Which Oil Is Heavier 5w20 Or 5w30 - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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What About High-Temperature Performance?

The story changes once your engine reaches operating temperature.To determine the second number in the viscosity rating, the oil is tested at 100°C, which approximates normal operating temperature for most engines. The higher the number, the greater the oil’s resistance to flow and the higher its viscosity.An oil with a higher viscosity at operating temperature provides a thicker lubricating film, which can help improve wear protection. But thicker isn’t always better; oil that’s too thick can result in oil starvation.

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However, an oil with a lower viscosity at operating temperature reduces internal friction, which maximizes fuel economy.

You are viewing: Which Oil Is Heavier 5w20 Or 5w30

Ultimately, choosing the right viscosity is a balancing act between competing priorities.Let’s look at 5W-20 vs 5W-30 again. The 5W-20 will remain a little thinner at operating temperature, as indicated by its lower “20” number, while 5W-30 will provide a slightly thicker lubricating film.When looking at 5W-30 vs 10W-30, they both provide the same viscosity at operating temperature, as indicated by their identical “30” ratings.

Can I Use 5W-30 Instead Of 5W-20?

For a deep dive on what happens if you use the wrong viscosity of oil, check out this post.

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Here’s the rundown for our purposes here: In a pinch, while it’s generally OK to use an oil that’s one viscosity rating higher or lower than what the manufacturer recommends, it’s best to use the viscosity given in the owner’s manual.As already said, both 5W-20 and 5W-30 are the same viscosity when the engine is cold. The 5W-20, however, will remain a little thinner once you reach operating temperature to help improve fuel economy and flow fast enough to fill the tight tolerances in the engine.

Using 5W-30 instead can reduce fuel economy and impede flow throughout the engine. While using it temporarily in a pinch likely won’t cause your engine lasting harm, remember that the engineers who built your engine did so with a specific viscosity oil in mind, meaning it’s best to stick with it.Some automakers do recommend different viscosities of oil depending on weather conditions. In these cases, we recommend switching to a lighter-viscosity oil in cold weather to improve cold starts and start-up protection.

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