Should I use thicker oil in a high mileage engine?

Should I use thicker oil in a high mileage engine?

The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil — 10W — can help protect worn engine bearings as well. … Over the decades of buying and driving older, high-mileage vehicles, I've even used 15W-40 and 20W-50 oils in high-mileage engines to improve oil pressure and extend their service life.

Can I switch from 5w30 to 10w30?

The only difference between these two oils is cold flow ability: a 10w30 oil will move slower than a 5w30 oil during cold startups. At operating temperatures, both oils will have the same viscosity (30) and will flow and protect identically. … If it will only be in the engine during the summer, use 10w30.

When should I use 20w50 oil?

20W50 motor oil is suitable for warmer climates, where the higher temperature causes the oil to thin. It is also useful for vehicles subject to hot temperatures and for those used for high-stress activities such as hauling or pulling trailers.

What is the best 10w 30 oil?

The "w" in motor oil stands for winter. The first number in the oil classification refers to a cold weather viscosity. The lower this number is, the less viscous your oil will be at low temperatures. For example, a 5W- motor oil will flow better at lower temperatures than a 15W- motor oil.

Does engine oil get thicker when hot?

If it flows slowly, it gets a high rating. Your engine needs oil that is thin enough for cold starts, and thick enough when the engine is hot. Since oil gets thinner when heated, and thicker when cooled, most of us use what are called multi-grade, or multi-viscosity oils.

What happens if you put the wrong oil in your car?

The brand of motor oil matters little, but its viscosity grade (10W-30, for example) is important. Use only what the owner's manual specifies. Using the wrong oil can lead to reduced lubrication and shorter engine life. If the manual says to use synthetic oil, do so.

Can you mix synthetic oil with regular oil?

The simple answer: Yes. There is no danger mixing synthetic and conventional motor oil; however, conventional oil will detract from the superior performance of synthetic oil and reduce its benefits. … So, yes, you can safely mix synthetic and conventional oil.

How often should you change your oil?

“Change your car's engine oil every three months, or 3,000 miles.” At one time, that was standard auto advice.

How is full synthetic oil made?

Unlike crude oil which is made through distillation, synthetic oil is made through a chemical process called the Fischer-Tropsch process. … These raw materials are injected and blended with artificial chemical compounds that are absent in natural crude oil to create uniformly sized and weighed oil molecules.

Is Synthetic Oil Better?

Because synthetic oil is better on your engine and has fewer impurities, it can go longer than conventional oils or synthetic blends. … Turbo engines and older cars may still require oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Synthetic oil change intervals range 10,000-15,000 miles or once a year (whatever comes first).

Can you put 10w30 in a 5w20 engine?

10W30 is thicker and protect older engine with its sealing capability. 5W20 is thinner multi-grade oil that is pertinent for quick starts in the lowest temperatures. … So, next time when somebody asks you can I use 10w30 instead of 5w20, you have the right answer!

What is the best motor oil for hot weather?

An example is 5W30—the “W” stands for winter and the oil's cold weather rating. The lower the W number, the better the oil will perform in colder temperatures. Typically, a 5W oil is recommended for winter use, but synthetic oils can be formulated to flow even more easily when cold.

What does the second number mean in oil?

Viscosity refers to the thickness of the oil, lower numbers are thinner, higher numbers are thicker. … The second number is the viscosity, how it will flow, when hot. So that means a 5w-20 motor oil will have the viscosity characteristics of a 5 weight motor oil when cold.

Does 10w40 hurt 10w30 engine?

Using 10w40 oil in the summer will help the oil stick to internal components in high temperatures, avoiding the wear and tear from metal-to-metal contact between moving parts. As previously mentioned, the only difference between 10w30 and 10w40 oil is their thickness at engine operating (hot) temperatures.

What is 10w 20 oil used for?

SAE 10W/20. Monograde motor oil for petrol and diesel engines with constant operating temperatures. Selected mineral oils and tailored additives offer a good level of protection against wear. Can also be used in certain gears and hydraulic systems.

Which oil is thicker 10w 30 or 10w 40?

The viscosity of hot oil is measured using different test parameters than when the oil is cold, so the numbers after the “W” don't relate to the numbers in front of the “W”. 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.

Can I use 10w40 instead of 10w30?

The only difference between 10w30 and 10w40 oil is their thickness at engine operating (hot) temperatures. … Using 10w40 oil in the summer will help the oil stick to internal components in high temperatures, avoiding the wear and tear from metal-to-metal contact between moving parts.

Is SAE 5w 30 a synthetic oil?

The petroleum base oil alone may have the properties of an SAE 5 grade oil. This means at extremely low temperatures, it may be thick, and at high temperatures, it's fairly thin. … When it's brand new, a 5W-30 conventional motor oil acts exactly like a 5W-30 synthetic motor oil.

Is 10w 30 oil synthetic?

Mobil 1 advanced full synthetic motor oil 10W-30 helps to extend engine life for vehicles of all ages better than conventional oil. Its uniform synthetic oil molecules reduce friction, helping to prevent deposits and sludge buildup.

Which oil is thicker 5w30 or 10w40?

5w30 is a motor oil which is synthetic and has a viscosity of 5 when in low temperature and 30 when in high temperature which is normally at 100 degrees celsius. … 5w30 is less viscous while 10w40 is more viscous. The 5w30 has a viscosity of 30 at high temperature while a 10w40 has a 40 viscosity at high temperatures.

How does Multiviscosity oil work?

Here's a fairly basic description of a Multi-Viscosity oil from BobIsTheOilGuy. "Multi viscosity oils have polymers added to a light base (5W, 10W, 20W), which prevent the oil from thinning as much as it warms up. At cold temperatures the polymers are coiled up and allow the oil to flow as their low numbers indicate.

Is Pennzoil a good oil?

There are some oils that will offer good protection inside the engine longer. Pennzoil is one of the best, both their conventional and their new Platinum synthetic. Shell markets four oil brands, and I think Pennz is their top brand. Pennzoil is a quality oil.