucket.com/user/saa...copy2.jpg.html

The zero moly formula was 2008. Their current formulations have moly. I don't know when that changed, but as long as you have recent RL it will have moly.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by 2bits

Why not just go with 5w40 in that case? Given uncertainties around required or optimal viscosities, it seems a little odd to try and fine tune the viscosity so closely.

Especially without an oil pressure gauge.

[G80indy]

I run RL 5w-40 (Regular, not Euro) in e46 M54B30.
Engine loves it, all year.
For the 3 seasons e92 S65B40: RL10w60, with short OCIs.
Overkill but they both purr like sewing machines right on startup.
Mike Miller uses RL.
By the way Group 5 is inherently multi viscosity without the need for VI improvers--- and hence more stable/ less shear. Hence preferred for aircraft. How this is called old tech makes me laugh ... While you guys buy the marketing of Exxon and RD Shell, or for that matter BP?
Read up at RL's website.

[Lone Star M3]

Originally Posted by 330indy

I run RL 5w-40 (Regular, not Euro) in e46 M54B30.
Engine loves it, all year.
For the 3 seasons e92 S65B40: RL10w60, with short OCIs.
Overkill but they both purr like sewing machines right on startup.
Mike Miller uses RL.
By the way Group 5 is inherently multi viscosity without the need for VI improvers--- and hence more stable/ less shear. Hence preferred for aircraft. How this is called old tech makes me laugh ... While you guys buy the marketing of Exxon and RD Shell, or for that matter BP?
Read up at RL's website.

Are you still running the 10w/60 in your E92?

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by 330indy

I run RL 5w-40 (Regular, not Euro) in e46 M54B30.
Engine loves it, all year.
For the 3 seasons e92 S65B40: RL10w60, with short OCIs.
Overkill but they both purr like sewing machines right on startup.
Mike Miller uses RL.
By the way Group 5 is inherently multi viscosity without the need for VI improvers--- and hence more stable/ less shear. Hence preferred for aircraft. How this is called old tech makes me laugh ... While you guys buy the marketing of Exxon and RD Shell, or for that matter BP?
Read up at RL's website.

So far my car seems to love the mix. Engine oil and coolant temps are down slightly, no noises on startup (so far, not convinced that is gone) and the engine noise at wot is somewhat reduced. I'm very anxious for my next uoa to see how it held up.

[G80indy]

oil groups explained...

maybe this will help a bit