fishmonkey said..
in cold climates, the reduced viscosity is important when the engine is cold. in warmer climates you can sometimes use monograde instead.
I don't think that is quite right when talking about viscosity.
During my Navy apprenticeship in marine engineering we were taught that viscosity is a measure of the flowability of a fluid or gas, i.e. the more a fluid or gas flows, the higher is it's viscosity.
Therefore a 90 grade oil that one would put in the differential of a vehicle is less viscous than a 30 grade oil that one would put in the engine of a vehicle. logically the 90 grade oil has a higher film resistance to pressure than the 30 grade.
Heat will reduce film resistance so therefore if one was operating an engine in the Antarctic it would be wise to use a thinner grade of oil such as 10 grade and vice verca at the equator maybe a thicker 50 grade oil for the same engine.
However, upon consulting my Concise Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of viscosity is "stickiness".
Now I am really confused because super glue is as runny as hell but when you have it on your forefinger and thumb and you put them together, It don't flow at all.