If you are driving your car, your engine is also working to keep your car running. If the engine is also working, there will be a lot of moving parts inside your vehicle. These parts will bump and grind with each other, causing some wear and tear from the friction of the moving parts.
With that, the motor oil’s job is to lubricate these parts so that there will be a decrease in wear and tear, and there will also be a decrease in the friction created by the moving parts of the vehicle. Of course, if the engine is powerful, the grade of oil must also be higher to protect the engine. So it is a given that motor oils play a vital part in our engine.
And as much as the importance of the motor oil for your engine, it is also essential to know the viscosity type your engine should be using. The 10w40 motor oil and the 10w50 motor oil are made from the same base stocks. This is why people might interchange them both, so now; we will clarify this matter.
We will be going to discuss the differences between 10w40 motor oil and 10w50 motor oil. So let us get started.
Table of Contents
What Is the Difference Between 10w50 and 10w40 Oil?
Motor oil is known to be a lubricant. This means that motor oil will reduce the friction created by the moving parts of your engine so that they will move more freely and more efficiently. The motor oil will also prevent wear and tears in your engine.
They will also decrease the heat and will prevent the engine from overheating. A standard modern engine will be using a 10w40 motor oil and the 10w50 motor oil because it has that good balance of low-temperature flow, shear stability, and many other good features.
But let us focus on the differences between these two. We will differentiate them based on viscosity, fuel economy, and hot weather.
Viscosity
The 10w40 motor oil and the 10w50 motor oil have the same viscosity at zero degrees. They are known to be in the same class. In operating temperature at one hundred degrees Celsius, the 10w50 motor oil will have a higher viscosity than the 10w40 motor oil.
The 10w40 motor oil will also have a viscosity index of one hundred sixty, and the 10w50 motor oil will also have one hundred sixty-seven. This means that the 10w50 motor oil will have more minor variations in viscosity over the temperature range. With this, at low temperatures, both of these motor oils will perform in the same manner.
However, the 10w50 motor oil will have better protection than the 10w40 motor oil in operating temperature. And because of the high viscosity, the 10w50 motor oil will also require more energy to pump than the 10w40 motor oil.
Fuel Economy
The 10w40 motor oil is made for engines that require minimal horsepower, and they are usually used for vehicles producing less power. The fuel economy motor oils are popular nowadays and have been since the 0w20 motor oil and 5w20 motor oil.
Many of these motor oils will be providing at least a one to two percent increase in fuel economy. So all you need to know is that the lighter the weight of the oil is, they will provide a better gas mileage because of its low viscosity, making it easier to move through the oil system.
Hot Weather
The higher the W number on the motor oil, the thinner the motor oil will be when it is cold. And the lower the number is, the thicker it will be in low temperatures.
The difference between 10w40 motor oil and the 10w50 motor oil is how thin the motor oil can be when both are in hot temperatures. The 20w50 motor oil will not be so thin quickly while the 10w40 motor oil’s temperature will go up, but it can also get too thick while running in cold temperatures.
Can I Use 10w50 Instead of 10w40?
Yes, you can, but you still need to stick with what your owner’s manual is recommending. For example, if you have a modern car and its engine requires a 10w40, it will not benefit from the increased protection of a 10w50 motor oil.
With that, you should always stick with the recommendation of your vehicle’s manufacturer. Using a motor oil not recommended by your manufacturer can cause problems sooner.
Accidentally Used 10w50 Instead of 10w40: Is It Ok?
Yes, it is okay. You can always do an oil change if it bothers you and find out that it can be harmful.
The solid-liquid gets thinner if the temperature increases. So if the engine gets hotter, it will also thin out.
10w50 vs 10w40 High Mileage
10w50 motor oil is recommended for vehicles with high mileage that have an approximate sixty thousand (60,000) miles and more. On the other hand, a 10w40 motor oil is recommended to be used for high mileage vehicles.
The 10w40 motor oil is more vicious and thicker and thicker oils will help older engines to handle high temperatures and even manage to avoid wear and tear. If the motor oil will be thicker, it will reduce more tear and wear and provide extension to the life of your engine.
