What kind of motor oil should I use in my car? Before buying motor oil for your car, you might have asked this question as well. If you often change your car’s motor oil, you might have wondered if you can somehow use 10w30 oil instead of just the usual 5w30 oil that you use to run the engine instead.
It turns out you can choose 10w30 oil over 5w30, and you’re not alone! So many people deal with the same problems as you all the time. This is the article you need to help you decide.
Table of Contents
10w30 Vs 5w30 Quick Comparison
And what’s the difference between 10w30 and 5w30? We have to learn about engine oil types, weights, and viscosity to answer this question.
As per Valvoline, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) decides which motor oil grades are best for your car. It helps them figure out how thick the oil is. Viscosity is how quickly these oils move through a motor when it becomes cold, hot, or somewhere between.
Comparison Table
| Parameters | 10w30 | 5w30 |
| Performance | Same at operating temperatures | Same at operating temperatures |
| Viscosity | High temperature | Low temperature |
| Temperature | -16 to 30 ͦ Celsius | -35 to 35 ͦ Celsius |
| Pourability | Slower than 5w30 in low temperatures | Easier than 10w30 in low temperatures |
| Thinning | Less than 5w30 in high temperatures | Quick in high temperatures |
| Lubrication | Moderate | Smooth |
| Ideal Use | Heavy-load or commercial vehicles | Private vehicles |
Can I Use 10w30 Instead of 5w30?
If you mix motor oils, you could lose the warranty on one’s new car, and then you might not get all the benefits each oil can give your engine.
Car oil changes aren’t always bad, but you have to ensure that the new oil is good for your engine. There’s a difference between 10w30 and 5w30, even though they have the same weight.
But, can I use 10w30 instead of 5w30 instead? The answer is yes, and we’ll talk about this more in a moment.
If you don’t want to risk voiding your car’s warranty, changing or mixing oil can save you a fair amount of money. The “10” in 10w30 means that the oil is thicker in cold weather than 5w30. This can be good for engines that do a lot of work.
What Is 10w30 Engine Oil?
It means that the viscosity of the engine oil is rated at 10W when the engine is cold and 30W when the engine is hot. It is not the same as the oil that says 5W30, which has a thinner viscosity whenever the engine is cold at 5W.
Less thick motor oil can move more quickly and easily. In order to initiate a cold engine, the oil must get to work quickly. For that, it needs low viscosity motor oil. You don’t want your motor oil to be far too thin whenever the engine is hot. Thereby, the thicker or more viscous oil keeps together all engine components well lubricated and separate.
10w30 Engine Oil Specifications
All of the requirements for this motor oil are met by 10w30 engine oil by the API SN. API SN is an engine derived from the American Petroleum Institute. A rule says that the engine should maintain the piston on the engine clean from any deposits made by combustion.
The oil is better at keeping sludge from getting into the pipes and making them dirty. It means that this motor oil doesn’t make lousy sludge or gels when it’s hot. You can also use 10w30 motor oil to treat and seal the engine afterward.
Also, Read – Top 5 Best Synthetic Oil For Ford 6.7 Diesel In 2022 (Buying Guides)
People who make cars in Europe say that 10w30 motor oil must be rated A3/B4 or A3/B3. The association is in charge of setting up oil sequences for different types of engine oil.
Benefits Of 10w30 Engine Oil
Many things about this motor oil are favorable to mechanics and car persons. The 10w30 motor oil encompasses all the parts of the engine and protects them from extra friction, which also causes them to wear down more quickly.
Besides protecting against wear and tear, motor oil also stops the engine’s parts from getting rusty. It helps the engine and the car last a long time.
The customer also notices a lot smoother clutch & brake operations and less noise even when the temperature is very high.
Also, Read – Why Is My Check Engine Light On After Oil Change?
Using high-quality fuels like biofuel or biodiesel can help when you’re using motor oil. 10w30 is mainly used in hot weather, but you can also use it in cold weather.
