Why is the viscosity of motor oil important?
Viscosity, or the thickness of the oil, is important because it determines the lubricant’s film strength and efficiency in preventing friction between moving parts. Conversely, if a lubricant is too thin, the film may not be thick enough to prevent friction.
What do oil viscosity numbers mean?
The number preceding the W designates the viscosity at a low temperature, and the number following represents viscosity when the engine is hot. For example, a 10W-30 motor oil means the viscosity is at 10W when the engine is cold and 30 when the engine is hot. Low viscosities are good for cold temperatures.
Is 10w40 thicker than 10w30?
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. Using an oil with a low viscosity can lead to excessive metal to metal contact between moving parts.
What does viscosity really mean for your motor oil?
Motor oil viscosity is the measure of its resistance to flow. Low-viscosity oil (e.g. 0W-20) flows faster than high-viscosity oil (e.g. 20W-50). To illustrate, think of water and honey. When poured from a container, water flows much faster than honey.
What kind of oil to use for high viscosity?
If you notice the motor burning or leaking oil, you can use a high-mileage motor oil rather than a higher viscosity. High-mileage motor oils have additives that restore seals.
Why are low viscosity lubricants used in cars?
Lower-viscosity oils reduce internal friction since they flow more easily than higher-viscosity oils, improving fuel economy. With fuel-economy standards growing more strict, automakers are leaning toward low-viscosity lubricants to help them meet the requirements.
What happens if I use the wrong viscosity rating?
Also, both oils are the same viscosity once the engine has reached operating temperature. He knows this because the second number in each oil’s viscosity rating (i.e. “30”) is the same. It describes the oil’s resistance to flow at 212ºF, or normal operating temperature. Using 10W-30 instead of 5W-30, however, could make cold starts more difficult.
How does temperature affect viscosity of motor oil?
Motor oil includes additives developed to reduce changes in viscosity because of temperature. Certain motor oils are designed to be thinner (less viscous) when cold and more viscous (thicker) when hot. For instance, multi-grade or multi-viscosity motor oils show a low viscosity at low temperatures and high viscosity at high temperatures.
Which motor oil is better?
But in general, synthetic oil is better for your car. It can flow easier in cold weather and protect the motor against harmful cold starts even in the dead of winter. Synthetic motor oil is highly resistant to viscosity breakdown caused by extreme heat and friction inside the motor.
What is the most commonly used motor oil?
Low Viscosity , High Performance. 5W-30 is currently the most commonly used grade of engine oil, with more than 50 percent of the market.
Why does motor oil viscosity matter?
Why Does Motor Oil Viscosity Matter? Motor oil viscosity determines how thick or thin the oil is. Multiviscosity oils make it unnecessary to change your oil for different seasons.