How do I know what oil to put in my car?

Choose an oil with the vehicle manufacture’s recommended viscosity rating (check your owner’s manual). Viscosity is an oil’s ability to flow at different temperatures. The two most common viscosities (a.k.a. weights) are SAE 5W-30 and SAE 10W-30. The lower the number, the thinner the oil.

Is it better to put synthetic oil in my car?

5. Is synthetic oil better for my engine than conventional oil? Yes, synthetic oil is better for your engine than conventional oil. Although conventional oil (i.e., mineral oil) can provide adequate lubrication performance, it can’t compete with the overall engine performance and protection provided by synthetics.

Does it matter what engine oil I put in my car?

Using the wrong oil will put undue stress on the mechanical components of your engine. Badly lubricated parts will wear faster and so decrease the life of the engine. How often should you check your oil? There’s no set rule.

What kind of oil should I put in my car in the winter?

Typically, a 5W oil is recommended for winter use, but synthetic oils can be formulated to flow even more easily when cold. This way, they are able to pass tests that meet the 0W rating.

What happens if you put synthetic oil with regular oil?

Mixing them will not improve the performance or efficiency of your engine in any way. … Adding synthetic oil to regular motor oil will not enhance the regular oil. Mixing regular motor oil with synthetic oil may dilute the benefits of the costlier synthetic oil.

Is synthetic oil a waste of money?

Registered. YES, it IS a waste of money for the average passenger car. Synthetic oil IS much better but dyno is more than adequate for the average passenger car motor.

Should I use 10w30 or 10W40?

10W40 oil has a higher viscosity, retaining more thickness than 10W30 as the temperature rises. In that case, 10W-40 motor oil would technically provide better protection against engine wear contact in higher temperatures.

Is 10w30 good for winter?

A 10W flows well in cold weather, to protect the engine at start up, but it’s is too thin for use in the summer. A 30 grade oil, thick enough to protect in the heat, was recommended for summer use. … A 10W-30 had the winter cold start flow properties of a 10W and the summer, high-temperature thickness of a 30 grade.

Can I put oil in my car when it’s cold?

As long as the temperature outside isn’t very cold or near freezing and your car has been turned off for several minutes, it is safe to check or add oil regardless of internal or external temperature. Just be careful as you do, because the engine is hot enough to burn your skin.

Does 10w40 hurt 10W30 engine?

If you were to put 10W40 in an engine designed for 10W30, the “thicker” oil would lead to friction in the engine and an increased load on the oil pump. The car would have to do more work to get the oil around the engine block.

Is 10w40 good for high mileage?

Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W-40 motor oil is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in high mileage vehicles (even those that have used lower quality conventional oils†), including: Cars.

Is 10W30 better for high mileage?

10W-30 motor oil makes for a decent high-mileage oil. It gives a better fuel economy while reducing the oil consumption for older engines. Older engines with more than 75,000 miles on them require a thicker oil that will properly lubricate their critical engine parts and prevent oil leaks, sludge, and deposits.

When should I use 10W40 oil?

While both are low-temperature grade oils, 10W40 is thicker at high temperature; therefore, better to use in warm weather.

What 10W40 means?

What Does 10W40 Mean? 10W-40 is the viscosity, or weight, of the motor oil as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE for short). A 10W-40 oil has a viscosity grade of 10W at a low temperature and 40 at a higher temperature. … It just behaves like a 10W weight oil when cold and like a 40 weight oil at hot.

What does 10w30 stand for?

Answered January 07 2020. The 10W30 designation on engine oil means that the viscosity of the oil is rated at 10W when an engine is cold and 30 when the engine is hot. This is different than an oil labelled 5W30, which has a thinner viscosity when the engine is cold at 5W.

Can I put 10W40 instead of 5w30?

Your vehicle does not use 5W-30 oil. The recommended oil viscosity for your vehicle, according to Kia documentation, is 10W-40. If you drive the vehicle in exceptionally cold weather, well below 32 degrees, you can use 5W-30 oil but even 10W-40 is still perfectly OK to use if outdoor temperatures are below freezing.

Which oil is better 5w30 or 10W40?

The first number in the motor oil’s name describes the oil’s cold viscosity. … A 10w-40 motor oil is a thicker oil at startup than a 5w-30 motor oil. Therefore, 10w-40 oil clings to the engine’s moving parts more than the lower viscosity 5w-30 oil.

What is 10w 50 oil used for?

10W50 oil is a high-performance engine oil that offers outstanding engine reliability and temperature stability under extreme driving conditions. It’s used for a wide range of motorsports and modern engines with turbochargers.