What Is 5w30 Engine Oil?
At 0°F, the number before the W stands for how much oil flows. It is the case with SAE 5W-30 oil. Engine oil will work better in the winter if this first number is low (by not thickening). It stands for winter.
The numbers just after W stand again for oil viscosity rating at 212°F, which is how thick the oil is. In general, the higher this number, the better the oil will resist thinning when it gets hot. Winter viscosity grade for 5w30 motor oil is five, which means it’s less thick at shallow temperatures than, say, 10w30. It has a hot viscosity grade of 30, which means it is less dense at extreme temperatures than oil like 5w50, which is more viscous.
5w30 Major Specifications
In general, 5w30 meets the requirements of API SN and an ACEA, which varies depending on the oil brand that you use. It is approved by MB to use 5w30 on the road. MB refers to Mercedes Benz’s specifications for motor oil. They say that each grade of oil must meet specific standards. The 5w30 MB grade you get will rely on the oil company you use. It also has VW approval, Porsche oil requirements, & Ford oil specifications.
Benefits Of 5w30 Oil
Many different things about 5w30 make the oil stand out from other motor oils. This engine oil, like 10w30, forms a thick layer over the engine’s parts, reducing friction between them,. There is also less wear and tear on the engine, and engine parts stay rust-free.
It also makes your car engine last longer. 5w30 has a lot better thermal stability. These things stay the same even if the temperature changes. This motor oil is made in a way that reduces the amount of oil that is used. It’s because just a tiny portion of engine oil is needed to keep the engine running.
Also, Read – Chevy 5.3 Low Oil Pressure At Idle
5w30 engine oil is good for cars that run on gasoline, small cars that run on gasoline, and small cars that run on diesel. Oil gives good flow at low temperatures, so it is the best choice for cold places.
What Is The Difference Between 10w30 And 5w30?
Performance
All these 5w30 and 10w30 engine oils have the same SAE rating, which means that they will both work well at high or operating temperatures. The digits 30 show how thick the oils are when they’re hot. Even if you live in a warm place, 10w30 will get thicker when it’s cold outside, though. 5w30 is a good choice for the winter.
Ideal Use
Before choosing engine oil, you should think about where you’ll be driving the car. Even though both 5w30 and 10w30 are multi-grade, the 10w30 is enough when you live in a place with low temperatures.. This is not the case with 10w30, though. It will work well in hot summers or at higher temperatures.
Also, Read – How Long Does An Oil Change Take?
Lubrication
This is how you can tell which engine oil is better: how thick it is. 10w30 is much denser than 5w30, and the thicker fuel out of the two, making it the more dense fuel. This changes how well the two oils work together. 5w30 is less viscous, so it can reach even the parts of the engine that are hard to reach for lubrication. 10w30, on the other hand, is too thick to do this with.
Which Is Better To Use: 5w30 Or 10w30?
5w30 is better at lubricating than 10w30. You should use 10w30 if you drive a commercial vehicle or a car with a lot of power.
FAQs
Can I Mix 10w30 And 5w30?
Most oils will mix well if they have the same synthetic in them. It doesn’t matter if 10w30 and 5w30 are mixed because one of them will be topping up. When you mix different viscosities of oils, it won’t affect just the engine at all. Because the viscosity of 5w30 and 10w30 engine oils is about the same, mixing them is not dangerous.
Is 10w30 Thicker Than 5w30?
10w30 is much denser than 5w30, and the thicker fuel out of the two, making it the more dense fuel. This changes how well the two oils work together. 5w30 is less dense, so it can reach even the parts of the engine that are hard to reach for lubrication. 10w30 can’t do this because it is thicker.
Should I Use Thicker Oil In An Older Engine?
In older engines more oil will be used, which helps to get more fuel from each gallon of oil. Older engines with more than 75,000 miles need a thicker oil that would lubricate crucial engine parts and keep oil leaks, sludge, as well as deposits from forming. This type of oil is called “thick oil.”
