Within reason, thicker oil maintains a better lubricant film between moving parts. Some have even used thicker oil in a leaky engine to prevent oil from seeping out. But really, thicker oil is not good for your engine. Not when “thicker” means higher viscosity than the manufacturer recommends.
Is thicker oil better for an engine?
There is no definite answer for thicker oil is better for an engine. Because it depends on the engine-built technology. Modern advanced engines are designed with tighter clearances between the engine’s crank journals and main bearings. Therefore lower-viscosity thinner motor oil flows quickly and provides better lubricant film in metal parts.
What happens if oil is too thick?
If an oil is too thick, it causes additional load and reduces mileage, it also will not move into the smaller areas to provide lubrication nor will it move as quickly through the engine where it provides cooling.
What does a higher oil viscosity mean?
A higher oil viscosity number indicates a thicker oil. Where this is vitally important is in an engine’s bearing clearances. Older engines were built with much looser tolerances, which allowed oils such as 10W30 to be commonplace as an OE recommended oil in the 1990’s and before.
Is it possible to increase oil pressure in an older engine?
Yes, because it is a feasible method to improve oil pressure in an older engine. Slightly more viscous oil will help you in protect worn bearings too. When heavier oil will be added to the engine, it will never leak and throw extra smoke out of the engine. Thicker oil can be the best motor oil for hot weather.
Is 10w40 good for high mileage?
CHOOSE THE BEST 10W-40 OIL FOR YOUR ENGINE If your car has over 75,000 miles on the odometer, Castrol GTX High Mileage 10W-40 can help protect your emission system while helping to extend the life of your engine.
Is 10W-40 oil good for a passenger car?
You won’t likely see 10W-40 as an oil recommendation on a modern-day passenger car. However, it still retains popularity with medium and heavy-duty gasoline engines in light trucks. This oil weight is commonly used in diesel engines or in a smaller motorcycle engine too.
What is the difference between SAE 10W30 and 10W40 engine oil?
10W30 and 10W40 engine oils are very similar. While both are low-temperature grade oils, 10W40 is thicker at high temperature; therefore, better to use in warm weather. This article provides tips for using SAE 10W-30 and 10W-40 and covers viscosity grades.
What is 10W 30 oil good for?
What is 10W 30 oil recommended for? 10W-30 motor oil is recommended for ambient temperatures not exceeding -30°C/-22°F in the winter or 35°C/95°F in the summer. This is a great motor oil to use if you live in Canada or cooler U.S. states. Colder regions would require 5W-20, while hotter regions may call for 10W-40. Is 10W40 good for winter?
What does 10W40 mean?
10W-40 is the viscosity, or weight, of the motor oil as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE for short). A 10W-40 oil has a viscosity grade of 10W at a low temperature and 40 at a higher temperature. What does this mean, exactly?
Does it matter if you use 5W 20 or 5W-30?
You’ll get better protection with 5W 30 oil in cold as well as hotter climates. 5W-20 oil is best for those who live in colder climates with low temperatures. It can be used for light-duty applications, for engines that do not reach very extreme temperatures.
Can I use 5W30 oil instead of 5W20?
So, if you use 5w30 oil instead of 5w20 Oil, it may cause damage to your engine. Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my jeep? 5w30 and 5w20 operate the same in lower temperatures. But the main difference is at higher temperatures. Nevertheless, 5w30 will not work as 5w20 in hot conditions. Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my honda civic?
What does 5W20 mean?
In 5W20, for example, the “W” stands for “wwinter,” while the “5” is the classification of the oil. This lets you know well the oil will fare in colder temperatures. The larger number, in this case, 20, refers to how well the oil performs in hot temperatures. You can tell the thickness of oil at any given temperature by examining these numbers.
What is a 5W oil rating?
An oil rating, such as 5W-20 and 5W-30, indicates the viscosity of the motor oil. The viscosity rating is determined by the resistance to flow the oil exhibits under a given temperature. Higher viscosity ratings indicate a thicker oil, which therefore flows less easily.
What is the viscosity of 5W20 oil?
