1 Answer: Ariel. at less thickness than 10W30. Both are multi-grade oils; however, 5w30 is thinner and faster-flowing oil, making it better suited for light-duty vehicles, while 10w30 has a thicker, slower-moving composition ideal for heavy-duty engine applications. 10w30 is great but more suited for low temperature. When to Use 10w30 vs 5w30 The only difference between these two oils is cold flow ability: a 10w30 oil will move slower than a 5w30 oil during cold startups. When to Use 10w30 vs 5w30 The only difference between these two oils is cold flow ability: a 10w30 oil will move slower than a 5w30 oil during cold startups. The heat will make the thick oil slightly thinner, allowing it to flow smoothly while offering adequate engine protection. When the oil is cool, the 10w30 oil would be thicker and more viscous than the 5w30. This means 5w30 grade oil will flow . However, a 10W30 oil will flow better when hot than a 5W-30 oil. For example, thinner oil is best during the initial stages. 5w30 is used for light-duty engines while 10w30 is used for engines which carry heavier loads. Which oil is better 5w30 or 5w40? A higher viscosity or thicker oil will seal better than a low viscosity oil. A 10w-40 is better at around 6 times thicker and a 0w-40 is much better at about 4 times thicker. 29 oct 2021. Because 10W-30 is thinner than 15W-40 oil, its film strength can be weaker and it can be more prone to oxidation. Is 5W-30 oil thicker than 10w30? Oil with a 30w grade viscosity is pretty thick, which makes it ideal for using under higher temp. A higher viscosity oil, such as 10w30, will flow slower at low temperatures compared to a lower viscosity oil like 5w30. 10W40 has a higher viscosity than 10W30. They may have similar thicknesses at operation but huge differences at start-up even here in Florida. This means, they behave like 10W weight oils in . It will, therefore, provide better protection for the interior parts of the engines quicker than the 10w30. Thicker oil offers better lubrication of motor and engine parts. However, the 10W - 30 oil will be thicker when it is cold. That is usually 100C (212F) when the engine is running (in an average engine). Owing to the lower viscosity of the oils at low temperatures, they have a higher resistance to flow. The oil is thinner in case of lower weights, while higher weights show thicker oil. Should I Use Thicker Oil In An Older Engine? Which is thicker 5w30 or 10w40? For example, a Mobil One 0W-20 has a viscosity of 189 at 50 F. A typical 10W-30 mineral oil would have a viscosity of 400 at that temperature. Another option is 10W30, which is a thicker oil that is meant for use in older, heavier vehicles. 10W30 is a thicker oil. Thicker or higher viscosity metal oil has a better seal compared to low viscosity oil. At operating temperatures . When you look at the first viscosity number, "10", you will appreciate that these oils have the same viscosity at low temperatures. 5W - 30 and 10W - 30 lubricants have the same viscosity at the operating temperature of the engine. The oil is tested again after it has been heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. As 5w30 is much thinner than 10w30 because of the low viscosity, it can protect . The time it takes to flow through the tubing is used for the number after the "w." A 10w40 oil takes 10 seconds longer to flow through the tube during this test than a 10w30 oil. So these oils act like an SAE 10W single grade oil at lower temperatures. At lower temperatures, it's thinner. Car manufacturers conduct several . . Subsequently, question is, is there a big difference between 5w30 and 10w30? Therefore, high quality additives are needed to compensate for those weaknesses in order for a 10W-30 engine oil to protect as well and last as long as a 15W-40. Using the wrong motor oil viscosity, especially if thicker than . And when it comes to the lower temperature, 10W30 engine oil is thicker than its counterpart 5W30. Both the oils have similar viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius but 5w30 grade oil will thicken less than 10w30 grade oil in cold climate. Which is at a lower temperature of 10 and at an operating temperature of 30. 5W-30 VS 10W-30. A 10w30 motor oil, on the other hand, is recommended for vehicles with heavy mileage. On the other hand, 10W30 is thicker and perfect for vehicles that carry heavy loads. 5w30's working viscosity ranges from 9.3 to 12.5mm2/s, while 5w40's operating viscosity ranges from 12.5 to 16.3mm2/s. Obviously, a 10W-40 is thicker than a 10W-30 at high temperature. What Is 20w50 Engine Oil? Answer (1 of 3): SAE40. For old model vehicles using 10w30 rather than 5w20 is best. When it comes to car oil, there are a few different types that motorists can use. What is thicker than 10w30? Even though it's thicker than 5w40, it's still considered a light oil. Using the wrong motor oil viscosity, especially if thicker than . The most common type is 5W30, which is a light oil that is made to protect engines against wear and tear. If you are looking for an all-purpose option, your 10w30 is the best option. 10W-40 is thicker than 10W-30 at higher operating temperatures. Both 10W-30 and 10W-40 oils have a "10W" rating an SAE grade for winter use (thus the 'W' appended onto it). 