Have you ever wondered what the differences are in motor oils and if you are using the correct one for your vehicle? If all the different types of motor oils out on the market are confusing to you and you don’t know which one you should be using right now in the cold weather months that are upon us, you’ve come to the right place! What do the numbers mean and what does the “W” stand for? These two determinants hold the key to choosing the right oil for you. In the following article, I want to give you more understanding and help you decide which oil is best for you to use in the cold winter months in your car.
- 5W-30, 10W-40, and other similar designations are referred to as multi-viscosity oils. An oil’s viscosity corresponds basically to its thickness. You need to look for one that is viscous enough to run through your engine smoothly and lubricate all the moving parts but it doesn’t need to be so thick that it won’t flow. It also doesn’t need to be too thin that it flows like water. Oil does change its viscosity with the change in temperature, so you need to focus on that property when choosing the oil that’s right for your car.
- For cold weather purposes, let’s look at the “W”. It stands for winter, not weight as some may think. The first number in the oil classification refers to a cold-weather viscosity. The lower this number is, the less viscous your oil will be at low temperatures. This means that when your engine is cold the lower the W number the easier the oil will flow. For instance, a 5W- motor oil will flow better at lower temperatures than one rated at 15W. The higher this first number is, the slower it will flow.
When you warm up your engine, the oil will warm along with it, but on those bitterly cold mornings when your engine is cold from the start, make sure you have the correct motor oil to make your morning start run seamlessly. Hopefully, you can use this information to help you choose the right oil for your car. If you still have questions, please reach out to me and I will be glad to help.
Mark Sugar at Dodge City on 8th in Saskatoon
