5W-20 vs 5W-30 vs 10W-30: What’s the Difference?

 5W-20 vs 5W-30 vs 10W-30: What’s the Difference?

What do these numbers mean and how important is it? Depending on which car you own and drive, this could be extremely important. Click photo for more information.

Find out what the viscosity numbers on an oil bottle mean and the importance

Viscosity explained in layman's terms

How to read an oil bottle

What Does Viscosity Mean and Its Importance?

How does viscosity affect your engine, mileage and performance?

Motor oil viscosity is the measure of its resistance to flow. Low-viscosity oil (e.g. 0W-20) flows faster than high-viscosity oil (e.g. 20W-50).

To illustrate, think of water and honey. When poured from a container, water flows much faster than honey.

For more good information on oil viscosity including easy to understand charts, read this blog:

What Does Viscosity Mean (and How Does it Affect Your Engine)?

The Need To Do Regular Oil Changes

Why Do I Need To Change My Oil?

Dan McClellandDan McClelland | Jan 07, 2020 8:36 AM




Regardless of its quality, every motor oil eventually loses its potency and must be changed to ensure peak engine protection. Let’s take a look at what happens to motor oil over time and why you periodically need to change oil.

Losing the base

Base oils are the backbone of the finished lubricant that ends up in your engine. Over time, they lose effectiveness due to the following factors:

Oxidation

The interaction between oxygen molecules and motor oil molecules naturally leads to chemical breakdown.

Just as oxygen causes a cut apple to brown or exposed metal to rust, it breaks down base oils and reduces motor oil’s effectiveness.

Oxidation can lead to increased oil viscosity, which negatively affects energy efficiency. It also causes the formation of harmful deposits and sludge.

High heat

Today’s engines run hotter than ever before, with temperatures up to 235°F (113ºC), and even higher if towing or hauling.

The rate of oxidation for oil doubles for every 18°F (10°C) increase in temperature.

Moisture

Your vehicle is subjected to temperature swings, even when it is parked in the garage.

Those temperature swings cause condensation to form inside your engine, leading to water contamination.

Leaving a vehicle parked for extended periods or taking short trips that don’t allow the engine to fully warm up allow water to remain in the oil rather than evaporating and exiting through the tailpipe. Water can lead to formation of sludge…yet another reason why you must change oil.

Viscosity is a motor oil’s most important property. The lower the viscosity, the faster the oils flows, like water. Thicker oils flow more slowly, like honey.

Viscosity loss

A lubricant’s viscosity is its most important property.

Viscosity has a direct bearing on wear protection, and your engine is designed to operate best using a motor oil of a specific viscosity (e.g. 5W-30).

The intense pressure the oil bears as it’s squeezed between moving parts, like the piston ring/cylinder wall interface, can tear apart, or shear, its molecular structure, leading to viscosity loss.

Suddenly, the 5W-30 motor oil your engine was designed to use is now essentially a 5W-20 oil, and wear protection may be compromised. When this happens, it’s time to change your oil.

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Fuel dilution

Fuel can wash past the piston rings and contaminate the motor oil, causing it to lose viscosity.

Frequent short trips that don’t allow the oil to reach normal operating temperature can be especially problematic because the fuel won’t volatilize and exit through the PCV system.

Excessive fuel dilution leads to sludge and varnish, requiring you to change oil more frequently.

Additives: designed to deplete

Additives are added to base oils to reduce destructive processes and enhance beneficial properties.

For example, antioxidant additives help slow the rate of oxidation. Detergency additives help prevent deposits and sludge while cleaning pre-existing deposits. Formulators add anti-wear additives to some lubricants to form a sacrificial barrier on metal components and help prevent wear.

Since they’re sacrificial in nature, additive depletion is one of the primary reasons motor oil loses its effectiveness and must be changed. 

While AMSOIL synthetic motor oil gives you the convenience of fitting oil changes into your schedule, it remains vital to install fresh oil at the appropriate time.  

