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Before refilling your car, being conscious of the different motor oil types is essential, as choosing the wrong oil type might affect your engine’s performance and fuel economy.
Engine oil is an essential component of a car engine. It not only lubricates the engine’s moving parts but also reduces friction between them and minimizes signs of wear. Therefore, choosing the right quality and type of engine oil is necessary to improve the engine’s performance. Continue reading the article below to learn the differences between 5w20 and 5w30 grade motor oil.
Short on Time – Here’s a Quick Summary
5w20 and 5w30 are multigrade engine oils suitable for winters and summers. While 5w20 and 5w30 have the same low-temperature viscosity (5), they both have different high-temperature viscosity, that is 20 for 5w20 and 30 for 5w30. That means 5w20 will work better in colder climates, whereas 5w30 will perform well in cold and hot weather.
Understanding the Need for Motor Oil & Oil’s Viscosity
The main purpose of motor oils is to lubricate the engine’s moving parts so that they don’t rub together and create friction. The lubrication also helps keep the engine cooler and protects engine parts from sludge acid and other elements causing rust and corrosion. Understanding the difference between motor oil grades is necessary to choose the oil that is well suited to your engine needs. However, it is advised that you always use the engine oil recommended by your car manufacturer.
Choosing the right engine oil is critical to keep your engine running smoothly, maximizing fuel economy, and preserving your car engine’s life.
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Due to the different motor oil types available in the market, people often need clarification about which oil to choose. Sometimes, they need help to differentiate between the two motor oils: 5w20 and 5w30. While 5w20 and 5w30 engine oils look or sound similar, they significantly differ.
Before we explore the differences between 5w20 and 5w30 engine oils, let’s discuss what oil grading is and how motor oils are graded.
Motor Oil Grading
Motor oil grades are scales developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) based on the oil’s viscosity.
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Viscosity is the ability of motor oils to resist flow. The more viscosity, the greater resistance to flow. The less viscosity, the lower resistance to flow.
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Coming back to motor oil grades, the grades refer to an oil’s performance at operating temperatures (212F in an engine). A higher number indicates thicker oil, whereas a lower number indicates thinner oil. Thicker oils flow slower than thinner oils, and vehicle engines have been designed to work with a particular oil grade.
For instance, 5w20 is thinner than 5w30. The letter “W” stands for winter, and both 5w20 and 5w30 are multigrade oils, meaning they are suitable for winter and summer.
Difference Between 5w20 and 5w30 Motor Oils
Now that you have understood the meaning of oil viscosity and what factors are considered for the motor oil grading, we can move forward with our comparison between 5w20 and 5w30. But first, let’s discover the differences based on different factors.
5w20 Vs. 5w30
5w20 oil has a winter rating of 5 and an oil weight of 20 at operating temperature. On the other hand, 5w30 has the same low-temperature viscosity as 5w20, 5, and an oil weight of 30 at operating temperature. Moreover, 5w30 is thicker than 5w20 during hot conditions.
Now let’s compare the different properties of 5w20 and 5w30.
Working Conditions
Since 5w20 and 5w30 have the same low-temperature viscosity, they work well in colder climates, enabling the engine to start quickly during cold weather.
However, 5w20 and 5w30 have different high-temperature viscosity and work differently for hotter weather. Since 5w30 is thicker than 5w20, it will not thin out quickly due to heat exposure and protect the engine components in operating temperatures.
Performance
As mentioned earlier, both oils have identical low-temperature viscosity and will perform the same in winter with quick engine startups due to less friction in the engine parts.
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Changing engine oil at regular intervals is recommended, as old oil can reduce engine performance and gas mileage and shorten engine life.
On the other hand, 5w20 and 5w30 will perform differently in hotter weather, where the engine needs thicker oil to withstand the higher operating temperatures. This makes 5w30 better than 5w20, as it performs the same in a colder climate and better in hotter climates compared to 5w20.
Operating Temperature
The engine’s operating temperature is the temperature at which the engine can operate without getting overheated. Comparing the two motor oils, 5w20, and 5w30, the latter will perform better at the engine’s operating temperature, as it is thicker than 5w20.
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The thicker the oil, the better it will protect the engine at its operating temperature and not break down easily at a higher temperature, protecting the engine parts better under moderate oil pressure than its counterpart.
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Gas Mileage
Lower viscosity at operating temperature provides better fuel economy for your vehicle. Now you’ll be wondering how?
Let me break it down for you.
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At normal operating temperatures, thinner oil provides a thin protective barrier between car engine parts, reducing friction and improving engine performance. This, in return, will impact your gas mileage and fuel efficiency.
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So, returning to our comparison between 5w20 and 5w30, 5w20 grade oil, being thinner than 5w30, will help boost fuel economy compared to 5w30 grade. However, always use the oil recommended by your car manufacturer or mechanic.
Though 5w20 might improve fuel efficiency, replacing regular oil more often can do more harm to the engine than good. 5w20 is a well-suited choice for low to moderate temperatures.
The following table presents a comparison between 5w20 and 5w30 grade motor oil.
| 5w20 Grade Oil | 5w30 Grade Oil |
|---|
| Low-temperature viscosity is 5 | Low-temperature viscosity is 5. |
| High-temp viscosity is 20. | High-temp viscosity is 30. |
| Less viscous than 5w30 | More viscous than 5w20 |
| It is thinner and will flow more quickly than 5w30 with less friction. | It is thicker and will flow slowly compared to 5w20 due to more friction. |
| It might break down quickly compared to 5w30 and expose parts to wear sooner than its counterpart. | It will not break down in hotter climates and protect the engine parts in the long run. |
| Better fuel economy and good performance in colder climates | Less fuel efficiency than 5w20 |
| Preferable in winter. | Good for winter and preferable for hotter climates. |
Final Words
Choosing the right type of engine oil depends on the climate, the car’s engine, and usage. For example, while 5w20 and 5w30 have the same low-temperature viscosity, 5w20 will preferably perform better in winter, and 5w30 will perform better in hot climates since it has higher high-temperature viscosity than 5w20.
Since 5w30 is thicker than 5w20, it will protect the engine better in extreme conditions and reduce wear. Therefore, if you live in a hot climate, you can choose 5w30. However, if you live in an area with low to moderate temperatures, you can choose 5w20 grade oil.
FAQs
You can generally switch between 5w20 and 5w30 since they have the same low-temperature viscosity. However, the choice of motor oil depends on your car engine and the oil recommended by its manufacturer, as the slightest difference in viscosity may damage your engine.
You can mix 5w20 and 5w30 since both have the same low-temperature viscosity and will perform identically in colder climates. While this may not have any significant damage, most car manufacturers don’t recommend mixing different oils.
The 5w20 is good for high mileage, as it is thinner, flows more easily, and provides better fuel economy. However, many manufacturers recommend 5w30 for high mileage engines, as it can provide better protection against wear than 5w20.
The motor oil choice depends upon Ford’s model. For example, Ford-150 requires 5w20 engine oil, as using heavier oil may result in problems. Similarly, Ford-150 3.5L V6 will significantly require heavier oil, which makes 5w30 appropriate for it. Again, consult your owner’s manual for accurate information about which oil to choose.
5w30 grade oil is thicker, as indicated by its high-temperature viscosity, which is 30 at operating temperature. Therefore, 5w20 is thinner compared to 5w30.
5w30 is a good choice for summer since its high-temperature viscosity is 30 for operating temperatures compared to 5w20.
