Do I Need to Change to Antifreeze Engine Oil in Winter?
3 Answers
If the engine oil grade is below 5W, it is absolutely unnecessary to switch to winter oil. Conditions for changing engine oil: Generally, 0W and 5W grade oils are relatively more expensive. Some older or low-end models may come with 10W or 15W grade oil as standard, or some car owners might opt for higher-grade oil for convenience and cost-saving. In such cases, it is necessary to switch to a lower-grade oil in winter. Additionally, for larger vehicles, due to engine operating conditions and long-distance, prolonged usage, the oil grade used may differ from that of regular household vehicles, often requiring higher-grade oil. These vehicles also need to switch to lower-grade oil in winter. Precautions regarding engine oil: Engine oil itself is a blend of base oil and additives. Under normal circumstances, if you choose high-quality oil, there is no need to add any additional oil additives. Indiscriminate use of oil additives not only fails to protect the vehicle but may also cause chemical changes in the oil, leading to a decline in the oil's overall performance.
I'm a seasoned driver from Northeast China, and changing to antifreeze engine oil in winter is absolutely crucial. Last year, my neighbor tried to save trouble by not changing it, and the car wouldn't start at all during those -30°C days. The mechanic said the regular oil was frozen solid like a brick. Make sure to use antifreeze engine oil with the right viscosity rating, like 5W-30 or 0W-20—the 'W' stands for winter. I always get mine changed before the start of winter, and I switch to -40°C windshield washer fluid at the same time. Remember to drain the old oil completely; mixing old and new oil reduces effectiveness. Before starting the engine, turn on the ignition and wait a few seconds to let the oil pump circulate the oil—be gentle with the engine. If you hear the engine whining dryly during startup, chances are the oil is frozen.
Just helped my sister's car switch to 0W-20 oil a couple days ago—she's a new driver and clueless about this stuff. Conventional oil gets too thick in cold weather, clinging to engine parts like syrup and making them sluggish. Nowadays most new cars use full-synthetic 0W-grade oil that flows smoothly even at -35°C. The difference was instant: cold starts are way smoother, and that annoying check engine light that kept flashing in winter? Gone completely. The mechanic taught me a pro tip: look for the SAE rating on oil bottles—the smaller the number before the 'W', the better. Spending an extra 300 bucks on quality oil during maintenance beats expensive engine repairs any day.