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Motor Oil Viscosity Explained

Premium Protection For High-Horsepower Chrysler & Nissan Applications

New synthetic 0W-40 motor oil rounds out the Signature Series line. 

AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-40

Muscle cars ruled the American landscape in the 1960s and ‘70s, and many of those signature models, such as the Dodge Challenger and Charger, are now available in faster, more powerful designs. In this day and age, it’s not uncommon to find production models that top 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. In fact, the 2015 Challenger Hellcat is the fastest production muscle car of all time, kicking out 707 horsepower and
650 lb-ft of torque.

Powerful muscle car and big truck engines need a high-performance lubricant, and much like these powerful vehicles, AMSOIL sets the bar high when it comes to performance. AMSOIL established all-new standards for motor oil quality and performance when it introduced the world’s first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) service requirements in 1972, and it continues to produce the top-performing lubricants available on the market.

New Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

Along with the new 5W-50 viscosity formulated for high-horsepower Ford Mustang engines, the Signature Series line now includes a robust 0W-40 synthetic motor oil formulated specifically for high-horsepower Chrysler and Nissan engines. AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil (AZF) provides top-of-the-mark protection and performance that customers expect from Signature Series.

· Withstands the stress of high horsepower and heat to provide outstanding wear protection

· Resists viscosity loss due to mechanical shear

· Resists thermal breakdown

· Helps prevent sludge deposits and keeps engines clean

· Reduces oil consumption and emissions

· Maximizes fuel economy

Applications

Signature Series 0W-40 is recommended for Chrysler and Nissan applications calling for a 0W-40 viscosity and requiring the following performance specifications:

· API SN, SM...

· Chrysler MS-12633, MS-10725, MS-10850

· Nissan GT-R®

Applications include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Dodge Charger 6.1L/6.4L

· Dodge Challenger 6.1L/6.4L

· Dodge Viper 8.3L/8.4L

· Dodge Ram 2500/3500/4400/5500 6.4 L

· Chrysler 300 6.1L/6.4L

· Jeep SRT Grand Cherokee 6.1L/6.4L

· Nissan GT-R 3.8L

More information on AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-40 Motor Oil

Premium Protection for High-Horsepower Ford Mustangs

5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

AMSOIL has expanded the Signature Series line to include a robust 5W-50 synthetic motor oil formulated specifically for high-horsepower Ford Mustang engines. Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil (AMR) provides top-of-the-mark protection and performance that customers expect from Signature Series, and it is excellent for all Mustang engines calling for a 5W-50 viscosity.

For more information:

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil for High-Horsepower Ford Mustangs

AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil Outperforms Competition in New Study

Nine synthetic motor oils were compared to AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil (ASL). When it was all said and done, Signature Series demonstrated the best overall performance and cost-effectiveness.

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Since AMSOIL introduced the first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) service requirements in 1972, many other synthetic motor oil brands have been introduced. Today, synthetics are widely viewed as superior to conventional motor oils, and demand continues growing, but how do other brands compare to AMSOIL?

A Study of SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oils

Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil and nine other synthetic oils were subjected to five industry tests conducted according to American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) methodology. The overall annual cost of each oil was also compared. The study included synthetic motor oils exclusively for a number of reasons. First, most motorists now understand that synthetics provide increased performance benefits compared to conventional oils, so convincing consumers of synthetics' superiority is less of an issue. Second, while conventional motor oil sales remain flat, demand for synthetics continues to increase. Third, testing only synthetics facilitates an apples to apples comparison.

Methodology

Testing examined several important areas of motor oil performance, including resistance to deposit formation, wear protection, high-temperature stability, resistance to acid formation and cold temperature performance.

Click for larger image Four-Ball Wear Test results indicate significant differences in relative wear protection between oils. The top four performers limited wear scars to under 0.40 mm. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil demonstrated the best wear protection in the Four-Ball Wear Test. Click for larger image  AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil tested two numbers higher than the nearest competitor.

