What does the W stand for when you see 30w oil?

What does the W stand for when you see 30w oil?

The short answer:The numbers represent the viscosity of the oil and the W stands for WINTER. Because the viscosity of oil changes with temperature, multigrade oils were developed to provide protection across a range of temperatures. This is why you would see something like this on the label: SAE 5W-30.

What does the W stand for in a multi grade 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 SAE has a separate viscosity rating system for gear, axle, and manual transmission oils, SAE J306, which should not be confused with engine oil viscosity.

Which oil is better 10w30 or 20W40?

20w 40 is a thicker oil when compared to the original 10w 30 oil. So 10w 30 oil is going to flow better than 20w40 oil when you initially start it and also run it. If the oil flows better the better the oil will lubricate and protect engine parts.

What does a W mean on a lubricant?

The “w” stands for winter and indicates that the lubricant in question has a different viscosity, or different flow characteristics, based on temperature. For example, a 5w30 oil weight rating means that on cold start-up — even at subzero temperatures — the oil flows like a 5 weight oil.

What does the number before W mean on a 5W 30?

In a 5W-30 for example, the number before the W describes the viscosity of the oil at low temperatures. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better the oil’s cold temperature/ cold start performance.

What does W mean on a motor oil rating?

Comparing the first, lower “W” number: When looking at two oils with different ratings, start by looking at the first number — the one paired with the “W,” which gives you its cold weather performance rating. In the above example, that would be “5W.”

What does the number W mean in viscosity of oil?

The higher number, following the “w” refers to hot weather viscosity, or how fluid your oil is at hot temperatures. The higher the number, the thicker the oil at a specified temperature. Is thicker oil better?

What does the W stand for 10W40?

It is labeled with two numbers and the letter W, such as 10W-40. The W actually stands for “winter” but basically means “viscosity when cold.”. So 10W-40 oil acts like SAE 10 oil when it’s cold, but acts like SAE 40 oil when it’s hot.

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

8 Answers In short, 5w30 is less viscous or thinner at lower temperatures than 10w30 and thus flows more readily when your vehicle is cold. The difference between 5w 30 and 10w 30 is the thickness of the oil, 5w 30 being thinner. 5W30 and 10W30 are the oil viscosity.

Why use higher viscosity oil?

Controlling the viscosity of fuel oil is an important aspect of an efficient combustion. A high viscosity fuel oil leads to improper atomisation which in turn leads to incomplete combustion.High viscosity fuel prevents correct atomisation,which takes place in the fuel injectors.

What does viscosity of oil mean?

Simply put, viscosity is the oil’s resistance to flow or, for the layman, an oil’s speed of flow as measured through a device known as a viscometer. The thicker (higher viscosity) of an oil, the slower it will flow.