Which Is Better, 10w50 or 10w40 Oil?
The 10w50 motor oil and the 10w40 motor oil have the same viscosity at zero degrees. Both of these motor oils are in the same class, and they are not claimed to be identical, but at operating temperature, they are one hundred degrees Celsius, the 10w50 will have a higher viscosity than the 10w40 motor oil.
When should I use 10w50 and when 10w40?
The grade is what differs between 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil. So the number forty and the number fifty have different ranges. It’s the grade that differs.
This means that at a low temperature, both of these motor oil will perform similarly. In operating temperature, the 10w50 motor oil has better protection than the 10w40 motor oil. But we are not talking about which is the better motor oil.
We are talking about when you should use these motor oil. The answer is in your owner’s manual. If these motor oils are recommended for your engine, you can use them, but do not use them if it is not recommended.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Toyota
The recommended oil for all Toyota engines is 5w30 motor oil. However, 10w50 motor oil is usually used in engines with less horsepower and will require an oil flowing well in low temperatures.
The 10w50 motor oil can be used at any temperature above freezing. You can use these oils, but they are not on the recommended list of Toyota.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Nissan
The recommended motor oil for Nissan vehicles is 5w30 and 10w30. You can try using these two oils, but you should know that they are not on the recommended list of Nissan.
The 10w40 motor oil is usually used in fewer horsepower engines and requires a motor oil flowing well in low temperatures. You can also use 10w50 if the temperature is above freezing.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Subaru
The commonly recommended motor oil for all Subaru engines is 0w20 and 5w30. Using 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil can be possible, but they are not in the recommended list of Subaru vehicles. The 10w40 motor is used for engines with less horsepower, and the 10w50 motor oil is from any temperature above freezing.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Mazda
Almost all the vehicles and SUVs of Mazda will need 0w20 motor oil. Their lone standout might be used with some 5w30. Using 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil can be possible, but they are not recommended.
The 10w40 motor oil is used for engines with less horsepower. The 10w50 motor oil is for high-performance engines and cold temperatures.
10w50 vs. 10w40 BMW
For all BMW engines, they are recommending 5w30 motor oil. The use of 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil is not recommended, but you can use them.
Just be prepared for any damages in the future. The 10w40 motor oil can be used in engines with less horsepower and 10w50 motor oil for high-performance engines and freezing temperatures.
10w50 vs 10w40 Ford]
According to the 2020 ford owner’s manual, almost all of their engines must be using a 5w30 motor oil or 0w30 motor oil. Both 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil are not in the recommended motor oil. However, you can still try them if you want to.
Using a 10w40 motor oil is for engines that are for less horsepower. The use of 10w50 motor oil is for high-performance engines and any temperature above freezing.
10w50 vs 10w40 Chevrolet
For Chevrolet, the recommended oil is 5w20, 5w30, or 10w30 in some engines. And according to the owner’s manual of a 2020 chevy, they would recommend 0w20 motor oil or 5w30 motor oil.
Unfortunately, both the 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil are not recommended, but you can try using them. The 10w40 motor oil can be used for engines with less horsepower, and 10w50 motor oil is for any temperature above freezing point and high-powered engines.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Jeep
The recommended viscosity for jeep vehicles is 0W20, 5W20, 5W30, or 10W30. The 10w40 motor oil can be used for fewer horsepower engines, and the 10w50 motor oil is for high-powered engines with a temperature above freezing point.
10w50 vs. 10w40 Volkswagen
Their recommendation is only 5w30 and 0w20. Both 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil are not on the recommended list. The 10w40 motor oil is for engines with less horsepower, and the 10w50 motor oil is for any temperature higher than freezing.
Summary
In summary, experts would recommend using a high viscosity oil in the winter rather than in the summer. The type of motor oil is all about temperature and if your engine is working in an ideal temperature engine.
Using 10w50 motor oil and 10w40 motor oil will depend on a lot of conditions. The best is to look for your owner’s manual.
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