Each oil was subjected to the following ASTM test methodologies:

• Thermo-Oxidation Engine Oil Simulation Test (TEOST, ASTM D 6335)
• NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D 5800)
• Four-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D 4172 Mod.)
• Total Base Number (ASTM D 2896)
• Cold Cranking Viscosity (ASTM D 5293)

Test results published in A Study of SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oils describe and represent properties of oils that were acquired from November 2012 to December 2012. Results do not apply to any subsequent reformulations of such oils or to new oils introduced after completion of testing. All oils were available to consumers at the time of purchase. An independent, third-party lab conducted all tests. Formulations were coded to reduce the potential for bias, and samples were tested in random order. An appropriate number of trials of each oil were run to produce results at the 95 percent confidence level when compared to Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil. The 95 percent confidence level only applies when comparing AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil to the other 5W-30 oils. The 95 percent confidence level does not apply when comparing the other oils to one another.

Candidate Oils

The following nine oils were selected for the study:

• Castrol Edge® with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology®
• Lucas Synthetic
• Mobil 1™ Extended Performance
• Pennzoil Ultra™
• Petro-Canada SUPREME Synthetic™
• Quaker State Ultimate Durability™
• Red Line High Performance Motor Oil
• Royal Purple High Performance Motor Oil
• Valvoline SynPower® Full Synthetic Motor Oil

All oils are 5W-30 viscosity and recommended for applications requiring API SN/ILSAC GF-5 specifications.

Results

AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil displayed the best results in the Four-Ball Wear, Total Base Number and Cold Crank Viscosity Tests. Results in the NOACK and TEOST Tests were also impressive, proving Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil's excellent high-temperature performance. Other oils performed well in some tests, but not as well in others, illustrating the challenge inherent in formulating a high-quality motor oil that performs well in tests designed to assess optimum engine protection and life. In addition to delivering outstanding performance, Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil provides maximum cost-effectiveness - even at retail pricing. Because they buy at wholesale, Dealers and Preferred Customers receive even more value. In the end, no other oil demonstrated itself capable of providing the overall performance in these tests and cost effectiveness of Signature Series.

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Although synthetic motor oils are known to provide increased low temperature performance compared to conventional oils, results suggest performance differences between formulations. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil demonstrated the lowest cold crank viscosity (3,727 cP).

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 Results demonstrate a range of performance differences. Only Castrol Edge with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology and AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil limited total deposit weight to 5 mg or less.

AMSOIL 5W-30 Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil

Reading a Product Data Bulletin: Viscosity

A lubricant's viscosity and how it changes under different temperatures and operating conditions is one of the most important properties determining performance and protection. Accordingly, Kinematic viscosity is generally the first property listed on an AMSOIL product data bulletin.
Kinematic viscosity, measured using ASTM D 445 methodology, determines an SAE oil's hightemperature viscosity grade (for example, the "30" in 5W-30), while its Cold Crank Simulator (CCS) viscosity, measured using ASTM D 5293 methodology, determines its low-temperature grade (the "5W" in 5W-30).

Why Two Different Test Methods?

Viscosity can be viewed in two ways. Kinematic viscosity is defined by the lubricant's resistance to flow and shear due to gravity. To illustrate, imagine pouring two containers, one filled with water and the other with honey. The rate at which each fluid flows is governed by its Kinematic viscosity. Since the Kinematic viscosity of water is lower, it flows faster.
Dynamic (or absolute) viscosity, measured by the CCS test, is defined as the lubricant's resistance to flow as indicated by its measured resistance, best thought of as the amount of energy required to move an object, such as a metal rod, through the fluid. It takes less energy to stir water compared to honey because the dynamic/ absolute viscosity of water is lower.
Each test method is designed to replicate a specific operating condition, allowing formulators and end-users to determine the lubricant's characteristics when in use. The CCS viscosity test evaluates the amount of energy it takes to start an engine at a specified cold temperature; the lower the viscosity grade, the lower the temperature at which the test is performed. The test assigns a value in centipoise (cP), used to determine the viscosity grade. Using Signature Series 5W- 30 as an example, its viscosity at -30ºC (-22ºF) can be no greater than 6600 cP to receive a 5W grade (see chart). Lower values reflect lighter-viscosity oils.
The Kinematic viscosity test attempts to simulate viscosity at normal operating conditions for a passenger car/light truck. The test is performed at 100ºC (212ºF) and/or 40ºC (104ºF), depending on the grading system being used. The value at
100ºC is used to determine the SAE viscosity grade. The test measures how long the oil takes to completely flow from a viscometer device heated to 100°C. The elapsed time in seconds is converted to centistokes (cSt). Lower values reflect lighter-viscosity oils.