5W20 oils have a winter viscosity grade of 5, which means that it is less viscous at extremely low temperatures compared to 10W30. Furthermore, what is a thicker oil than 10w30? While the engine is warming up, 10w30 oils are a great way to keep the moving parts from getting stuck. Remember that using oil with a viscosity that is too high can result in excessive oil temperature and increased drag. This makes 10W-30 oil pretty stable at higher temperatures and pressure, and can run through critical engine parts without causing too much friction. 20w50 is also a multi-viscosity synthetic oil but heavier. For an older, high-mileage passenger car, it is recommended to switch to a thicker viscosity oil, such as 10W-30, when approaching and passing 100,000 miles, to lubricate the engine well for preservation. For example, a 5W-40 oil will be thinner in cold temperatures than a 15W-40, but at normal operating temperatures both oils will flow the same. This oil is suitable for engines with a high mileage. Both have almost the same characteristics, and the only difference is the oil viscosity. Therefore, 10w-40 oil clings to the engine's moving parts more . . It still gets thinner. . Since it's a monograde oil, it's used over a small temp range. It would become slightly thick but also help the engine start quickly when the weather is cold. The 5W30 engine oil is thinner than the 10W30. So thicker oil would retain viscosity for longer time, making 10w50 a thicker oil. I would still recommend checking the control linkage if you think this squeal is excessive. Which oil is better 5w30 or 5w40? A 5w30 oil will flow very easily when cold and maintain its viscosity at high temperatures better than a 10W30 oil. So, due to viscosity, 5w20 is a thinner oil during operating temperatures, whereas 5w30 is thicker during operating temperatures. 10w30 is thicker than 5w30 because it has a higher viscosity in low temperatures. Q. On the contrary, using thinner 5w20 oil is the best idea if your car can work at lower temperatures. Likewise, is there a big difference between 5w30 and 10w30? But if you are in colder areas, you should add 10W30 engine oil. The viscosity, or thickness, of the oil, affects how . When to Use 10w30 vs 5w30 The only difference between these two oils is cold flow ability: a 10w30 oil will move slower than a 5w30 oil during cold startups. For 5w30, the viscosity of the oil according to SAE grade is 5 in lower temperatures (-18 degrees celsius). Because it is thicker than 5w30 engine oil, 10w30 seals the engine. In a car engine, knowing the movement of the oil will help understand its uses. However, 5w20 is much thinner in comparison. . All the motor oils today already can improve fuel economy. It is important to remember that, these numbers do not depict the actual viscosities of the oils when at extreme temperatures. Thicker oil generally lubricates engine parts better than thinner oil. Which oil is better 5w30 or 10w30? Keeping this in mind, which is 5w30 or 5w40 thicker? About The Author Ryan McCain Ryan has got more than 15 years in the auto industry. In that case, 10W-40 motor oil would technically provide better protection against engine wear contact in higher temperatures. Heavier oil will be thicker than lighter oil. So, if you use thin oil in old engines, it will cause more oil burning than thicker oil. The reason is that at 50 or 60 F these oils are easier on your engine at start-up. This will result in improved performance and reduced wear and tear on your engine. The weight of an oil refers to the thickness of the oil. This is important because viscosity changes as temperatures change. When at high temperatures, the 5w30 oil becomes thinner than the 10w40 oil since 30 is lower as compared to 40. The "W" in both 10w30 and 5w20 stands for winter. 10w30 is easier to find and much less expensive than 10w40. However, in the 2 cycle engine but for superior cold cranking, SAE 10W30 oil works much better than the SAE 30. The lower the kinematic viscosity number, the thinner the oil. The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil 10W can help protect worn engine bearings as well. So, it can easily flow to the top ends when cold. The thickness or measurement of the oil viscosity becomes easy when reading the numbers like 10W30 will help know oil weight. you should know that the cold viscosity of a 10w40 oil is a lot thicker than the 10w30 oil even though . The 5w30 when cold will still be thicker than the 10w30 when hot anyways so it doesn't matter. In other words, it has higher viscosity when it is cool. It will protect your engine from higher temperatures. It features additives that help reduce friction by acting as a sealer among the engine parts. The viscosity diferential is less from hot to cold with a 10w-30 then with a straight 30 weight. A 10w-40 motor oil is a thicker oil at startup than a 5w-30 motor oil. 5w30 is also the thinner engine oil of the two at lower temperatures. SAE30 is engine oil equivalent to 10W30 oil, but SAE 30 oil has a higher viscosity (thickness) rating than 10W30 oil, meaning it is thicker and less likely to flow at low