Summary
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Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Choosing the wrong type of engine oil or not using the recommended oil can affect the performance of your car’s engine.
Engine oil is essential for your car engine, as it lubricates the engine components to keep them moving without wear and friction. However, with so many different engine oils available in the market, choosing the right one takes time and effort. Often people get confused between 5w30 and 10w30 motor oil. Continue reading the article to learn about the difference between these two engine oils and decide which one will be suitable for your car engine.
Short on Time – Here’s a Quick Summary
The major difference between 5w30 and 10w30 is their thickness in cold temperatures. The first number, 5 and 10, refers to measuring how easily the oil will pour at lower temperatures. So 5w30, the thinner of the two, will reach the engine’s internal components faster than 10w30.
What is the difference between 5w30 and 10w30 Motor Oil?
Engine oils differ in terms of thickness, viscosity, and the ability to withstand high and low temperatures. Most vehicles usually have a particular type of motor oil recommended by their manufacturers.
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Car manufacturers recommend changing engine oil at regular intervals of at least every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
Car vacuum cleaners come in many designs and forms, the most common of which is the handheld car vacuum. Top 15 Best Car Vacuum Cleaners in 2018 cleaner.
Before we discuss the significant differences between the two motor oils, let’s explore what 5w30 and 10w30 ratings mean for motor oils.
5w30 and 10w30 refer to the viscosity rating of the motor oil as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The letter “W” stands for winter. And the first two numbers, 5 & 10, indicate how easily the oil will pour at lower temperatures.
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The lower the first number before “W” in the viscosity rating, the thinner it will be under cold conditions.
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The second number, 30 in these two motor oils, refers to oil thickness once it has reached high operating temperatures. While 5w30 and 10w30 have the same thickness at higher operating temperatures, 5w30 will protect internal engine components faster than 10w30 at lower temperatures due to its low viscosity.
Before we compare 5w30 and 10w30 motor oil, let’s discuss what they are, their specifications, and their benefits.
What is 5w30 Motor Oil?
5w30 is a multigrade oil type found in synthetic and conventional oil variants. It has a viscosity of grade 5 at low and grade 30 at high temperatures. Some of the specifications and benefits of 5w30 motor oil include the following.
- Meets all API SN and ACEA requirements
- Approved by Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, and Porsche oil specifications
- Reduces wear and tear of the engine
- Enhance engine life
- Well-suited for automotive gasoline engines and light-duty petrol and diesel engines.
What is 10w30 Motor Oil?
10w30 is also a multigrade engine oil found in synthetic and conventional oil variants. It has a viscosity grade of 10 at low temperatures and a grade of 30 at high temperatures. Some of the specifications and benefits of 5w30 motor oil include the following.
- Meets all the API SN requirements
- Protects engine parts from rust
- Compatible with after-treatment and seal
- Enhances engine life
- Well-suited for hot weather use compared to cold weather
Comparison Between 5w30 and 10w30 Motor Oil
Let’s compare 5w30 and 10w30 motor oil based on different characteristics.
Low-Temperature Viscosity
Understanding the low-temperature viscosity is important to differentiate between these two motor oils. It is denoted by the first number before W in the viscosity rating and is important when starting the engine while it is still in the freezing temperature in the winter season.
Now, when we compare 5w30 and 10w30, we can see that 5w30 has a lower number (5) than the latter, meaning it will be thin at a lower temperature, making it better than 10w30 in terms of low-temperature viscosity.
Both 5w30 and 10w30 are graded by SAE for high performance in winter, so both are suitable to use in colder climates.
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High-Temperature Viscosity
The number present after the letter W refers to the viscosity of the oil at a high temperature (100℃), also known as the operating or ambient temperature of the engine.
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The higher the number after “W”, the thicker the oil will be at a higher temperature.
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Since both 5w30 and 10w30 have the same SAE 30 grade, they will operate well in higher temp conditions. However, a higher viscosity or thicker oil, such as 10w40, will perform better than 10w30 and 5w30.
Suitable Vehicle Types
10w30 motor oil is well suited for commercial vehicles and heavy-load car engines and provides better lubrication. In addition, since 10w30 is multigrade engine oil, it’s suitable for warmer and cold climates.
On the other hand, 5w30 engine oil is suitable for private vehicles and light-duty diesel and petrol engines, providing better cold start in colder temperatures than 10w30 oil.
Temperature Performance Range
5w30 oil works well in temperatures ranging from -30℃ to 35℃ while 10w30 works well in a relatively smaller temperature window ranging from -18℃ to 30℃.
Both 5w30 and 10w30 are multigrade oils that can perform well within a large range of temperature windows.
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Ideal Use
While both 10w30 and 5w30 are multigrade oil, 5w30 is enough when living in an area with an extremely cold climate, making it a better choice during the winter than 10w30. On the other hand, 10w30 will perform better in higher temperatures compared to 5w30.
Go through the table below to learn the difference between 5w30 and 10w30 motor oil at a glance.
| Characteristics | 5w30 Motor Oil | 10w30 Motor Oil |
|---|
| Low Temp Viscosity | It will be thinner in low temperatures compared to 10w30. | It will be thicker than the 5w30 motor oil at a low temperature. |
| High Temp Viscosity | It has the same high-temperature viscosity as 10w30 | It has the same high-temperature viscosity as 5w30 |
| Temp Performance Range | Performs well for temperatures ranging from -30℃ to 35℃ | Performs well for temperatures ranging from -18℃ to 30℃ |
| Suitable Vehicle Types | light-duty petrol & diesel engines and private vehicles | Commercial vehicles and heavy-load car engines |
| Ideal Use | Ideal for colder climates and warm climates | Ideal for warm climates and relatively less cold climates |
Conclusion
The most significant difference between 5w30 and 10w30 is their cold flow ability; a 5w30 oil will move faster than 10w30 oil during cold startups. However, both oils will have the same flow ability (30 viscosity) at the engine’s operating temperature and protect identically. So if you live in a colder area, use 5w30 oil. Whereas if the oil will be in the engine during the summer, it doesn’t matter which oil you use among both of them.
Always use a high-quality motor oil for your car engine and consult your owner’s manual before choosing one.
FAQs
Since 5w30 is better than 10w30 in cold weather, it won’t affect the engine negatively. Instead, it will perform better than 10w30 in a low temperature. However, using motor oil as your car manufacturer recommends is better.
10w30 and 5w30 have the same viscosity at the engine’s operating temperature. This means there is no need to shift to 10w30 in the summer if 5w30 is an acceptable grade for your engine. However, some car manufacturers may recommend 10w30 for summer use. Consult the owner’s manual before switching your car engine.
10w30 motor oil is good for high mileage. Also, it gives better fuel economy and reduces oil consumption for older engines.
Yes, you can mix 5w30 and 10w30 oil. However, it could be better. While both oils will flow well in hot climates due to the same high-temperature viscosity, they might flow at a different rate at a low temperature due to different (5 and 10) low-temperature viscosity.
5w30 is considered better than 10w30 for winters due to its ability to flow better in low temperatures. However, you can also use 10w30 in winter since it’s a multigrade oil and can be used in winter and summer.
Yes, 10w30 is slightly thicker since it has a higher low-temperature viscosity than 5w30 oil. As a result, it will flow slightly slower than 5w30 in the winter season. However, high-viscosity oils have a better seal than low-viscosity oil, often offering better lubrication for engine parts.
