5W means that the oil is suitable for winter temperatures down to -35 °C. At these cold temperatures the oil is still pumpable and can spread in the whole engine. The second part of the SAE class description, the figure ’20’, refers to the kinematic viscosity at 100 °C.
What is SAE 5W-20 motor oil?
SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil increases oil consumption – More oil gets used, just great for oil companies everywhere. SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil increases mechanical wear, reduces engine life – that way you will buy new car sooner = more sales for car manufacturer. Everybody wins, but the vehicle owner, who has to pay more per mile driven in the long run.
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 does a 5W-30 do that an SAE 30 won’t?
When you see a W on a viscosity rating it means that this oil viscosity has been tested at a Colder temperature. The numbers without the W are all tested at 210° F or 100° C which is considered an approximation of engine operating temperature.
What is the difference between SAE 20 and SAE 30 oil?
If the engine speed is INCREASED such as during long distance high speed driving in low ambient temperatures (so that the bulk oil temperature is not increased) the oil viscosity could be DECREASED that is SAE 20 is preferred to SAE 30 oil.
Can I use 5W 40 instead of 5W 20?
The quick answer is no you should not use 5w20 when 5w40 is recommended by manufacturer. The thinner oil may not lubricate the internal engine as designed.
Can I use 5w40 oil instead of 5W30?
If you find yourself asking whether can I use 5w40 oil instead of 5w30, the answer is yes, in most cases. 5w40 oil is thicker than 5w30 oil, and provides better protection for your engine, particularly during cold starts.
What is the difference between Mobil 1 5W-20 and 5W-40?
While Mobil 1 5W-20 has corresponding viscosities of 49.8 and 8.9. Clearly the 5W-40 is a MUCH thicker, denser, heavier oil (both full synthetics). Use the recommended viscosity for your particular application. You should only adjust those figures within the general approved range.
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.
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.
Is 10w40 Thicker than 10w30?
The viscosity of hot oil is measured using different test parameters than when the oil is cold, so the numbers after the “W” don’t relate to the numbers in front of the “W”. The difference between 10W-30 and a 10W-40 is the high temperature viscosity. Obviously, a 10W-40 is thicker than a 10W-30 at high temperature.
Is 10W40 oil better than 10W30?
10W40 oil has a higher viscosity, retaining more thickness than 10W30 as the temperature rises. In that case, 10W-40 motor oil would technically provide better protection against engine wear contact in higher temperatures. Next, let’s find out how these multi viscosity oils compare in application and performance.
What does SAE 10w30/10w40 mean?
A multi-grade product such as SAE 10W30 or SAE 10W40 can be broken down into three separate sections. What Does The First Number “10” Mean? 10 is the cold weather viscosity rating for 10W30.
What is the cold weather viscosity rating for 10W30?
10 is the cold weather viscosity rating for 10W30. This number represents an oil’s ability to maintain its resistance to hardening and thickening at 0 degrees Celsius. The lower the number, the thinner the oil.
What is the difference between a 5 and 10 oil?
Both of these oils start with the number 10. This first number indicates the viscosity of oil at low temperatures. Usually, this number is designated for winter temperatures. As this first number goes lower, it flows easier in cold weather. Therefore, oils starting with the number 5 pour out faster than those with a 10 designation.
Why is 5W-30 oil so popular?
Why is 5w30 oil so common? 5w30 oil is one of the most commonly used motor oils because it is suitable for a wide variety of vehicles and engine types. 5w30’s viscosity range means it can lubricate, seal, and protect an engine’s internal components in a range of climate conditions.
What is 5W-30 oil used for?
5W-30 oil is primarily a winter viscosity grade motor oil . While it does perform adequately at a higher temperature, its best use is for people who drive in cold temperature regions. Due to its lower viscosity, it’s typically recommended for petrol vehicles or a light-duty diesel engine.
Is 5W-30 better than 5W-20?
This makes 5W-20 preferable for very cold climates, when having thinner oil that can flow easily on start-up is important. Where 5W-30 comes into play is in hotter climates where thin oil tends to break down under higher temperatures.
Does 5W30 oil help your car start up faster?
For that reason then, where circumstances are otherwise the same, 5W30 oil will help your car start up faster. That said, if the oil viscosity is too low, this can cause it to fly off the engine components and thereby allow metal-to-metal contact, reducing the lifespan of your engine.
What temperature should I use 5W-30?