freezing temperatures. In that case, 10W-40 motor oil would technically provide better protection against engine wear contact in higher temperatures. The difference between 10w30 and 10w40 is the thickness of the oil at high temperatures, at which 10w40 is thicker than 10w30.The second number, "30" and "40" for these oils, is a rating of how effectively the oil pour at hot temperatures. S o both the oils 5W-30 and 10W-30 have exactly the same viscosity (SAE 30) when your engine is running, and will perform in the same way. When to Use 10w30 vs 5w30 The only difference between these two oils is cold flow ability: a 10w30 oil will move slower than a 5w30 oil during cold startups. Meaning, 10W-30 motor oil acts like an SAE 10W weight oil under 0C (32F), and an SAE 30 oil at 100C (212F). So, if you are in a tropical region or a warmer climate area, you should add 20W50 engine oil. On the other hand, 10W30 oils have viscosity grades of 10W at lower temperatures and 30 at higher temperatures. A 10w-40 motor oil is a thicker oil at startup than a 5w-30 motor oil. In conclusion, 5W 30 oil is better for your car than 10W 30 oil. The 5w30 when cold will still be thicker than the 10w30 when hot anyways so it doesn't matter. Is 10w30 thicker than 5w30. It has thirty if the engine is hot. The comes the type like mineral oil, semi syntheti. For an older, high-mileage passenger car, it is recommended to switch to a thicker viscosity oil, such as 10W-30, when approaching and passing 100,000 miles, to lubricate the engine well for preservation. . If you are using the car at high temperature, then choose 20w40 engine oil. at less thickness than 10W30. In other words, when your engine is running, both 5w30 and 10w30 oils have the same viscosity (SAE 30) and will operate as well. Several people have now mentioned that M1 10W-30 is "thicker" than 5W-30, well, oils with a wider temperature range are "thicker" (meaning a 0-30 is thicker than a 5-30, and a 5-30 is thicker than a 10-30 but not more "shear resistant) . The slightly thicker oil film from the heavier base weight oil 10W can help protect worn engine bearings as well. The engine oil will flow slower than 5w30 during the cold season. In addition, the other number indicates the oil's resilience to thinning at extreme temps. Answer (1 of 22): No, 10 signifies lowest temperature and 30 or 50 shows highest temperature at which engine oil would retain its viscosity and would run smoothly. 10w30 provides sealing action in the engine due to the fact that it is thicker than 5w30 engine oil. since the viscosity of the 10w40 oil is greater than the viscosity of 10w30, it is thicker and therefore it is more suitable to use in hot weather conditions because in a hot environment an engine oil will have to bear the heat of engine as well as of the atmosphere which will make it thinner than its original form and this is the reason for not 10W40 oil has a higher viscosity, retaining more thickness than 10W30 as the temperature rises. So if the oil is already thin, then it becomes thinner. On the other hand, it has a hot viscosity grade of 20. This helps it lubricate older moving parts in high mileage engines while being less likely to leak. Focusing more on the second part of the rating - the '30' versus '40' - we know that the engine oil with a 10W40 rating will be able to retain its 'thickness' or viscosity a lot longer than the . It depends on the car type because all oil comes for a particular purpose. It has a higher viscosity, meaning it will flow more easily and provide better lubrication. 5w30 is used for light-duty engines while 10w30 is used for engines which carry heavier loads. Thicker at lower temperatures. As per API recommendations (1) for car engines, you can use 10W - 30 oil if the maximum expected outside temperature is above -18 . On the contrary, in summer, oils tend to get thinner because of the high temperature. Weight . At operating . Viscosity decreases as the temperature of the oil increases. Compared to 5w40 oils, 10w30 oils have a lower viscosity of 10 and a higher viscosity of 30. The quick answer is 10W40 is a thicker engine oil than 10W30 at higher temperatures. At operating temps 10W-30 will act like 30W and therefore actually be thicker than ISO 46. The 10W30 oil - While still quite "fluid", this oil is a little bit thicker at low temperatures than the 5W30 oil, making the process of starting your engine a little bit harder. Therefore, 10w-40 oil clings to the engine's moving parts more . These two oils are used for. Thicker oil generally lubricates engine parts better than thinner oil. As the grades indicate, 10W30 engine oil has a higher viscosity than 5W30 engine oil. . 