![]() ![]() Oil viscosity is influenced by temperature, water, contaminants, pressure and shearing. Please note that vehicle requirements may vary so consult your car’s handbook for the correct viscosity grade. An oil’s viscosity is often measured based on its absolute viscosity or kinematic viscosity. In other words, the choice of viscosity would be different depending on whether you are living in Finland (0W/ 5W-30) or Nigeria (5W/10W/15W40 or even 20W50). Multigrade oils such as SAE 5W-30 and 10W-40 are widely used because, under all but extremely hot or cold conditions, they are thin enough to flow at low temperatures and thick enough to perform satisfactorily at high temperatures. The number after the W describes how thick the oil is at the engine’s normal operating temperature. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better the oil’s cold temperature/ cold start performance. However, In order to lubricate an engine properly the oil must be able to flow at a consistent rate through a broad range of temperatures. In a 5W-30 for example, the number before the W describes the viscosity of the oil at low temperatures. This is why you would see something like this on the label: SAE 5W-30. The second number is defined by how an oil flows when at higher. This measurement is related to how an oil flows when it is cold, such as at engine start-up. The first number ends with the letter 'W', which stands for Winter. There are two numbers that define the viscosity of an oil. There are two numbers that define the viscosity of an oil. The viscosity of an oil is measured by its resistance to flow. ![]() Because the viscosity of oil changes with temperature, multigrade oils were developed to provide protection across a range of temperatures. The viscosity of an oil is measured by its resistance to flow. The long answer:The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. The short answer:The numbers represent the viscosity of the oil and the W stands for WINTER. That’s what car service centres and mechanics are there for right?īut what if you find yourself in a position where you need to buy and put in the oil yourself? How do you know which oil to use and how do you read the label? What does SAE 5W-30 mean? In fact, most of us don’t even know what is under the hood of our car, let alone the type of oil that is in our engine. They had only one viscosity rating that was based on their kinematic viscosity at 100° C (212° F). Not all of us get to service our own cars. Once upon a time, all motor oils were single-viscosity or 'straight weight' oils. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |