What does the W mean on oil

The “w” in motor oil stands for winter. The first number in the oil classification refers to a cold weather viscosity. The lower this number is, the less viscous your oil will be at low temperatures. For example, a 5W- motor oil will flow better at lower temperatures than a 15W- motor oil.

What is W and T in engine oil?

Here the W stands for Winter and represents how the oil will react to a cold start. … Tells us how the oil will flow in cold conditions. The smaller the number, the better will be the flow. For instance, a 5W-30 oil will have a better cold flow than 10W-30 engine oil.

What does the W in 5W-30 stand for?

5w30 is a motor oil that is widely used in light-duty petrol and diesel engines. … The “W” stands for “winter,” the number preceding it indicates the oil’s viscosity (or thickness) at low temperatures (hence the W), and the number after it indicates viscosity at higher temperatures, when the engine is running.

Is 5w30 thicker than 5w40?

5w30 is engine oil that has lower viscosity 5 and higher viscosity 30. … 5w40 oil is not thicker has it has a higher viscosity. Temperature. 5w30 has lower viscosity hence it is suitable to use in hot or lower temperatures.

What does the W stand for in 10W-30?

That’s why you see two numbers on most oils. For Example: 10W30. This means the viscosity is at 10W when the engine is cold and 30 when the engine is hot. Low viscosities are good for cold temperatures (hence the “W” association) because the oil is thinner. Thinner motor oil flows more easily and moves quickly.

Can I use 10W-40 instead of 10W30?

Similarly, SAE 10W-40 motor oil performs well in cold weather conditions. It has the same low-temperature limits as the 10W-30 but is better in higher temperatures. … Either 10W30 or 10W40 for summer use is fine; however, 10W-40 motor oil will better protect your engine.

What is W in 20w40 oil?

The first number, which is always followed by the letter W, describes the low temperature behavior of the oil at start up while the second number describes the high temperature behavior of the oil after the engine has been running for some time.

Can I use 10w40 instead of 5w30?

Your vehicle does not use 5W-30 oil. The recommended oil viscosity for your vehicle, according to Kia documentation, is 10W-40. If you drive the vehicle in exceptionally cold weather, well below 32 degrees, you can use 5W-30 oil but even 10W-40 is still perfectly OK to use if outdoor temperatures are below freezing.

What happens if I put 5w40 instead of 5w30?

In practice, this means that each oil is just as viscous at lower temperatures and will remain viscous at -30°C, however 5w40 oil outperforms 5w30 oils at higher temperatures, being effective up to ambient temperatures of 50°C, as opposed to 30°C.

Which engine oil is best for hot weather?

IMAGEPRODUCTEDITOR’S RATINGCastrol 06246 Edge Full Synthetic Motor Oil9.1BEST BUDGETValvoline High Mileage Oil With MaxLife Technology8.8Mobil 1 120762 Synthetic Motor Oil8.6Castrol 03094 GTX 10W-40 Conventional Motor Oil8.2

Article first time published on

Can I use 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 substitute 5w20 for 5w30?

5W-30 and 5W-20 motor oil both feature the same winter rating. This means that both grades exhibit the same viscosity under cold conditions. … You also risk engine damage when using 5W-30 instead of 5W-20, as the internal engine components are specifically designed to be used with 5W-20 motor oil.

Is 5w30 OK for my car?

5w30 oil is particularly suitable for cars driving in cold climates. Unlike oils with a higher high temperature rating, such as 10 or 15, 5w30 oil can flow freely enough when the engine is started at low temperatures to coat and protect the engine’s internal components.

Is Thicker oil better for older engines?

Newer vehicles can utilize thinner oils for faster lubrication of new engine parts. In contrast, older, high-mileage engines benefit from thicker oils to prevent friction and oil loss.

Is 10w 30 oil the same as SAE 30?

SAE 10w30 oil has 10w thickness at low temperatures, but SAE 30 is at high temperatures. … In the straight SAE, 30 doesn’t and can have immense Viscosity and helpless pumpability at low temperatures. As SAE 10w30 is not thick in low temperature, while SAE 30 is in high temperature.

Which oil is better 10w30 or 20w40?

