What is the difference between 5w 20 and 5w 30

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And free is good, right? If you'd be so kind as to allow our site, we promise to keep bringing you great content. Thanks for that. And thanks for reading Autoblog. The difference between 5W and 5W motor oil The main difference between 5W and 5W motor oil is that the latter gives a slight bump in fuel efficiency.

Single viscosity vs. How oil additives help clean and protect an engine Oil manufacturers use additives in oil for cars to improve the performance of the oil when it comes to lubrication. Which oil should vehicle owners use? Ownership oil. View More. Thank You Thanks for subscribing.

Check your in-box to get started. Sign Up More Info. We notice you're using an ad blocker. Please consider allowing Autoblog. That means, when the engine reaches its normal operating temperature, 5w30 will get thicker than 5w The 5w30 oil will encounter increased resistance. There is also a danger of damaging the car engine by using 5w30 instead of 5w If you put 5w30 oil in an engine that requires 5w20 oil, you run the risk of damaging the engine parts. These engine components are designed to work only with 5w20 motor oil.

This is not a good idea either. The 5w20 oil will be too thin for your engine. It cannot provide the protection required by your engine. In general, 5w20 motor oils have higher additives. Also, these oils shear very little under normal operating conditions. If all you can do at the moment is mix 5w20 with 5w30, you can go ahead.

There is minimal viscosity difference between 5w30 and 5w But mixing weights should only be done when there is no other option left. While the viscosity difference between these two oils is minimal, there is still a difference. You can mix 5w30 synthetic oil with 5w20 synthetic oil. It is preferable if they are from the same manufacturer and have the same API American Petroleum Institute service level with almost the same formulation.

But you can do this because different brands are mostly compatible with each other. You need to consider certain factors when choosing the motor oil you should use for your car engine. While these two motor oils are not really very different from each other as far as their ability to protect a car engine, you should also consider the slight difference in their viscosities.

If you do most of your driving in a hot climate, it is better that you use 5w30 instead of 5w This motor oil performs well under high temperatures. It will provide engine protection than the 5w But if you are mostly driving in cold climates, you should use thinner or less viscous motor oil in your engine. Therefore your better option is the 5w20 motor oil. The oil will flow much easier and lubricate the engine parts even during cold winter.

If you drive a lot in places where there are no extreme temperatures, you can use either the 5w20 or the 5w30 in your engine. Both these oils can perform well under normal weather conditions. Two types of motor oils can provide your car engine the best protection it needs, whether you live in a cold or a hot climate.

It also contains extra detergents that will prevent sludge and deposits from forming inside the engine. This Valvoline 5W motor oil also contains superior antioxidants to prevent its breakdown in extreme weather conditions. It is a full synthetic formula that can protect your car engine in extreme temperature conditions. There is no harm in using 5w20 motor oil instead of 5w30, but it is not advised.

You should always use the recommended motor oil grade for your car engine. If all things are considered, the more viscous engine oil will protect against friction because it is more resistant to heat and will not easily break down. As such, the 5w30 oil offers better engine oil protection than the 5w20 if that is what your car engine needs.

The second number indicates the oil viscosity when heated to degrees Celsius. This means that both grades exhibit the same viscosity under cold conditions.

However, 5W features a slightly higher viscosity at degrees Celsius than does 5W This means that once the engine reaches normal operating temperature, 5W oil will be thicker than 5W Due to the increased resistance of the thicker 5W oil, your engine will produce slightly lower fuel economy and horsepower output.

You also risk engine damage when using 5W instead of 5W, as the internal engine components are specifically designed to be used with 5W motor oil. Specific information regarding the motor oil suggested by the manufacturer of your vehicle can be found in your owner's manual. For many vehicles, this only includes the oil viscosity rating. Frequently, car manufacturers also suggest a specific type of oil, such as one featuring a special synthetic blend or rating.

Additionally, your owner's manual will note if any other oil grades are acceptable.