Will the wrong oil damage my engine?

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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What happens if I put 10w30 instead of 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 put different oil in engine?

Mixing different types can destabilize your motor oil, reducing its efficiency and affecting your engine's performance. The smartest choice is to stick with the oil type and oil change intervals recommended by your car's manufacturer and visit your local car care experts for affordable services.
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What happens if you 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.
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What if I put 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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The Wrong oil destroyed my engine!?



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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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.
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Can you put 5w30 in a 5w20 engine?

In general, it is not recommended that you use 5w30 oil (or any other oil weight) in place of 5w20 oil, as the slightest difference in viscosity can potentially damage your engine.
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Is 5w30 good for high mileage?

Full synthetic 5w30 oils are recommended for high-performing cars, those that carry heavy loads, and vehicles operating in high temperatures. These oils are made with high-performance additives to enable them to deal with extreme conditions.
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Is there a big 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.
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What happens if I put 10W40 instead of 10W30?

10W40 has a higher viscosity than 10W30. This means that when you pour 10W40 into your engine, it will have a harder time flowing through the engine and moving around the parts. However, if you use 10W40 instead of 10W30, the oil will stay in place better without leaking out or dispersing throughout your engine.
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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.
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Is 10W30 better for summer?

Answer: There is absolutely no need to switch to 10W-30 motor oil in the summer if 5W-30 is an acceptable grade for your engine. While some car manufacturers still advocate the use of 10W-30 (or even 10W-40) as an appropriate engine oil option for summer use, it is completely unnecessary.
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How do you know if you put the wrong oil in your car?

Oil Leaks. Using synthetic oil in the wrong engine can cause gaskets and seals to leak. Oil leaks accumulating under the car and white smoke coming from the exhaust could be signs that you've used the wrong oil.
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Can wrong oil cause misfire?

Can an oil change cause a misfire? No, an oil change will not cause a misfire, because it doesn't affect the combustion chamber. A misfire is most likely caused by worn valve guide seals and guides, but worn rings and cylinders can also allow oil to enter the combustion chamber which will cause a misfire.
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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.
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Does thin oil damage engine?

Thin May Not Be In

Just like using an oil with too high a viscosity may lead to problems in Brad's engine, using a thinner oil can have the same result. Oil that's too thin can fail to develop a consistent lubricating film, inviting metal-to-metal contact that causes wear. Extreme stress and heat add to the challenge.
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Is 5W30 better for older cars?

5W-20 and 5W30 motor oil are winter viscosity grade oils primarily recommended for older engines and light-duty use. These oils are best utilized in colder temperatures.
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What's the best oil for older cars?

When you're choosing the best oil for older cars or high mileage engines, there are several criteria you can look at.
  • Pennzoil High Mileage Conventional Motor Oil. ...
  • Castrol GTX Part-Synthetic High Mileage. ...
  • Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage Synthetic Blend. ...
  • Mobil1 High Mileage Engine Oil. ...
  • Amsoil Premium Protection Motor Oil.
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Can you mix 10W 30 and 10W-40?

Mixing 10W30 with 10W40

Some say that mixing them is fine as long as you don't live in freezing weather. Even if you put together synthetic and conventional blends of these motor oils, they show no harm to your vehicle. However, this is true only if you mix in a quart of the other type to your usual engine oil.
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Is 10W-40 too thick?

A low viscosity oil will move quicker through the engine to keep it lubricated and cool. Additionally, if your engine has a lower running temperature, 10W-40 motor oil might be too thick. Its higher viscosity at running temperature can reduce engine effectiveness as it'll need more energy to keep the engine operating.
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Is 10W40 good for high mileage?

Designed for high mileage vehicles

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. Trucks.
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How full is too full on dipstick?

If the oil level is a little above the full mark, that shouldn't cause problems. If it's overfilled by half a quart or more, or foam shows on the dipstick, the best fix is to have the oil drained and refilled to the proper level.
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How long should I wait to start my car after adding oil?

Once you have your oil, make sure your car is again parked on level ground. Your engine should be cool, and you should wait at least 20 minutes to give the oil time to drain fully back into the sump.
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