What happens if you use the wrong viscosity 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.
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What happens if I use the wrong oil?

You might notice a few oil spot in your garage or under your car because using the wrong oil can lead to leaks, or you might become aware of a burning smell while driving. If the oil isn't working as it should engine parts might not be lubricated well enough and cause friction, which can burn the oil.
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What happens if I use 10w30 instead of 5w30?

Both 5w30 and 10w30 engine oils have a similar SAE rating, meaning that they will perform the same at high or operating temperatures. The digits 30 indicates the viscosity of the oils when in high temperatures. 10w30, however, will thicken more when in a cold climate. 5w30 is much suitable during the cold season.
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Does oil viscosity really matter?

Thicker Oil May Not Flow Quickly Enough

Its lower viscosity allows it to flow faster and fill the tiny clearances between parts, leading to a durable, consistent lubricating film. Not only that, but the engine will waste energy pumping the thicker oil, reducing fuel economy.
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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.
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Will Thinner Oils Damage Your Engine?



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.
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Can you mix 5w 30 and 10W 30?

It is still not a good idea to mix two different brands of oil, even if they have the same viscosity. The oil you use should be the grade recommended by your car manufacturer. However, if you mix two different brands of motor oil, you could damage your vehicle.
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Can I use a heavier weight oil?

Is It Bad To Use A Heavier Weight Oil? The use of a heavier grade than recommended can result in a decrease in fuel economy, higher engine loads, and eventually shortened engine life. The use of a lighter grade than recommended can result in excessive mechanical wear and reduced engine life as well.
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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.
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Can you mix 5W30 and 5w40 oil?

you can mix 5w30 with 5w40, you won't notice much of a difference in regular temperatures, but if you have a high-end, luxury car or performance car, it might be a good idea to use the only 5w40, even in emergencies, as it might cause inconsistencies especially under load which can lead to unwanted damage.
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Can wrong oil cause misfire?

Can A Dirty Oil Filter Cause Misfire? When an oil filter is bad, it can reduce oil flow, which can cause an improper valve timing, which can result in a misfire. If oil flow is low for a long time, worn engine parts may result in a misfire.
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Can you mix different viscosity oils?

yes you can mix same brand and type oils with different viscosity and it will be fine as long as you don't mix them 50/50. If you mix 200 ml of oil with the rest of oil needed for your engine you will be totally fine.
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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.
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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.
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Can you use 10W40 instead of 5w40?

Can I Use 10w40 Instead Of 5w40? The synthetic engine will be fine as long as it is fully synthetic. 5W – 40 is better for colder conditions, 10W is thicker to start, so it does not get to places around the engine as quickly as 5W-40, but it all depends on the temperature.
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Will heavier oil hurt 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.
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How do I know if I put the wrong oil in my car?

Signs You're Using the Wrong Oil
  • It Struggles to Start in Cold Weather. If the oil is too thick (aka, the viscosity is high), your car may not start in cold temperatures (cold weather places more strain on a vehicle in any case). ...
  • It Leaks Oil. ...
  • It Smells. ...
  • It Loses Fuel Efficiency. ...
  • It Gets Noisy.
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Can the wrong oil cause overheating?

Using the wrong fluid can cause poor lubrication, overheating, and possibly transmission failure. A mechanic might not be able to reverse the damage, even by flushing the transmission. Mistakenly adding motor oil or brake fluid can also destroy your transmission.
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Can I mix 10w40 with 5W30?

Is It Ok To Mix 10w40 With 5w30? The brand should be the same as the product. It is not compatible with the additives to mix brands.
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Is it OK to put 10W30 in a 5w20?

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.
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What happens if you mix 5w20 and 10W30?

It should be fine, considering the temps, and that the suggested oil viscosity is usually 5W-30, so two quarts of 5W-20 and three of 10W-30 probably come pretty close to some viscosity around 5W-30.
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What happens if you put 5w40 in a 5w30 engine?

Can You Add 5w40 To 5w30? Miscible oils are those that are not formed by heat. It is not necessary to add one to the other in any significant proportion since they will easily form a solution together. If you mix 1 litre of 5W30 with 5W40, there will be no harm to the engine, as long as it is mixed with 5W40.
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Can I use 5W-40 instead of 15w 40?

5w-40 has a broader operating range than 15w-40. Unless you're penny pinching or you're misinformed about synthetic oils, it's stupid to pick the 15w-40 option. There is a single benefit to 15w-40 oils though, they will maintain their 40 weight operating viscosity longer than an oil that starts at 5w.
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Which oil is thicker 5w30 or 5w40?

The working viscosity of 5w30 is basically from 9.3 to 12.5mm2/s whereas the operating viscosity of 5w40 is 12.5 to 16.3mm2/s. That means 5w40 has larger viscosity than 5w30.
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What is heavier 10W 30 or 10W-40?

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.
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