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Engine oil viscosity refers to how easily oil pours at a specified temperature. Thin oils have lower viscosity and pour more easily at low temperatures than thicker oils that have a higher viscosity. Thick oils are better at maintaining film strength and oil pressure at high temperatures and loads.
Is 5W-30 oil thicker than 10w30?
So both the oils 5W–30 and 10W–30 have exactly the same viscosity (SAE 30) when your engine is running, and will perform in the same way. However, the 10W–30 oil will be thicker (higher viscosity) than the 5W–30 when it is cool.
What does oil viscosity numbers mean?
The short answer:The numbers represent the viscosity of the oil and the W stands for WINTER. In a 5W-30 for example, the number before the W describes the viscosity of the oil at low temperatures. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better the oil’s cold temperature/ cold start performance.
Is higher viscosity oil better?
Thin, low viscosity oils flow easier to protect engine parts at cold temperature. Thick, high viscosity oils are typically better at maintaining film strength to protect engines at high temperatures.
Is higher viscosity oil thicker or thinner?
You can find the viscosity rating directly on the oil’s bottle. All motor oils have viscosity ratings given by the the Society for Automotive Engineers, with the most common viscosity grade being 5W-30. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. The lower the number, the thinner the oil.
What happens if you use 10w40 instead of 5w30?
If you use 10-w-40 instead of 5-w-30 specified by the manufacturer then the viscosity of 10-w-40 used by you will be higher and oil thicker than what is specified during winters. Similarly the oil viscosity will be higher and oil thicker than specified during summers.
What happens if you put 10w30 instead of 5w30?
Most oils will mix perfectly, provided they have a similar synthetic. Therefore, there is no problem in mixing 10w30 and 5w30 since one will be topping up. Mixing the viscosity of oils will not have any effect on the engine. 5w30 and 10w30 engine oils have close viscosity, and thus there is no harm in mixing them.
Can I use 5w 20 instead of 5w30?
It is not safe to use 5w20 instead of 5w30. 5W20 is thinner and made for colder temperature. If you use 5w20 in warmer temperature instead of 5w30, you may have to deal with more friction and faster engine wear. Eventually your engine performance and longevity will be affected.
What oil is thicker 5w30 or 10w40?
A 10w-40 motor oil is a thicker oil at startup than a 5w-30 motor oil. Therefore, 10w-40 oil clings to the engine’s moving parts more than the lower viscosity 5w-30 oil.
What does 10W30 mean?
Answered January 07 2020. The 10W30 designation on engine oil means that the viscosity of the oil is rated at 10W when an engine is cold and 30 when the engine is hot. This is different than an oil labelled 5W30, which has a thinner viscosity when the engine is cold at 5W.
Can I use 10w30 instead of 5w20?
Originally Answered: Can I put 10w30 instead of 5w20? You can, but you will get worse mileage, and in most cases shorten the life of your engine, as it will take longer to pump up pressure for your bearings and lifters, and won’t spray your lower cylinders for an extra second or so on each cold start.
Can I use 10W40 instead of 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.
When should I use 20w50 oil?
What Is 20W-50 Oil Used For? 20W-50 is a common motor oil used in moderate-to-large diesel and gasoline engines, high-performance motorcycle bikes, and aviation vehicles. Its resistance to thinning at high heat also makes it popular as a racing oil and high temperature driving.
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. It just behaves like a 10W weight oil when cold and like a 40 weight oil at hot.
Can you run 0w20 instead of 5W-30?
No matter what the temperature is or other factors, 5w30 and 0w20 are the best motor oils. The viscosity grade of 0w20 oil is lower than 5w30, so it is better to use it in winter than to use 5w30. In terms of winter engine performance, 0w20 clearly performs better than 5w30.
What is the difference between 5W-30 and 10w30 oil?
Both the oils have similar viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius but 5w30 grade oil will thicken less than 10w30 grade oil in cold climate. This means 5w30 grade oil will flow effectively in low temperatures, whereas 10w30 oil will flow effectively in high temperatures because of the smaller temperature window.