The 5w20 has a viscosity grade of 5 during winter or cold temperatures. However, its viscosity reaches 20 in hot temperatures. 5w20 oil performance is excellent in winters and flows through the engine smoothly to enhance overall performance.
What happens if I use 20w50 instead of 5W-30?
20w50 is actually thicker than 5w30. This will result in less fuel efficiency, less horsepower, and more engine damage because it will have to work harder to rotate.
What is the difference between 20W-50 and 5W-30 motor oil?
This implies that after the engine achieves the optimum operating temperature, the 20W-50 motor oil is more viscous than the 5W-30 motor oil. The higher the second number, the more resistant the motor oil is to thinning as it heats up. Thicker oil lubricates engine components more effectively than a thinner oil.
What is 20w50 oil used for?
20W50 oil is a high-performance, heavy-duty viscosity grade oil for diesel and gasoline engines. It’s also commonly used as racing oil and motorcycle oil. So, should you be using 20W-50 oil? Could it be bad for your engine? This article will examine 20W-50 oil in detail along with its uses .
Does 20W-50 oil void a car warranty?
20W-50 motor oil is a great high-performance, heavy loading oil that holds up well in extremely hot climates. However, in the wrong engine, it can cause serious problems that may potentially void your car’s warranty. If you use 20W-50 oil in an engine that requires 5W-30, for example, you won’t notice any immediate engine damage.
Does 20W-50 oil damage catalytic converters?
Most modern car engines are not well suited for heavier oil like 20W-50, and it can damage your car’s catalytic converters. 20W-50 oil does not have a reliable low temperature viscosity grade. It won’t perform well in cold weather and will deliver below-average cold starts.
Can I use 10W 40 instead of 5w 20?
Can I use 10w40 instead of 5w20? Yes! However, remember to let it cool down enough so you won’t get burned. It will work best if you keep it close to the heat, but too much heat will cause it to fail.
Should I use 10W40 or 5w40 motor oil?
So if your vehicle recommends 10w40 motor oil, then use 10w40 motor oil; if your manufacturer recommends 5w40 motor oil, then use the 5w40 motor oil. But with this, the viscosity of your motor oil might also need to be changed depending on the extreme conditions that your vehicle is in.
Is 5W30 thicker than 10W40?
As the first portion of the grade number describes thinness, we can see, 5W30 is thinner than 10W40. Here, the lower the number, the thinner the oil. On the other hand, the second portion of the grade number describes the thickness of the oil. So, we can see, 10W40 is thicker than 5W30. Here, the higher the number, the thicker the oil is.
What does 5 and 40 mean in engine oil?
The 5 means that the oil will flow at zero celsius the same way a 5-weight oil would. The 20 and 40 mean that the oil will flow like a 20 and 40-weight respectively at engine operating temperature (180-195C usually). The actual viscosity of the oil is therefore the SECOND number. The first number just indicates how resistant it is to cold.
How many miles can you run with a 5W30 oil?
Either it is a 5W30 or any other oil, you should go for an oil change as per the user manual requirement. When you change the oil filter, change the oil as well. For assumption, you can use 5W30 for 7,000 to 8,000 miles. Do not run more than this.
Do older cars need thicker oil?
Many older, high mileage engines might face issues with oil pressure due to age and wear and tear. In this case, a practical method to improve oil pressure is to use a thicker oil, since the thicker oils have heavier base weight oil, which can help protect worn engine bearings well.
Should I use thicker oil in an older engine?
As a lot of oil burning is taking place and adding thicker oil won’t fix your engine, it will even worsen the situation. But there are many types of thicker oil to use in an older engine. Let’s discuss should I use thicker oil in an older engine or not!
Should I put thicker winter weight oil in my car?
It would especially not do your engine any good to put the thicker winter weight oil into the vehicle (assuming you are gaining on winter where you are at). The thicker oil when cold will not flow as well as the 5w-30, which means your engine will remain oil starved longer at start up, causing it to achieve more wear. Not good all the way around.
What engine oil should I use?
Therefore some mechanics recommend using engine oil that is one level thicker than the recommended engine oil for engines that are considered old. For example, if the recommended 5W-20, you can change to 10W-30. The viscosity of the oil is able to withstand large component clearances
