What do oil viscosity numbers mean?
The short answer:The numbers represent the viscosity of the oil and the W stands for WINTER. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better the oil’s cold temperature/ cold start performance. The number after the W describes how thick the oil is at the engine’s normal operating temperature.
What viscosity oil should I use?
The owner’s manual of your vehicle should specify which oil viscosity you should be using for your engine. Often, the manual may specify multiple options to choose from depending on the weather. For example, it may recommend 5W-30 synthetic oil for warmer weather, and 0W-30 oil for colder weather.
What happens if I put 10w40 instead of 5W-30?
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.
What oil is thicker 5w30 or 10w40?
A 10w-40 motor oil is a thicker oil at startup than a 5w-30 motor oil. Therefore, 10w-40 oil clings to the engine’s moving parts more than the lower viscosity 5w-30 oil.
What happens if you put 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.
What happens if you put 10W40 instead of 5W-30?
Is 20W-50 too thick?
20W-50 Motor Oil It is highly recommended for older vehicles. The oil’s density helps protect aging engine parts and helps prevent leaks that are common with older cars. It is important to note that 20W-50 oil may be too thick for many newer passenger cars and can cause serious engine damage.