What does the W mean in 10w30?
winter
The “W” that you see on oil labels stands for the word winter because this portion of the label shows the viscosity level of oil when an engine is cold. Motor oil that is thinner can flow more easily and faster. This is important because when you start a cold engine, the oil needs to lubricate the equipment quickly.
What does the W in 5w30 mean?
5W-30 means that this is a multigrade oil. This is indicated by the two numbers separated by a “W” 5W – shows thickness/viscosity of the oil on a start-up – when you start the car (W – stands for Winter, this indicates oil performance under colder engine temperatures when the engine has not been running)
What does the W in motor oil stand for?
For maximum engine performance, follow the recommended motor oil viscosity and maintenance schedule provided in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. What does the “w” in a grade of motor oil stand for? The “w” in motor oil stands for winter. The first number in the oil classification refers to a cold weather viscosity.
What do the numbers on the oil weight mean?
Oil weight is a term used to describe the viscosity of an oil, which means how well it flows at a specific temperature. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) assigns a viscosity number, or weight, to oil based on its flow at 210 degrees F, which is roughly the standard operating temperature for most motors.
What does 5W 20 mean on motor oil?
5W-20. 5: This is the oil’s viscosity rating at low or winter temperatures. W: This stands for “winter,” and is part of the “5” rating. 20: This is the oil’s viscosity rating at high temperatures
What does 10W 30 stand for in oil?
Multi-weight oils (such as 10W-30) are a new invention made possible by adding polymers to oil. The polymers allow the oil to have different weights at different temperatures. The first number indicates the viscosity of the oil at a cold temperature, while the second number indicates the viscosity at operating temperature.
What does the W mean on motor oil?
Oils first received this “W” designation from SAE in the 1950s. The lower the number preceding the W, the lower the temperature for which the oil is rated. Those winter numbers were modified further after a rash of catastrophic engine failures in the early 1980s. Unusually cold weather in the U.S. and Europe caused oil to gel.
What does the W stand for in 10W / 40?
In 10W/40 motor oil, the W stands for weight, right? Wrong. It stands for Winter. A vehicle’s oil has to be thick, but not too thick. It is important that in the winter, the oil be thin enough to allow for the engine to start.
What does the W mean on a SAE 5W 30?
This is why you would see something like this on the label: SAE 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 do the numbers mean on motor oil?
What the numbers mean. The numbers and letters on a container of multi-grade motor oil will tell you at a glance what its operating range is and how it compares to other oils. Here’s an example: 5W-20. 5: This is the oil’s viscosity rating at low or winter temperatures. W: This stands for “winter,” and is part of the “5” rating