The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil - 10W - can help protect worn engine bearings as well. As long as you're not hearing knocking or serious mechanical noises from the engine, the heavier oil should buy you many more miles of service from your vehicle.

What happens if you use a heavier weight oil?

Using a heavier grade than recommended may cause decrease in fuel economy, higher engine loads and eventually shortened engine life. Using a lighter grade than recommended may result in excessive mechanical wear and reduced engine life.

Is it better to have thicker or thinner oil?

Thin oils have lower viscosity and pour more easily at low temperatures than thicker oils that have a higher viscosity. Thin oils reduce friction in engines and help engines start quickly during cold weather. Thick oils are better at maintaining film strength and oil pressure at high temperatures and loads.

Is 5w30 oil thicker than 10W30?

10w30 is thicker than 5w30 because it has a higher viscosity in low temperatures. ... Thicker or higher viscosity metal oil has a better seal compared to low viscosity oil. Thicker oil offers better lubrication of motor and engine parts.

Can you use a heavier weight oil in your car?

Using a viscosity one grade higher or lower than what's recommended for your engine likely won't do lasting harm. But, to alleviate any concerns about engine protection and your vehicle warranty, it's best to use the viscosity recommended in your owner's manual.

Pat's Perspectives - Thicker Oil (#2)

41 related questions found

What if I use 0W 20 instead of 5w30?

The 0W or 5W refers to the pumpability in cold temperatures. Therefore, a 0W would flow more easily than a 5W and could be an acceptable substitute. Thus, it is suitable to use a SAE 0W-20 as a replacement for SAE 5W-20 application. **Offers same protection as 5W but also provides faster flow and better fuel economy.

What happens if I use 10w40 instead of 5w30?

As posted above, mixing 5w30 with 10w40 will give you an oil that performs somewhat better in the cold than 10w40, but less good cold than 5w30, and that has a viscosity a bit higher than 5w30 but a bit lower than 10w40. Mixing different oils will not improve the performance or efficiency of the engine in any way.

Can you put 10W40 in a 10W30 engine?

The basic fact that “40” is greater than “30” tells you that. If you were to put 10W40 in an engine designed for 10W30, the “thicker” oil would lead to friction in the engine and an increased load on the oil pump.

Should I use thicker oil in a high-mileage engine?

High-mileage motor oil doesn't hurt and it could prevent leaks from starting. ... Some mechanics recommend switching to a thicker (higher viscosity) oil — such as 10W-30 full synthetic oil instead of 5W-20 full synthetic — or using oil additives to stop leaks.

Can I use 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.

When should I use thicker oil?

If, for instance, clearances between engine components have increased, gotten sloppy, a thicker oil can help to fill the void. Within reason, thicker oil maintains a better lubricant film between moving parts. Some have even used thicker oil in a leaky engine to prevent oil from seeping out.

What happens if I use 15w40 instead of 5w30?

5w30 provides best cold start properties. Using 15w40 instead of 5w30 will increase your fuel consumption because of more load on your engine's crank. No it won't blow off,you will just wear your engine out quicker because the oil won't flow to the moving parts as quickly !

Can I use 10w30 instead of 5w20?

Originally Answered: Can I put 10w30 instead of 5w20? You can, but you will get worse mileage, and in most cases shorten the life of your engine, as it will take longer to pump up pressure for your bearings and lifters, and won't spray your lower cylinders for an extra second or so on each cold start.

Will 5w30 hurt a 0w20 engine?

These days every motor oil is multigrade motor oil. But among them, 0w20 and 5w30 are famous due to their top-notch performances. If you add 5w30 to your vehicle instead of 0w20, the performance of your vehicle will not affect much. Your vehicle will continue to run smoothly and providing you comfortable rides.

Which oil is thicker 10w30 or 10w40?

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.

Can I use 5w50 instead of 5w30?

Both oils have a viscosity of 5W in cold wintry conditions. However, while 5W-30 has a thickness of 30-weight at standard engine operating temperature, the 5W-50 has 50-weight at similar circumstances. ... The upper limit for 5W-30 lubricants is about 250 to 300 degrees F; while 5W-50 can handle up to 450 degrees F.

Is 10w30 good for high mileage?

A: Yes. This is a practical method to improve oil pressure in an older, high-mileage engine. The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil - 10W - can help protect worn engine bearings as well.

Is 10w40 good for high mileage?

If both 10w30 and 10w40 are acceptable oil options for your car, it's recommended that you use 10w40 for your car with high mileage. ... The thicker oil helps older engines handle higher temperatures and manage wear and tear more efficiently. The thicker oil will reduce wear and tear and extend the life of your engine.

Is 20W50 good for high mileage?

Is 20w50 good for high mileage? The viscosity level of engine oil 20W50 is geared toward racing engines, as opposed to high-mileage engines, that run extremely hot and need heavy load operation. The thickness is not meant for daily, older vehicle use.

Is 10W 40 too thick?

While both are low-temperature grade oils, 10W40 is thicker at high temperature; therefore, better to use in warm weather. ... It will also go over the benefits of using thicker oil versus thinner ones for vintage engines and the right circumstances for utilizing each oil type.

Is Thicker oil better for older engines?

Newer vehicles can utilize thinner oils for faster lubrication of new engine parts. In contrast, older, high-mileage engines benefit from thicker oils to prevent friction and oil loss.

Which oil is thicker 10w30 or 15W40?

While the viscosity of a heavy duty engine oil accounts for its contribution to fuel economy, it is the composition of the base oil and additives that protect your engine from wear, soot and acid. Since 10W-30 is thinner than 15W-40, its film strength can be weaker and it can be more prone to oxidation.

Does thicker oil burn less?

A lot of oil-burning takes place because an engine's piston rings are worn out, and thicker oil won't fix that. ... They also count on low-viscosity oils to reduce friction and drag (the work of simply moving the engine parts through thicker oil), which improves mileage.

Does thicker oil increase oil pressure?

Yes thicker oils will increase oil pressure, but will reduce engine horsepower. Excessive oil pressure may explode the oil filter, damage seals, blow out oil passage plugs or even damage bearings.

What weight oil is best for hot weather?

It's clear that 10W-30 and 10W-40 are the ideal viscosities/weights for motor oil for hot weather.