Does the weight of oil matter?

Using oil that is thicker than recommended may lead to a decrease in fuel economy, a higher load on your engine, and even a shorter life for your engine. Conversely, using thinner, lighter-weight oil than recommended can cause excessive wear and shorter life.

Can I use 5W30 instead of 5W20?

While both 5W20 and 5W30 motor oils are suitable for high mileage engines, the best viscosity type for your vehicle depends on how the manufacturer designed the engine. Using 5W30 when it is advised that you use 5W20 can result in your vehicle not getting good fuel economy.

Is 5W30 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.

Can I put 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 you use the wrong weight of oil?

Using the wrong motor oil viscosity, especially if thicker than recommended, will directly affect your car's mileage. This is because critical moving parts, like pistons, move less freely. This adds a load onto the engine and subsequently reduces the car's overall fuel efficiency.

Will Thinner Oils Damage Your Engine?

Can I put 10W30 instead of 5w30?

The answer is yes. You can use 10w30 instead of 5w30 oil since both meet the SAE standard for viscosity at operating temperature. Generally, the viscosity difference between the two is neglectable.

Can I use 10W40 instead of 10W30?

They are both available in pure conventional form or as high-quality synthetic grades. Either 10W30 or 10W40 for summer use is fine; however, 10W-40 motor oil will better protect your engine.

Will thicker oil damage my engine?

Using oil that is thicker than recommended may lead to a decrease in fuel economy, a higher load on your engine, and even a shorter life for your engine. Conversely, using thinner, lighter-weight oil than recommended can cause excessive wear and shorter life.

Is Thicker oil better for high mileage cars?

The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil - 10W - can help protect worn engine bearings as well. As long as you're not hearing knocking or serious mechanical noises from the engine, the heavier oil should buy you many more miles of service from your vehicle.

What happens if I put 10W40 instead of 5w20?

Lose a little gas. mileage and lubrication is not as good plus it puts more strain on the oil pump. Never go thicker than a 5w30 and that would be more for an older higher mileage engine in warmer climates. So go change it back to 5w20.

Should I use thicker oil in an older engine?

A: Yes. This is a practical method to improve oil pressure in an older, high-mileage engine. The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil — 10W — can help protect worn engine bearings as well.

Is 10W30 better for high mileage?

10W-30 motor oil makes for a decent high-mileage oil. It gives a better fuel economy while reducing the oil consumption for older engines. Older engines with more than 75,000 miles on them require a thicker oil that will properly lubricate their critical engine parts and prevent oil leaks, sludge, and deposits.

Is it OK to mix oil weights?

The truth is simple: don't mix two different oils that have different weights (viscosities). Viscosity Grades might sound pretty scientific, but the simple fact is that this is what keeps your engine running smoothly.

Is 5w30 good for high mileage?

Amazon Basics Full Synthetic is the best 5w30 oil for high mileage vehicles. This oil should only be used on vehicles exceeding 75,000 miles. This motor oil is formulated for longer drain intervals. It helps in preventing a build-up on drain intervals and preventing rust and corrosion.

Can you put 10w30 in a 5w20 engine?

Notwithstanding the recommendations of the car manufacturer, mixing 10w30 and 5w20 will not cause any sort of harm to the engine. However, a few drivers claim that it is safer to combine two multi-grade or straight weight oils, rather than mixing multi-grade with straight weight oils.

Is 5w30 thicker than 5w20?

So, due to viscosity, 5w20 is a thinner oil during operating temperatures, whereas 5w30 is thicker during operating temperatures. A majority of manufacturers are now producing engines that operate on 5w20 oil, to which it's important to stick to this viscosity and not substitute 5w30.

Is 5w30 better than 10w40?

The 5w30 oil will flow better at low temperatures than the 10w40 oil. This means that the 5w30 oil will protect the engine better at low temperatures, usually when the engine is just starting or during weather conditions such as winter.

Will heavier weight oil reduce oil consumption?

What is this? Unfortunately, the thicker engine oil will not stop your car from burning oil. This solution has been brought up often, with the idea being that a more viscous oil will not flow as easily and have a more challenging time getting past worn-out valve guides.

What weight oil is best for high mileage?

Some mechanics recommend switching to a thicker (higher viscosity) oil — such as 10W-30 full synthetic oil instead of 5W-20 full synthetic — or using oil additives to stop leaks.

Can I use 0w40 instead of 5W20?

Re: Can I use 0W-40 high performance synthetic oil

The 0 part means its got the cold-weather viscosity of any 0 weight oil, and will pour even thinner than 5W20 when cold. That's good.

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.

Is 10w30 thicker than 10w40?

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.

What happens if I mix 10W40 and 10W30?

Mixing 10W30 with 10W40 Some people say mixing them is fine as long as you don't live in freezing weather. The motor oils in these blends are not harmful to your vehicle, even if they are mixed with synthetic oils.

Is it OK to use 15w40 instead of 10W30?

Because 10W-30 is thinner than 15W-40 oil, its film strength can be weaker and it can be more prone to oxidation. Therefore, high quality additives are needed to compensate for those weaknesses in order for a 10W-30 engine oil to protect as well and last as long as a 15W-40.

Is 10W50 better than 10W40?

At 100ºC, the 10W50 has a viscosity of 18.1cS, the 10W40 is at 13.1cS. What this means is, at low temperature, they perform similarly, but at operating temperature, the 10W50 has better protection (higher film strength) than the 10W40.