will synthetic oil extend the life of Windstars

[bqqmpa]

I use nothing buy Motocraft 5w-20 Synthetic Blend....its the cheapest and I go 4-5000 miles between changes...have 60,o00 on each of two vans...never burned a drop of oil. Get it at Walmart

[12Ounce]

Just for info: Bought some 5 qt plastic jugs of Mobil1 Syn, 0w-30 (didn't even know before that they packaged this viscosity) today for $21.97 (before taxes) at Walmart.

[tripletdaddy]

I heard rumor that a zero W weight oil was on its way. But why? And why call it 0w-30? To distinguish it from straight 30? Vaguely I recall that it's not separate like previous formulations that have a winter component/characteristics and the warm component. This new oil is all temperature viscosity, so it's not two component based on temperature, kind of smoke and mirrors magic, defying normal temp and viscosity relationship of hotter is thinner. That's amazing!

[12Ounce]

It's dangerous to ask me ... because I know so little about the subject. But I think:

It's not that multi-grade oils don't get "thinner" as they get hotter. 0w-30 is certainly thinner at warm temperatures than at colder temps ... its just that it doesn't thin as much as single grade oil of 0w.

Two reference temps are chosen ... the freezing and boiling temps of water (at sea level, etc, etc). The first part of the multigrade number (0w in our case) is the viscosity that our multigrade has at 32 deg F. The second (30[w] in our case) is the viscosity that our multigrade has at 212 deg F.

So, our 0w-30 "flows" like a 0w at freezing temps, and thins as it warms (but not so much ... less than a straight 0w would) so that it also "flows" like a 30w at 212 deg F.

[tripletdaddy]

The whole idea of lessening the viscosity of engine oil at it's high and low temperature ratings is frightening and hopefully won't become a slippery slope. (I couldn't help myself throwing that one in. ) I understand your explanation that the 0w-30 still has the two viscosity characteristics. So, straight HD30 will just act like 30w at all temps, making thick at cold, thus the distinction needs to made from the 0w-30. But where do we go if we go lower than 0w? -5? -10? 00? 000? 1/10? 1/100? Getting close to diesel and that won't work.

[12Ounce]

I also have often wondered if we will have negative numbers in future oil products.