5w30 vs 5w20 - The Engine Oil Differences You Should Know

Do you feel 5w30 vs 5w20 - the engine oil differences you should know? Well, if you are unaware, then do not worry about it. We are here to explain you everything about these two motor oils.

It is essential to use the right type of synthetic motor oil to help your engine run smoothly. It is impossible to get an advantage from your investment in the vehicle if you do not take care of the car engine. Well, some people get their vehicle for an oil change to professional mechanics and some are using oil additive for better performance. But, they do not know what is going on inside the engine system due to the motor oil. This means that the owner needs to educate himself about it as it is an essential element to keep engine effective and smooth . It will not only help them save their vehicle performance and protect it from damages. Also, they can avail the services of a mechanic in a much better way.

5w30 vs 5w20 - The Engine Oil Differences

Everybody knows the 5w20 vs 5w30 differences but those who are unaware use their names interchangeably. This means that their understanding of their differences is not quite clear. The significant difference between 5w30 and 5w20 is their viscosity. The oil can flow against friction. Overall, when we talk about 5w30 vs 5w20 refers to this difference mainly.

Here we will discuss these two oil differences. Also, how you can use one and not under certain vehicle types and specific weather conditions. Let us dig into these details in the section below.

The Basic Differences of the Motor Oils

There are multiple 5w-20 vs 5w-30 differences, but the most prominent ones are as follows:

• The thickness of 5w20 is less than the 5w30. Therefore, when you put this motor oil into the vehicle engine, it will produce minimum drag.
• 5w20 provides a partial bump in the of your vehicle’s fuel economy, while 5w30 synthetic oil does not do this.
• The running nature allows it to enter the oil pan quickly in comparison to the other one.
• 5w20 is a right choice for vehicle owners living in cold regions, while 5w30 is for those living in hot regions.
• 5w30 resists heats better due to thick viscosity in comparison to 5w20 which heats up very quickly.
• The protection of the engine with the best 5w30 oil is better than the other one.
• 5w30 can work very well with multiple types of vehicles. However, the 5w20 cannot do this.
• The 5w30 can deal with almost all types of temperatures, while 5w20 cannot act in the same way.

Can you use 5w30 instead of 5w20?

It depends on the engine of the vehicle that which of these two motor oils could be made use of. It is usually written on the user manual of vehicles, so the owner can make confirmation through that document. Keep in mind, you are putting the engine at risk that if you are using the wrong motor oil.

For instance, you add 5w30 instead of 5w20 oil in an engine. Even though you use the best 5w30 motor oil, it will still harm the engine because it requires 5w20. The engine components will face difficulty running, and that will ruin the overall performance.

Can I mix 5w30 with 5w20?

Overall, topping 5w30 over 5w20 does not make any difference in the engine performance as long as it allows it. If it is given in the manual that you can use either of them, then this mixing is possible or useful. However, if the engine is specifically made for 5w20 motor oil, and is mixing it with 5w30, the engine will respond badly and may face engine oil smells gas. So, make sure you do this only if your engine allows you to do it without causing any problem. Our expert suggestion is not to mix the engine oils.

Which oil you should use? 5w30 or 5w20?

When you are considering the purchase of motor oil, there are few factors that you should keep in your mind. Even though you have knowledge about 5w30 vs 5w20 and the engine oil differences you should know. But still, it is essential to consider few things.

So, we know that both types of oils give the vehicle engine an almost equal level of protection. However, there is a big difference in their consistency and viscosity. You need to do to decide the best oil for your vehicle engine to consider the weather. If you live in warm weather conditions, 5w30 oil would be the best choice. This is because it can work well in higher temperature conditions. Thus, it provides better protection in comparison to 5w20.

If you like in cold-weather regions, then 5w20 oil would do the best job for the protection of your motor engine oil. As this engine motor oil can heat up quickly, it is better not to use it in hot regions.

Moreover, if you are living in that part of the world where the temperature is not on any of the above two extremes, you can use either of the two motor oils.

Final Thoughts!

We are sure that now you understand 5w20 vs 5w30 - the engine oil differences you should know from the above discussion. As these two are purely synthetic oils, they have the equal ability to give protection to the vehicle engine. It does not matter which climate conditions are outside the vehicle; these oils will work their best.

However, if you still feel confused in choosing one of them, we recommend you go for 5w-30. This is mainly because this one has better shear strength and a very high film in comparison to the 5w-20. Moreover, it can work at its best potential no matter the type or model of the vehicle and the temperature.

We advise you not to fret too much about it because 5w30 vs 5w20 differences are that much significant. Thus, there should not be any problem in using either of them.