10W-40 will have a higher viscosity at operating temperatures than 10W-30. Is 10w30 thicker than 5w30? This means that when you pour 10W40 into your engine, it will have a harder time flowing through the engine and moving around the parts. Single Grade Oil That is usually 100C (212F) when the engine is running (in an average engine). The 10w30 motor oil is engine oil with a viscosity of 10w if the engine is cold. In fact, the only major difference between 5w30 and 5w40 is the viscosity in warmer temperatures. Vehicle starts to burn oil as they age, so many tend to start adding-in an Oil Treatment, or a slightly thicker oil to help keep it running without burning too much oil. While 10W 30 oil is a good option for some vehicles, 5W 30 oil is a better choice for most vehicles. In the case of 10w30, you can tell the viscosity of the oil. 2. So adding a little 10W40 or 5W40 to the usual 5W30 or 10W30 thickens-up the oil and stop it from being . Thinner at lower temperatures. It has amazed me in the past how much noise a badly adjusted or worn linkage can make. . Thickness is the significant difference between 10W30 and 10W40. However, if you use 10W40 instead of 10W30, the oil will stay . As per API recommendations (1) for car engines, you can use 10W - 30 oil if the maximum expected outside temperature is above -18 . What is 10W-40 Good For? The difference between 10W-30 and a 10W-40 is the high temperature viscosity. The difference between these oils is their viscositythe thicker the oil, the harder it will be to flow. . However, the 10W-30 oil will be thicker (higher viscosity) than the 5W-30 when it is cool. On the other side, 10W30 is also thin, but it is thicker than 0W20 in winter. Yes, 10W30 is thicker or more viscous than 5W30. 1 Answer: Ariel. 10w30 provides sealing action in the engine due to the fact that it is thicker than 5w30 engine oil. Is there a big difference between 5w30 and 10w30? That's just a general overview of the difference between 10w30 and 5w30. No,10W30 is not thicker than 10W40 since the latter is thicker at operating/high temperatures. If the lawn mower engine is a 4 cycle engine, SAE 10W30 or 5W30 oil areideal picks. The 10W30 has high viscosity level so it is quite thick in summer. 5W - 30 and 10W - 30 lubricants have the same viscosity at the operating temperature of the engine. Fuel Economy Both 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil can provide good fuel economy. 10w30 is the better all-purpose motor oil between 10w30 and 10w40. In fact, the only major difference between 5w30 and 5w40 is the viscosity in warmer temperatures. Both the oils have similar viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius but 5w30 grade oil will thicken less than 10w30 grade oil in cold climate. The 5w30 when cold will still be thicker than the 10w30 when hot anyways so it doesn't matter. This number is particularly important for vehicle startup when the engine is still cold, and the oil needs to flow quickly to lubricate it. Which is thicker 10W30 or 10w40? 10W40 oil has a higher viscosity, retaining more thickness than 10W30 as the temperature rises. The 5w30 when cold will still be thicker than the 10w30 when hot anyways so it doesn't matter. . Because 10W-30 is thinner than 15W-40 oil, its film strength can be weaker and it can be more prone to oxidation. Thin oil and heat don't go well together, to say the least. One is the thin 10w30 oil and other is the thick 20w50 oil. Is there a big difference between 5w30 and 10w30? See the link below to a chart that may help demonstrate this. A 10w-30 oil has the flow characteristics of a 10 weight when cold (so lube can be rushed to where it needs to go) but a 30 weight when at operating tempeature. It gets thinner. The 5w40 motor oil will make your consumption of motor oil very low. Which oil is more viscous 5W-30 or 5w40? However, when you compare a 10W-30 vs a 15W-40, at both low and high temperatures the 10W-30 will be thinner, with less resistance to flow. Which is thicker 5w30 or 10w40? 5w30 is less viscous than 10w30. 30w refers to solid gear oil that has static viscosity rating regardless of the temperature. It's made up of a blend of synthetic high-performance bases and additives that's been carefully matched. So, 10W30 might take more time to warm the engine up. 10W-30 oil can survive in a temperature as low as -13F and as high as 86F. What is thicker than 10w30? The operating temperature of 10w30 is more common than the operating temperature of 10w40. SAE 30- Suitable for warmer temperatures, where there is no winter season. The viscosity of this oil is rated at 50 at high temp and it drops down to 20 at lower temp. If you want can check the in-depth discussion about the lawn mower engine oil type suggested with logical reasons. This is when the engine is in the winter season or when it is just starting. This means 5w30 grade oil will flow . At operating temperatures, both . However, the 10W - 30 oil will be thicker when it is cold. Furthermore, is there a big difference between 5w30 and 10w30? Which Is Better, 15w40 or 10w30 Oil? At lower temperatures, it's thinner. 5W-30 VS 10W-30. Therefore, high quality additives are needed to compensate for those weaknesses in order for a 10W-30 engine oil to protect as well and last as long as a 15W-40. This 10w30 helps your engine seal against wear that happens with old age. In other words, it also means that the oil is thicker at the operating temperature. Oil DOES NOT get thicker as it warms up. The 10W-40 engine oil has a thicker viscosity than, say, 10W-30 oil when the car engine is hot. It is recommended for trucks, towing vans, and other heavy-duty vehicles that are subject to extreme temperature and performance.