What does the W stand for in 5W30?

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.

What does the W stand for oil?

The short answer:The numbers represent the viscosity of the oil and the W stands for WINTER. The long answer:The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics.

What does the W 30 mean in oil?

A 10W-30 rating means an oil has a viscosity grade of 10 in cold temperatures ("W" stands for "winter"), and 30 in warm temperatures.

What does the SAE and W mean on oil?

Therefore, on the bottles of this type of oils, after the SAE you'll find the letter W (from Winter) and a number indicating the oil's viscosity at low temperatures. An oil with a low SAE W number will flow better, making cold starts easier and reducing engine wear.

Does the W matter in oil?

All the numerical values are correctly referred to as “weight” or “straight-weight” oils. It is correct to say 20 weight oil for 20; 5W shall be called 5 weight winter-grade oil. Yes, that W remains “winter” no matter what.

What does 10w30 mean? 'Engine Oil Explained'

Will 10w40 hurt a 5w30 engine?

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.

Are all 5w30 oils the same?

In short: Every manufacturer has its own engines with its own specifications. As a result, every engine needs its own specific 5W30 oil. However, some 5W30 oils can be used for multiple brands.

What does the W in viscosity grade stand for?

What do these viscosity grades mean? As with monograde oils, the “W” still means “Winter”. The number before the W represents the winter viscosity grade. In other words, the engine's capacity to start, even at low temperatures. The smaller the number, the easier it is for the engine to start cold.

Is SAE 5w30 the same as 5w30?

SAE 30 is a single-grade oil meaning it is only rated one time at a very high temperature. This high-temperature rating is right in the middle at 30. 5w30 on the other hand, is a multi-grade oil that has two ratings. Meaning at high temperatures it is also rated at 30, but at low temperatures, it has a rating of 5.

Is all 5w30 oil synthetic?

Is 5W-30 A Synthetic Oil? 5W-30 oil is available as both conventional oil (also called mineral oil) and synthetic motor oil.

Is Thicker oil better for older engines?

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.

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 SAE 30 the same as 30W?

Is SAE 30 The Same As SAE 30W? There is no SAE 30W (which is a cold temperature grade) in the SAE J300 standard. Only SAE 30 is available, which refers to a hot viscosity rating at 100^OC.

Is 5W 20 the same as 5W 30?

Key difference between 5w20 and 5w30

5w20 is an engine oil type characterized by its winter rating of 5 and an oil weight of 20 in warmer conditions. It is less viscous compared to 5w30. 5w30 has the same viscosity rating of 5 during winter but an oil weight of 30 during hotter conditions hence it is thicker.

What does the W in 15w40 mean?

"15W" refers to the flowability at cold temperatures (W=winter). It is still pumpable down to -25 °C, i.e. liquid enough to disperse in the engine. The number "40" describes the flowability of the engine oil at an operating temperature of 100 °C.

What does the W mean in 10w40 motor oil?

Oils have a specified maximum viscosity at a cold temperature. The lower the W number is (“W” stands for Winter), the thinner the oil will be. In this case, a 10W rated oil will be thicker in winter than a 5W oil. The 40 rating: The 40 represents the oil's viscosity at hot temperatures.

What is the difference between 5W-30 and 10 W 30 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.

Can I use 10W-30 instead of 5w30?

3. Can I Use 10W-30 Instead Of 5W-30 Motor Oil? If it's a recommended viscosity oil for your engine, then yes. Otherwise, it's always better to use the manufacturer-recommended viscosity oil or weight of motor oil for better lubrication and protection from engine wear.

Can you mix 5w30 and 30w oil?

No, it may be a terrible idea to mix SAE 30 with 5w30 because they are not of the same grade. The SAE 30 is a single-grade oil, while the 5W30 is a double-grade oil. Mixing them might have you counting losses, and your engine will pay for it. 3.

What does W mean in multigrade oil?

The numbers 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 are suffixed with the letter W, designating they are "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower temperature. The document SAE J300 defines the viscometrics related to these grades.

Which is better 5w30 or 5w40?

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.

Can I use 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.

Can you mix any 5w30 engine oil?

THE ANSWER IS NO!

Even if two different brands of oil have the same viscosity, you still should not be mixing them together.

Why is 5w30 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.

Is 5w30 good for hot weather?

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.