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W100 use is pretty common in the southern climes, or during the summer in "four season" areas. I normally use it myself during the summer.
I am considering W80 for the winter rather than a multigrade.
According to Shell's usage guidelines, W100 is reco'd for 15C to 30C, W80 is for -17C to 21C.
Multigrades will certainly help with cold engine starts, but that is a non-issue as I always preheat. Multigrades will let you use one oil for summer and winter, but our oil gets changed every few weeks, so not really a consideration.
As I understand it, multigrades are a bad idea in hot climates, or trying to push their use more than 25 hours. Under those circumstances, the VI (visocity inducer) can breakdown, and the oil loses its multigrade capability. A 15W50 can then become just a straight "W30" (SAE 15) grade oil, not a good thing.
Running a Lycoming, so always concerned about protecting that overhead cam, which tends to shed its oil when sitting in the hangar. I always use Camguard, which seems to have pretty good evidence of effectivity for anti-corrosion and anti-scuff, but a thicker oil may help just a little.
No engine is going to blow up, no matter what approved oil you use, but you have to choose something. Just thinking out loud ...
* Orest
I am considering W80 for the winter rather than a multigrade.
According to Shell's usage guidelines, W100 is reco'd for 15C to 30C, W80 is for -17C to 21C.
Multigrades will certainly help with cold engine starts, but that is a non-issue as I always preheat. Multigrades will let you use one oil for summer and winter, but our oil gets changed every few weeks, so not really a consideration.
As I understand it, multigrades are a bad idea in hot climates, or trying to push their use more than 25 hours. Under those circumstances, the VI (visocity inducer) can breakdown, and the oil loses its multigrade capability. A 15W50 can then become just a straight "W30" (SAE 15) grade oil, not a good thing.
Running a Lycoming, so always concerned about protecting that overhead cam, which tends to shed its oil when sitting in the hangar. I always use Camguard, which seems to have pretty good evidence of effectivity for anti-corrosion and anti-scuff, but a thicker oil may help just a little.
No engine is going to blow up, no matter what approved oil you use, but you have to choose something. Just thinking out loud ...
* Orest