20w 40 is a thicker oil when compared to the original 10w 30 oil. So 10w 30 oil is going to flow better than 20w40 oil when you initially start it and also run it. If the oil flows better the better the oil will lubricate and protect engine parts.

What does the W in 15w40 mean?

In 15W-40, the first number on the left (15 here) represents the cold temperature viscosity and contains the letter “W” (which stands for winter, engineers are so creative). … For example, a 5W-40 oil will be thinner in cold temperatures than a 15W-40, but at normal operating temperatures both oils will flow the same.

Can I use 15w50 instead of 20W40?

There won’t be much changes or problems in changing 15W-50 grade to 20W-40 but as days passes it might bring slight changes to your engine due to different viscosity in both oils.It is recommended to use the same lube oil so that you can enjoy the benefits for some more extra years.

Which oil is thicker 20W40 or 20W50?

Hot 20W40 is the same as hot SAE40, and hot 20W50 is the same as hot SAE50. At any given temperature, a higher number is thicker. But remember, the viscosity is temperature dependant.

Is 10W40 better for older engines?

As oil passages in older engines wear down from friction and widen, a higher viscosity oil will, theoretically, lubricate the engine better. So, you’d think that switching to 10W-40 might be a better option for your older engine than 10W-30 motor oil. But it really depends on how old your car is.

Can I use 10W40 in a lawn mower?

Although SAE 30 motor oil is usually suggested for use in lawn mower engines, the safest option is to use the oil recommended by your lawn mower manufacturer. The same motor oil types used in cars, such as 10W-30 or 10W-40, can often be used in a lawn mower.

Is 10W30 good for summer?

As a general rule, you’ll get the best protection in the summer when you use a slightly thicker grade of oil, such as a 10W30 instead of a 5W30. Engines need a thicker oil in the summer months because of the summer heat and its effects on thinning the oil out.

Will my car run better after oil change?

Changing your oil offers a lot of noticeable benefits, as well. Regular oil changes improve your car’s gas mileage. As the fresh oil moves through the engine, the lubrication of the metal parts increases your engine’s performance and helps it run more efficiently with less work so it doesn’t eat up as much gas.

Is 5W40 good for summer?

5w30 can be used by different type of vehicles and in different range of temperatures, but is ideal for colder temperatures. 5w40 is often used in higher mileage engine sand performs better in warmer temperatures.

Is 10W40 thicker than 5W40?

The main difference between the two oil types is that one is thinner than the other. The 5W40 is thinner than the 10W40 at lower temperatures. … On the other hand, the 10W40 motor oils are thicker than the 5W40 oils for good reasons. This oil type works pretty well in lubricating engine parts during startup.

Is 5w30 good for high mileage?

5W-30 motor oil is the top viscosity recommendation by automakers over the past four decades for use in many vehicle types. … Furthermore, high-mileage 5W-30 motor oil is specially formulated for late model vehicles or newer vehicles with over 75,000 miles/120,000 kilometers.

Is 10W40 good for high mileage?

Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W-40 motor oil is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in high mileage vehicles (even those that have used lower quality conventional oils†), including: Cars.

Which is better 10W30 or 5w40?

If your car’s recommendations say to use 10w-30 that means you should not use 5w-40 because it acts in a different way whether at cold or at operating temperature. The first numbers 10W and 5W are referring to viscosity at cold so that the lower the number is the thinner the oil is at cold and vice versa.

Is 5w 30 OK for summer?

5w30 is a great multigrade oil for use in low starting temperatures as well as high summer temperatures. It is also more fuel efficient since it creates less drag on the bearings and moving engine parts.

What is the best engine oil brand?

  1. Mobil. This brand appears to be pretty famous within the industry and holds a wide range of lubricant products, including transmission fluids, grease, gear lubricants, oil filters, and motor oils. …
  2. Valvoline. …
  3. Castrol. …
  4. ACDelco. …
  5. Shell Engine Oil. …
  6. STP. …
  7. AmazonBasics. …
  8. Motorcraft.

What temp is 5w30 good for?

When should I use 5w30 oil? You should always use the oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. However, 5w30 oil can function in temperatures as low as -30ºC and as high as 40ºC, making it an ideal choice if you drive your car in a place with relatively high seasonal temperature variations.

You Might Also Like