Motor oils are already in the market ever since the start of the automotive world. They have been partners ever since. After all, motor oil is considered to be the blood of every vehicle.
Motor oils are already a vital need of the engine of every vehicle. Every motor oil has a different viscosity. Therefore, the viscosity grade of every motor oil is a critical part of motor oil.
Motor oil is considered the determinant of how long your vehicle will be and how good the condition of your vehicle will be in the future. That is why you should understand the different types of viscosity. In addition, motor oil can decrease wear and tear against your engine.
It can also improve your horsepower and improve your fuel economy too. The 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil are the start of this topic. You might not know any of the differences between 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil.
So in this article, we will focus on the 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil. Let us get started.
Table of Contents
What Is the Difference Between 5w40 and 10w30 Oil?
The 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil might have similarities, but they also have differences. As a car driver, you have to know the differences between these two. This section lets us compare 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil in fuel economy, hot weather, and viscosity.
Viscosity
The viscosity of 5w40 motor oil has a viscosity index of one hundred seventy-six (176), and it has a viscosity at one hundred degrees Celsius of 13.7. The 10w30 motor oil has a viscosity index of one hundred forty-six and a viscosity at one hundred degrees Celsius of 10.7. The letter w means winter.
This is the number that follows is the viscosity of the motor oil or the thickness of the motor oil in low temperatures. For example, the 5w40 motor oil has a winter viscosity grade of five. This means that this motor oil is less vicious in shallow temperatures.
The 10w30 motor oil is engine oil with a viscosity of 10w if the engine is cold. It has thirty if the engine is hot.
Fuel Economy
Both 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil can provide good fuel economy. All the motor oils today already can improve fuel economy. The 5w40 motor oil will make your consumption of motor oil very low.
And the 10w30 motor oil will also have superior friction properties, and this will ensure oil efficiency. And the best way to have the benefit of an improvement in your fuel economy is to choose the motor oil recommended by your owner’s manual.
Hot Weather
The 5w40 motor oil can operate and work in extreme cold conditions and offers a good and fast start even if you are in a cold climate. The 5w40 motor oil is good for starting your engine in low temperatures, and it will also flow more easily and quickly in these temperatures. If the engine is running hot and the 5w40 motor has a high viscosity, it is also outstanding in protecting against any wear in your engine.
Performance
The 5w40 motor oil is known for its reliability. This motor oil can operate even under pressure. It also delivers stoppage in any contamination and delivers ultra-protection into the engine’s motor oil that has a high viscosity.
Motor oil that has high viscosity is good for maintaining the fluidity of any condition. The 10w30 motor oil will also provide you balanced lubrication and longer engine life.
Can I Use 5w40 Instead of 10w30?
If you want to, you need to use the motor oil recommended by your owner’s manual. If your vehicle’s manufacturer states that you use 10w30 motor oil, you should use 10w30 motor oil and not 5w40 motor oil. This motor oil might act differently in the cold and even in operating temperatures.
The 10w and the 5w refer to the viscosity of the motor. The second numbers, thirty and forty, refer to the oil’s viscosity in operating temperatures. So do not put in motor oil that is not recommended by your owner’s manual.
If your engine needs 10w30 motor oil, you can try 15w30 motor oil if the temperature is warm. You can go with 5w30 motor oil if the weather is cold.
If the temperature is freezing, then you can 0w40 motor oil. But the bottom line is that you should always use the recommended motor oil for your engine.
Accidentally Used 5w40 Instead of 10w30: Is It Ok?
If you have accidentally used 5w40 on your vehicle instead of 10w30, then there is nothing that you can do about but to have an oil change to replace the entire motor oil with 10w30 motor oil. If you ask about significant damages and serious problems, it will be pretty unlikely to happen.
It is okay in the sense that you will not encounter engine failures. However, having motor oil is much better than not having motor oil at all. So if you want to be on the safe side, you can always do an oil change.
5w40 vs 10w30 High Mileage
Mechanics are using 5w40 motor oil to support high mileage engines. This is because it is thicker under hear than any other motor oil. It also lubricated moving parts even better.
On the other hand, a 10w30 motor oil is good for high mileage vehicles. It has a formulation that has a mixture of high-performance synthetic base well-balanced additive components.
Which Is Better, 5w40 or 10w30 Oil?
These motor oils cannot be generalized. This means that a 5w40 motor oil cannot be much better than the 10w30 motor oil with no basis. This means that there should be a basis or criteria.
And the criteria for this question is the recommended motor oil by your owner’s manual. So if your owner’s manual recommends a 5w40 motor oil, that is the better motor oil for your vehicle. On the other hand, if your engine needs 10w30 motor oil, that is better for you.
When Should I Use 5w40 And When 10w30?
The 5w40 motor oil is good for starting your engines in low temperatures because this motor oil will flow more easily in these temperatures. However, if your engine is running hot and running, the difference is slight. This is because the 5w40 motor has a high viscosity, and it is equally effective against the engine.
The 10w30 motor oil can be used in cold weather, but this motor oil is more suitable for use in hot weather. But again, you should use 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor if your owner’s manual will recommend it.
5w40 vs. 10w30 Toyota
The recommended oil for all Toyota engines is 5w30 motor oil. However, there is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather.
5w40 vs. 10w30 Nissan
The recommended motor oil for Nissan vehicles is 5w30 and 10w30. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. Just always follow your owner’s manual.
5w40 vs 10w30 Subaru
The recommended motor oil for all Subaru engines is 0w20 and 5w30. However, there is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather.
5w40 vs. 10w30 Mazda
Almost all the vehicles and SUVs of Mazda will need 0w20 motor oil. Their lone standout might be used with some 5w30. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather.
5w40 vs 10w30 BMW
For all BMW engines, they are recommending 5w30 motor oil. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list. But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures.
You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather. But always follow your owner’s manual.
5w40 vs 10w30 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. Unfortunately, there is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather.
5w40 vs 10w30 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. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather. But always follow your owner’s manual.
5w40 vs. 10w30 Jeep
The recommended viscosity for jeep vehicles is 0W20, 5W20, 5W30, or 10W30. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil in the recommended list. But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures.
5w40 vs. 10w30 Volkswagen
Their recommendation is only 5w30 and 0w20. There is no mention of 5w40 motor oil or 10w30 motor oil in the recommended list.
But for the guide, you can use 5w40 motor oil in starting your engine in low temperatures. You can also use 10w30 motor oil in cold weather, but it is preferred in hot weather.
Summary
In summary, motor oil is essential to your vehicle. Choosing the right motor oil is as essential as it is. Unfortunately, some car drivers are interchanging 5w40 motor oil and 10w30 motor oil.
They both have their differences, and they have their similarities. You should refer to your owner’s manual for the recommended motor oil for your engine.
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