Engine oil or engine lubricant is one of the important components of a vehicle that consists of the engine (The heart of the vehicle). Engine oil is of various types that help the engine to reduce friction in moving parts, help to avoid unwanted internal combustion, and keep the engine clean from sludge. 5w30 and 5w40 are two different types of engine oil. Engine oil has the first single-graded and second multi-graded.
5w30 vs 5w40
The main difference between 5w30 and 5w40 is that 5w30 engine oil has a high rate of viscosity. On the other hand, 5w40 engine oil has a lesser rate of viscosity. These codes indicated the viscosity level of certain engine oil, and ‘W’ in 5w30 or 5w40 means ‘WINTER.’
5w30 is engine oil that is made for places that have low temperatures. In 5w30, ‘5’ stands for the viscosity of that engine oil and its performance when the temperature is low. ‘W’ means winter, and ‘30’ stands for the viscosity of the engine oil and how well it performs when the temperature is high.
5w40 is engine oil made for places with normally low temperatures. In 5w40, ‘5’ stands for the viscosity of that engine oil and how well it performs when the temperature is below. ‘W’ means winter, and ‘40’ stands for the viscosity of the engine oil and how well it performs when the temperature is high or nearly 100 degrees Celcius.
Comparison Table Between 5w30 and 5w40
| Parameter of Comparison | 5w30 | 5w40 |
| Viscosity level | High viscosity | Comparatively less viscous |
| Range | Viscosity from 5 for the lower temperature to the viscosity of 40 for the higher temperature | Viscosity from 5 for the lower temperature to the viscosity of 40 for higher temperature |
| Availability | Less available | Highly available |
| Thickness | Slightly thinner | Thicker as compared to 5w30 |
| Price | Expensive | Cheaper |
What is 5w30?
According to ‘SAE’, engine oil 5w30 is a lower-viscosity oil mainly used in low-temperature areas. Places like mountain regions or places have frequent snowfall. 5w30 engine oil is a thinner oil that provides smooth engine functioning in low temperatures. Also, 5w30 engine oil flows fast, which helps the engine avoid combustion and reduce friction in internal moving parts.
5w30 is a type of oil that comes under the category of multi-graded oil. It is an oil that works efficiently under any condition, working properly in summer and winter. Also, in winter, its viscosity level of 5 makes the oil flow easily, and it does not become thinner.
Moreover, in summer, its viscosity level of 30 helps the engine work smoothly without internal combustion and friction. 5w30 engine oil is used in diesel and light-duty petrol vehicles. Its viscosity from 5 to 30 helps vehicles to travel in colder places, without engine failure and makes traveling easy.
What is 5w40?
5w40 is engine oil that reduces the heating produced in the engine. 5w40 protects the engine from oxidation and helps the engine to work smoothly. It is also a crude oil used in vehicles with leaded gasoline. In 5w40, the lower viscosity is 5 and ranges to 40, which helps the engine free from sludge during summer or in high-temperature areas.
5w40 engine oil is widely used in vehicles such as transport or personal vehicles. People or traders who move quite face different weather in different places. 5w40 engine oil, which has a good viscous range, provides easy travelling.
Moreover, this oil has more life and does not need to change immediately after 4-5 months. So to avoid this situation, it is better to change to 5w40 oil for higher engine protection as it creates a reliable and sufficiently thick protective film, which certifies low friction and extends the engine’s life, reducing the probability of a sudden engine failure.
Main Differences Between 5w30 and 5w40
- 5w30 and 5w40 are both multi-grade oils of different viscosity.
- 5w30 engine oil is not used so much as 5w40 as it is easily available in the market as compared to 5w30
- 5w30 engine oil ranges from five to thirty viscosity levels, whereas 5w40 engine oil ranges from five to forty.
- 5w30 is comparatively more expensive than 5w40 because 5w30 has a higher pumping power through the oiling system. It has more efficiency in wiping off the engine parts, helps their cooling, and saves fuel.
- Overall, 5w40 has a higher viscosity than 5w30. In hot places or places with high temperature, the 5w40 engine oil does not become thicker and hence avoid engine failure due to engine oiling.
Conclusion
Both 5w30 and 5w40 are multi-graded engine oil. Multi-graded oil, also known as ‘Season oil,’ is very versatile and can be used in winter, summer, or any season. Its viscosity and range remain neutral throughout any temperature.
In earlier times, single-grade oil was very useful, but nowadays, multi-graded oil has taken its W80 and W100 as examples of single-graded engine oil. Multigrade engine oil codes are like 5w30, 5w40, 2w50, etc. These codes are indicated on the pack of every engine oil.
Picking up the right engine oil depends on the desired protection of the engine against the wearing and thermal impact. The low thermal characteristics of these oils are the same. Both oils maintain optimal viscosity for cold engine start as well as good viscosity.
One unfavorable condition IN 5w30 engine oil applies to using this oil is that if the number of gaps in the fiction couple increases, leakage may occur.
One must make sure that the front one digit should be as much as possible (For example, in 5w30, the ‘5’ is a less value). According to surveys, many bike and car owners opt for 5w40 engine oil. Hence, 5w30 engine oil is expensive, and 5w40 is comparatively cheaper.
References
- https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/2002-01-3530/
- https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ILT-03-2020-0088/full/html
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