2006-07-05 12:11:04 · 6 answers · asked by hockey 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
5W-30 & 10W-30 are exactly the same until they get to zero degrees farenheit. Then 5W-30 is thinner.
2006-07-05 12:16:39 · answer #1 · answered by mountie218 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, "W" stands for winter.....not weight.
5w-30 ACTS like a 5 weight in the cold, It is a 30 weight at operating temp.... so it has better cold flow so less startup wear in the cold..... BUT 10w-30 is a little more shear resistent... (doesn't go out of grade as easy) when compared to 5w-30...... but oils today have gotten so much better..... just use the 5w-30 and be fine.
yenko, please tell all the oil experts out there....... that have spent they're entire lives on oil...... they are wrong..... , heck I just did a quick search on this and hundreds of websites would come up explaining what "W" means.... and all point to winter.... guess your right then..... and all those experts were wrong all along....
2006-07-06 00:12:11 · answer #2 · answered by 572ci. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to say this, but 572ci, you are wrong, wrong, wrong when it comes to the 'W' meaning winter. When you or anyone is talking about oils, the concern is with viscosity and weight. I knew if I checked out a question like this, that there would be someone who answered that way. When talking viscosity's, the two greatest factors would be the density and the temp. We all know how temp effects oil flow. 5w-30 actually works like this, at low temps, it acts like a 5 w ( weight ) and protects like a 30 at high temps. Smaller numbers, the 'thinner' they will act. In actuality, for the most part, you had better stick to factory recommendations. One reason is that on certain engines the lifters have a lube oil hole, that is designed for a certain viscosity. Using a heavier weight oil than recommended can actually starve these lifters of their much needed oils. Just passing on a bit of info.
2006-07-06 22:09:13 · answer #3 · answered by yenkoman1969 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has to do with viscosity and the ability of the oil to stick to metal at temperature. Typically, a lighter oil (5w-30) would be used in a colder temperature use as you would want an oil that would stick to things at the colder temp and be lighter to move around in an engine.
2006-07-05 19:20:27 · answer #4 · answered by WRM 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are both multi-wieght (they have more range of protection) 5w oil is thinner than 30w.Thin is good in cold weather- thick is better for hot- 5w-30w covers you on both(but costs a little more)
2006-07-05 19:20:45 · answer #5 · answered by budlowsbro420 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.searchforparts.com/important_articles/which_oil_do_i_use.html
2006-07-05 19:17:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jessi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