Viscosity Index

The viscosity index (VI) of a lubricating fluid refers to how much the viscosity of the fluid changes due to temperature. A high VI indicates the fluid undergoes little viscosity change due to temperature fluctuations, while a low VI indicates a relatively large viscosity change. The Viscosity Index Test (ASTM D 2270) is based on the Kinematic viscosity of the fluid at 40°C (104°F) and 100°C (212°F). A fluid whose viscosity does not change much between these two temperatures will have a higher VI than a fluid whose viscosity change is greater. Viscosity index numbers above 95 are considered high. Fluids with a high VI provide more protection to critical components over a wide range of temperatures by maintaining fluid thickness and the necessary fluid barrier between parts.
AMSOIL posts data information proudly on each product page at or near the bottom of the page. Check out the different AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils data information posted by clicking on a specific motoroil and opening the page. Compared to other motoroils on the market, AMSOIL is clearly superior. AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils

Manufacturer Installs Only AMSOIL Synthetic Grease in its 'Rare Parts'

 

A California manufacturer of steering and suspension parts installs AMSOIL synthetic greases exclusively in its Diamond Series specialty parts.

Rare Parts Inc. of Stockton, Calif. was the vision of Lyle Burgess, who began operating a wheel alignment service in 1957. He realized the steering and suspension parts he needed were hard to get and the industry lacked a steering and suspension part manufacturer that offered complete coverage. Parts were becoming obsolete. In 1981, Burgess founded Rare Parts.

Much like the story of AMSOIL INC., an ever-expanding company born from the vision of its founder A.J. Amatuzio, Rare Parts Inc. has flourished and grown over time. Today, Danny Burgess, a machinist who grew up in the business alongside his father, is president of the company.

Rare Parts is committed to providing American-made parts and designs and manufactures obsolete and current parts for virtually any application. The company offers complete coverage for any vehicle make, model or year.

"We offer products from the late 1920s to present, and if we do not have it we will build it," Danny Burgess said. "We build our own inventory and custom projects from the classic street rod enthusiast to custom fabricated agricultural harvester parts."

The Diamond Series line is manufactured to exceed original equipment manufacturer and other aftermarket product specifications. Examples are larger forgings for increased strength, improved internal designs, better wear characteristics, greaseable parts, tighter machining tolerances, proper heat treatment of ball studs and mating components and other changes in key areas, according to Burgess. Every Diamond Series part is designed, tested and inspected in the Rare Parts Inc. facility before it leaves the warehouse.

The parts are pre-greased with AMSOIL Synthetic Polymeric Truck, Chassis and Equipment Grease (GPTR).
 
"We only produce high-quality steering and suspension parts here in the USA and we wanted to pair them with a well-known highquality grease that also is made in the USA," Burgess said. "Since being registered as a retail-on-the-shelf account by our servicing Dealer, we have been using AMSOIL grease exclusively for about six to eight months. We also run AMSOIL products in our manufacturing equipment.


"Our experience with AMSOIL grease is that it holds up very well at high temperatures and reduces friction (turning torque) in some of our ball joints and idler arms. Reduced turning torque reduces steering effort and increases the life of the parts."