I'm driving to fairbanks ak where it get's to -50 & -60 deg. f regularly. I'm trying to figure out what engine oil, xmsn oil, front & rear diff oil, & transfer case oil to use. I bought Rotella synthetic 5W-40 for the engine & Valvoline Durablend synthetic 80W-90 for everything else. Not sure if that's a good one to use.

 

Keep the stock tranny fluid unless you plan on changing out your synchros in the near future.

 

mainly i would run mix and carry lots of powerservice with you and keep powerservice 911 in your truck.

 

I would go full synthetic in the differentials. Blends are mostly just regular dino. BTW, the tranny and transfer case use ATF+4. Dexron III w/ Lubegard black seems to work too.

 

I run Esso/Exxon XD-3 0W40 full synthetic in the winter.

 

stock tranny fluid, or amsoil mtg. Amsoil atf in the t-case, amsoil 75w90 in the diffs, amsoil atf in the PS system, and esso XD3 0W40 in the engine.

I have run this combination in mine since new, and 202,000km. In the summer, I go over to XD3 15W40 in the engine, I change oil quite often, and it gets a little spendy to go 0w40 year round.

 

Running synthetic in everything is going to help a lot. 5w40 or 0w40 is a good weight oil for the engine in those temps. Unless you are towing really heavy, 75w90 is good for the diffs.

 

Ditto what Dartmouth said:

Make sure you run a thinner than normal oil, because even at "operating" temp the oil isn't getting up to operating temp, hence most oil will be too thick-- ESPECIALLY at startup.


If it's for a short OCI, I'd consider a 5w-30 or 0w-30, even. I'd do that, then change the oil back to regular stuff when you got down to normal temps.

Id go full synthetic in the diffs and go a little thinner. 75w-90 is plenty thick, even towing heavy in bitter cold temps. You'll never get the diff hot enough to need the 140 wt diff lube under those conditions. I personally use Redline Shockproof lightweight. Awesome stuff.

Aside from fluid choice, there are other things you can do to really help your truck in bitter cold temps:

1) Remove the fan. Even towing, you won't need it in bitter cold temps and it helps a TON with warmup times.

2) Use a winter front or block off the radiator somehow-- at least partially. Be sure that you are symmetrical relative to the fan hub when you do this so that you don't create sideways stress on the fan hub and water pump. I hope this makes sense-- if not, I can explain further.

3) Plug in early and often.

4) If you don't have an exhaust brake, getting one installed will help with winter heating a TON. Being able to turn on the brake and let it idle against it will drive your EGTs up to 600 or so (compared to 250 for cold winter idle) and help prevent carbon accumulation that comes from excessively low EGT.

5) Consolidate trips to reduce the number of cold starts.

Justin

 

Agreed I really like AMSOIL products. Plus they are made in AMERICA. AMerican Synthetic OIL

 

Actually, AMSoil got its name from the founder, Al Amatusio (iirc). It was originally, Amatusio's oil, then shortened to AMSoil in the 1970s.

JH

 

Its actually Albert J. Amatuzio with a Z. I always read it was AMerican Synthetic OIL.
Who knows, maybe we could call Al himself and find out

I was looking on the website on how he started and when it first came out it was spelled AMZOIL after Al. They later changed it to AMSOIL as in American synthetic oil.
I guess were both right.

 

No, the 5 speed uses Syntorque or equivalent. ATF would trash it in no time.

 

YEP. Castrol Synrorque$$$$$ or Amsoil GL-4

 

Amsoil makes a NV4500 only lube called MTG GL-4, beware because they make a plain GL-4 gear lube that is not compatable the 4500.

In case your in a cave and didn't know here is a linky
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mtg.aspx

 

Amsoil only make ONE GL-4
You should search better before posting things like this.
Whos in the cave now?