![]() In this case, 5W-30 will flow more easily at startup than 10W-30. It’s helpful to think of the “W” as standing for “winter.” The lower the oil’s “W” viscosity, the more readily it will flow when cold. Using 10W-30 instead of 5W-30, however, could make cold starts more difficult. It describes the oil’s resistance to flow at 212☏ (100☌), or normal operating temperature. He knows this because the second number in each oil’s viscosity rating (i.e. Also, both oils are the same viscosity once the engine has reached operating temperature. His older engine isn’t built with the same tight tolerances as Brad’s engine. In John’s case, using 10W-30 instead of 5W-30 creates fewer potential issues. ![]() ![]() Some Oil Viscosity Differences are Less Pronounced Since thicker oil doesn’t transfer heat as well as thinner oil, operating temperatures will increase, possibly leading to accelerated chemical break down (called “ oxidation“) and harmful sludge and deposits.įor a deeper dive on oil viscosity, check out this post. Not only that, but the engine will waste energy pumping the thicker oil, reducing fuel economy. Its lower viscosity allows it to flow faster and fill the tiny clearances between parts, leading to a durable, consistent lubricating film. His engine was designed specifically to use a lower-viscosity oil, in this case 0W-20. The oil won’t form a consistent lubricating film, allowing metal-to-metal contact and wear. In Brad’s case, his 15W-50 racing oil may be too thick to flow quickly enough to fill the spaces between the crank journals and main bearings while the engine is running. With fuel-economy standards growing more strict, automakers are leaning toward low-viscosity lubricants to help them meet the requirements. Lower-viscosity oils reduce internal friction since they flow more easily than higher-viscosity oils, improving fuel economy. This is purposely done to allow modern engines to use lower-viscosity motor oil, like 0W-20 and even 0W-16. The clearances between the crankshaft journals and main bearings are tighter, for one. Today’s advanced engines are built with much tighter tolerances than their predecessors. No sense wasting good oil.Įngines are Built to Use a Certain Viscosity of Motor Oil But he has some 10W-30 in his garage, so he uses it to change the oil. He’s a cost-savings enthusiast, so he buys a 1998 Toyota Corolla. Wanting the best protection possible for his new ride, he drains the 0W-20 that came from the factory and installs 15W-50 racing oil.
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