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Low viscosity oil meaning6/19/2023 ![]() ![]() A car used in a very hot climate would need a higher number to ensure the oil does not thin too much. An engine in a colder climate where engine oil tends to become thicker because of the low temperatures would benefit from 0W or 5W. A 5W-30 engine oil will become thinner at low temperatures than a 10W-30 grade, but will still flow slower than a 0W-30 grade. The lower the number, the less the oil thickens in cold weather. The number that precedes the "W" indicates the fluid's flow at 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 degrees Celsius). In relation to engine oil, this is noted down using the usual "XW-XX" notation. This is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow. Which factors should you take into account when choosing the right engine oil? Viscosity OEMs, moreover, are adjusting their lubrication instructions faster and faster to comply with the need for green and fuel-saving alternatives. Engines often need a different viscosity depending on the operating conditions. Next time you have a potential customer interested in learning more about AMSOIL products, try explaining the importance of viscosity and how our products outperform the competition.Often, a manufacturer will suggest one or more viscosity values for an engine such as 5W-20 or 5W-30 based on different factors including the temperature and load. The ability to retain viscosity, and therefore provide excellent protection, is a great way to differentiate our products. It helps your engine maintain horsepower and deliver long life. ![]() As the graph shows, AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil fights viscosity breakdown better than the competition,¹ providing superior protection of bearings, cams and pistons. Using the right viscosity doesn’t matter if the oil doesn’t retain its viscosity despite shearing forces, extreme heat, fuel dilution and other conditions. Top-quality synthetic oils combined with high-performance viscosity modifiers result in oils that resist viscosity loss and chemical breakdown in tough operating conditions. To thicken the oil and ensure it meets viscosity requirements for both the cold-temperature requirement (the “W” rating) and the operating-temperature requirement (the second number). Base oils come in a variety of viscosities, and selecting the right combo is the starting point. Viscosity is a result of choosing the right base oil combination. Some Toyota* and Honda* engines even use 0W-16. That’s one reason many modern engines require 5W-20 or 0W-20 oil instead of the 10W-40 of yesteryear. They require lower-viscosity lubricants to ensure the oil flows fast enough at startup to fill the bearing cavities and prevent metal-to-metal contact. Newer engines, for example, are built with tighter tolerances and clearances. Don’t second guess the desired viscosityĮngineers build engines, transmissions and other components to operate best and last longest using a lubricant of a specific viscosity. This occurs when gasoline or diesel fuel blow by the piston rings and contaminate the oil in the sump. The intense pressure the oil bears as it’s forced between the cam lobes and tappets, meshing gear teeth and other components can shear its molecules, causing it to lose viscosity and fail to deliver the required Permanent viscosity loss due to mechanical shear can also affect protection. Plus, thicker lubricants don’t flow as readily at startup, especially in the cold, which reduces wear protection during cold starts. The increased internal friction also increases heat, which accelerates chemical breakdown (oxidation). A lubricant with viscosity that is too high for the application requires more energy to circulate, meaning fuel efficiency suffers. That being said, why not use 20W-50 in your car or truck instead of the 5W-20 or 5W-30 it probably takes? Consider A Balanceīalance, that’s why. Higher viscosity oils form a thicker fluid film, offering increased protection against Lubricant viscosity influences the thickness of the fluid film that forms on metal components to prevent wear. That’s why water flows more easily than honey. ![]() Lower-viscosity fluids are thinner and flow more readily than higher-viscosity fluids. While viscosity is defined as resistance to flow, people often think of it as a fluid’s thickness. Fighting off Viscosity breakdown! Let’s jump into the technical details of our products, so let’s dive in. ![]() Watch your oil gauge from start to finish of the life of the oil and there’s the AMSOIL difference. The real secrete to our formulations is after all the other additives are tweaked to maximize performance, we go back to the drawing board to put emphasis on viscosity retention. Using the right viscosity oil is vital to providing your engine the best wear protection. Viscosity is one of the most important properties of a lubricant. Lubricant viscosity affects wear protection, fuel efficiency and other critical areas of oil performance. ![]()
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