What does the numbers on motor oil mean

SAE 5W-30, 15W-40, 10W – what does it all mean? And does it really make a difference which goes in your car? The numbers you see on your motor oil can  18 Jan 2017 Motor oil thins as it heats and thickens as it cools. So, with the right additives to help it resist thinning too much, an oil can be rated for one viscosity when cold,  18 Apr 2015 As far as the numbers, use what your vehicle manufacturer recommends. There is a reason your manufacturer recommends a viscosity, the 

14 Dec 2017 what do the numbers mean, then? Most oils are multi-grade, meaning they operate in a range of temperatures and driving conditions. They are a  5 Nov 2014 And why two numbers are there 20 & 40? Surprisingly! W = #WINTER, not weight or watt or anything else for that matter) and engine oils use a  10 Dec 2014 Those numbers that don't have the W were tested at 210°F, the To interpret the viscosity 5W-30, it means that an SAE 5 motor oil can perform  The 'W' rating can be 5, 10, 15 or {20;} lower numbers mean the oil is thinner in cold temperatures, necessary for icy climates. The second 

The numbers indicate the oil grade, which is a measure of its viscosity. A layman can think of viscosity as a liquid's thickness. Consider the difference between 

18 Aug 2014 That said there's still something to be said for understanding what the various numbers and ratings mean. First things first – the engine oils that  24 Oct 2019 Here we explain the meaning of each of them: The first number is followed by a ' W'. Here the W stands for Winter and represents how the oil will  Total S.A. produce all the base components for their Synthetic motor oils. Q. What do the numbers on the front of the bottle mean? A. The viscosity numbers are  27 Apr 2008 In any event, without engine oil, metal parts will quickly bend, bond and barbecue . Not good. What the numbers and letters mean. Engine oil used 

Automotive oil comes labeled with letters and numbers coding oil weight and additives. The different characters stand for engine-cleaning protection, what type of engine to use the oil on and the viscosity of the oil at different temperatures. Viscosity is the stickiness or thickness of the oil. It affects the

In regard to multigrade oils, the first number in the code, such as 10W in SAE 10W-30, means that the oil can still be pumped by the engine at a temperature as  

What do the numbers and letters mean using the example SAE 20w/50, API - SJ/CF The second part,CF, is a diesel engine oil rating, 'C' being diesel and 'F'  

The number mentioned before W indicates the oil flow at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (- 17.8 degree Celsius), which means  14 Dec 2017 what do the numbers mean, then? Most oils are multi-grade, meaning they operate in a range of temperatures and driving conditions. They are a 

This leaves them still wondering what the viscosity numbers really mean on a bottle of motor oil. Simply put, viscosity is the oil's resistance to flow or, for the layman, an oil's speed of flow as measured through a device known as a viscometer. The thicker (higher viscosity) of an oil, the slower it will flow.

"The W means the oil meets specifications for viscosity at 0 F and is therefore No, the "W" used in 5W30 for example does not mean weight. always have better cold flow properties for the same "winter" number (0w 5w). So, all oils that end in 40 (sae 40) are around the oil flow quick enough to protect vital engine parts at start up. Well, we always talk about good cold start protection, by this we mean flow so a 5w will flow better than This is related to the second number xw-(XX) as  18 Apr 2014 Using the correct-viscosity oil can also keep the engine running at its viscosity at the lowest recommended temperature, the higher number  21 Aug 2004 Motor oil is like every other fluid in that its viscosity varies with Lower SAE numbers describe oils that are meant to be used under lower  You also need to pay attention to the numbers on the label of the motor oil. You might see something like “10W30” or “5W20” and wonder what the heck they mean. Even if you have your oil changed by a professional, they normally put a sticker on your windshield which indicates the numbers of the oil they used in your vehicle. What Do the Numbers on Motor Oil Mean? The average layperson might think that all motor oil is the same. No one really thinks about the different levels of oil thickness or how much of an influence hot and cold temperatures have on the oil. If you regularly take your vehicle to an auto servicing shop for its oil changes, then you’ll never Automotive oil comes labeled with letters and numbers coding oil weight and additives. The different characters stand for engine-cleaning protection, what type of engine to use the oil on and the viscosity of the oil at different temperatures. Viscosity is the stickiness or thickness of the oil. It affects the

18 Apr 2014 Using the correct-viscosity oil can also keep the engine running at its viscosity at the lowest recommended temperature, the higher number  21 Aug 2004 Motor oil is like every other fluid in that its viscosity varies with Lower SAE numbers describe oils that are meant to be used under lower  You also need to pay attention to the numbers on the label of the motor oil. You might see something like “10W30” or “5W20” and wonder what the heck they mean. Even if you have your oil changed by a professional, they normally put a sticker on your windshield which indicates the numbers of the oil they used in your vehicle. What Do the Numbers on Motor Oil Mean? The average layperson might think that all motor oil is the same. No one really thinks about the different levels of oil thickness or how much of an influence hot and cold temperatures have on the oil. If you regularly take your vehicle to an auto servicing shop for its oil changes, then you’ll never Automotive oil comes labeled with letters and numbers coding oil weight and additives. The different characters stand for engine-cleaning protection, what type of engine to use the oil on and the viscosity of the oil at different temperatures. Viscosity is the stickiness or thickness of the oil. It affects the