We think the 5W-30 synthetic motor oil will have the lowest viscosity and the 5W-30 conventional motor oil will have the highest viscosity when it is cooled down. We think making the motor oil cold will make the viscosity higher in both the 5W-30 synthetic motor oil and the 5W-30 conventional motor oil. The synthetic motor oil will still have the lowest viscosity because there is wax in the 5W-30 conventional motor oil. When the wax in the motor oil gets cold it makes the motor oil thicker. 5W-30 synthetic motor oil does not have wax in it, so it will not get as thick.  

5W-30 synthetic motor oil has a lower viscosity than 5W-30 conventional motor oil. Typically 5W-30 or 0W-30 synthetic motor oil is the best for harsh cold climates. The W in 5W-30 stands for Winter or cold temperature performance. Synthetic motor oil molecules are similar in shape with fewer impurities then conventional motor oil molecules. Overall, synthetic motor oil has a better extreme high temperature and low temperature performance. Synthetic motor oils are generally formulated with higher performing additives. 

If your motor oil temperature is too low it tends to become dirty easily because it doesn't get the opportunity to burn off the dirt which can lead to small losses of power at best and early engine wear at the worst, particularly to your Pistons/Bores and Bearings. Motor oil can’t naturally freeze on earth, because earth does not naturally have the low temperatures that motor oil needs to freeze. The temperature that motor oil starts freezes at is -30 ℃ for conventional motor oil and -40 ℃ for synthetic motor oil. The temperature that motor oil fully freezes at is -195 ℃. The motor oil does get thicker as it cools, becoming more viscous  and its ability to circulate and lubricate while cold. Conventional motor oil has wax in which makes it thicken quickly in cold weather. 

Manipulated variable: 

The temperature of the motor oil when we are doing the fridge and freezer test.

Controlled Variable:

Using the same size/weight ball bearings.

Same measuring equipment for all testing.

Using the same 5W-30 Synthetic and Conventional motor oil for all testing.

Using the same testing method.

Using the same camera for observations.

Same people testing. 

Responding Variable: 

The speed at which the ball bearing drops through the graduated cylinder which determines the viscosity of the motor oil. 

Start with conventional motor oil at room temperature. Measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure room temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table.

Start with conventional motor oil at fridge temperature. Measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure fridge temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table and repeat three times.  

Start with conventional motor oil at freezing temperature. Measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure freezing temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table and repeat three times. 

Start with Synthetic motor oil at room temperature measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure room temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table.

Start with Synthetic motor oil at fridge temperature measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure fridge temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table and repeat three times.  

Start with Synthetic motor oil at freezing temperature measure the amount of oil into graduated cylinders. Measure freezing temperature. Get the ball bearing and drop it into the graduated cylinder and measure the time the for the ball bearing to drop to the bottom of the graduated cylinder. Keep track of the time on a table and repeat three times. 

• Synthetic motor oil was a darker color than the conventional motor oil at all temperatures. 
• When we poured out the motor oil when it was at freezer temperature it was a cloudy color. 
• Not all of the graduated cylinders weighed the same. 
• We noticed that the ball bearings warmed up in our hands which could maybe mean that it moves through the oil faster. 
• When the oil came out of the freezer and it was poured it was goopy and looked like honey.
   

What happened? The two motor oils had a much higher viscosity when they were cooled down than when they were at a controlled/room temperature.

Why do we think it happened? 5W-30 conventional motor oil had a higher viscosity because it has wax in it so it becomes thicker when cooled compared to 5W-30 synthetic motor oil. 

What did we learn? We learned the colder the temperature the higher the viscosity of the motor oil. We figured out the synthetic 5W-30 works better than conventional 5W-30 motor oil in cold weather like our hypothesis. 

Knowing this information is beneficial because when conventional motor oil is used in climates below zero degrees celsius, it takes significantly more time for the oil to move through the engine when the engine is cold started. This can cause faster engine wear. Also this helps people to know what motor oil is best for their car in cold climates. The reason you would want to know this is because if you use a motor oil that is not the right type for you car in the winter it could cause small to extreme amount of motor damage and parts can get really expensive and hard to find.  

• The graduated cylinders were not the same weight before the oil was poured. 
• Not being able to pour the exact same amount of motor oil into each of the graduated cylinders.
• The time it took to pour the oil into the graduated cylinders for each trial (The motor oil could warm up). 
• Human error for starting and stopping the timer. 

https://www.cysf.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

https://www.google.com/search?q=do+gas+and+diesel+engines+use+the+same+oil

https://www.pennzoil.com/en_ca/education/know-your-oil/types-of-motor-oil-and-recommended-use.htm

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+the+best+engine+oil+for+cold+weather

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+the+w+in+5w30

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+makes+synthetic+motor+oil+different+from+conventional+motor+oil

https://littlewolfauto.com/is-5w30-or-10w30-better-for-winter

https://canadiansupershop.ca/synthetic-vs-conventional-oil-for-winter/ 

https://www.take5.com/blog/the-best-car-oil-for-winter-how-cold-weather-affects-oil/

https://www.gulfoilltd.com/blog/what-is-motor-oil-contamination

• Thank you to Mark Rhodenizer for being an expert
• Thank you to Lowell Wattie for being another expert 
• Thank you to Mrs Sanders for being a judge and putting in so much effort 
• Thank you to all of the judges 
• Thank you to teachers and staff