Below 40°F (4.4°C) and down to -10°F (-23°C), use 10W-30. Synthetic 5W-30 can be used in all temperatures. Oil should be changed after the first 20-30 hours of operation and every 100 hours of run time thereafter.
Is 5W or 10W better for summer?
Answer: There is absolutely no need to switch to 10W-30 motor oil in the summer if 5W-30 is an acceptable grade for your engine. While some car manufacturers still advocate the use of 10W-30 (or even 10W-40) as an appropriate engine oil option for summer use, it is completely unnecessary.
Is 5W-30 better than 10W-30?
This means that using 5W-30 instead of 10W-30 will increase the friction between engine parts leading to engine damage and decreased oil life. 10W-30 is typically meant for more powerful and larger engines than those with 5W-30 as the recommended oil type. So there could be greater risk for damage switching between the two.
What does 5W mean in engine oil?
The first number (5W) refers to the oil’s viscosity when cold, measured at 40°C (104°F). “5W” refers to the oil’s viscosity when cold, measured at 40°C (104°F). It helps to think of the “W” as standing for “winter.” Lower numbers mean the oil will remain more fluid and easier to circulate throughout your engine for improved start-up protection.
Should I mix 10W-30 and 10W-40 oil?
Most mechanics and vehicle owners avoid mixing 10W-30 with 10W-40 oil for several reasons. One is to prevent a decrease in oil pressure when cornering at high revs, resulting in spinning a bearing or two. Bear in mind that mixing motor oils may affect your vehicle’s warranty and fuel consumption.
Is 5W-30 oil bad for your engine?
Using 5W-30 instead can reduce fuel economy and impede flow throughout the engine. While using it temporarily in a pinch likely won’t cause your engine lasting harm, remember that the engineers who built your engine did so with a specific viscosity oil in mind, meaning it’s best to stick with it.
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 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.
Is 5W-30 or 10w30 better for winter?
10w30, the thinner 5w30 will circulate quicker, and flow through bearing tolerances better during an engine startup in the winter or colder climates. The “w” behind the five and the 10 indicates that those are the viscosities in colder or winter temperatures.
What is the difference between 10W-30 and 5W-30 oil?
5W-30 oil has a better low temperature viscosity grade as compared to, say, 10W-30 oil. As a result, the 5W-30 is less viscous in cold temperature settings. The low viscosity of this oil means it doesn’t thicken at a colder operating temperature and flows smoothly through the engine without causing friction.
Is 5W30 oil good for cold weather?
Having the lower viscosity rating makes the 5W30 oil an excellent choice for cold weather. This helps to ensure an easier start up and better lubrication in these extreme winter temperatures. The higher viscosity rating, 10W, of the 10W30 oil at a lower temperature means that it will thicken faster in cold weather.
Is 10W30 oil good for a high mileage engine?
10W30 oil can be good for a high-mileage engine. However, there are many more factors to consider before, and it is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, many people prefer to use even thicker motor oils than 10W30 in high mileage engines.
Should I use 5W30 or 10W30 in December?
Agree with above post, but this is the wrong question to ask in December, unless you live in the Deep South or somewhere else warm. Most cars now recommend 5W30 for winter and optionally 10W30 for summer. If I lived in West Texas, I would use 10W30 in the summer and 5W30 in the winter.
Which is better 5W 20 or 5W 40?
5W20 offers better fuel economy than 5W40 and some engines are optimised for using it and lubricating some parts. If you drive short distances only and engine remains cold, then using W40 instead W20 is not an optimal choice.
Is 5W-40 oil better than 5W-30?
There is no one definitive answer to this question. 5W-30 oil is generally recommended for most vehicles, as it provides good performance while still providing fuel economy benefits. However, some engines may perform better with a heavier weight oil like 5W-40.
What do the numbers 5w40 and 5W30 mean?
Whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, you’ve probably come across the terms “5w40” and “5w30” when looking for motor oil for your car. But what do these numbers and letters mean? In a nutshell, they refer to the oil’s viscosity or thickness.
What is 5w40 oil used for?
Resultantly, 5w40 oils are likely to be used in higher-performance engines that have higher operating temperatures and loads than the norm – those driven in urban environments, that commonly sit in traffic or driven at particularly high speeds, for example.
What does SAE 5W30 mean?
And that is why, on the label of the oils, you will see something like SAE 5W30, SAE 5W20, SAE 5W40, SAE, 10W40. The number before the W describes the viscosity of the oil when temperatures are at their lowest. If the number is lower, then it means the oil is thinner and thus, best for a cold start or cold temperatures performance.
