Can I Use 5W30 Instead of 5W20? (Helpful Tips and Explanation)
One of the most common collations we get to see is between 5w20 and 5w30. However, people also ask, “Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20?”
Now, it’s time to break the suspension for all of you. The main difference between 5w20 and 5w30 is viscosity. If 5w20 lubricates faster in high temperatures, 5w30 lubricates a bit slower at that time. Overall, 5w30 oil is slightly thicker than 5w20 in times of operating temperatures.
Have you ever thought, what the differences carry out? What are the functions of each Oil? What will happen if you switch your oil type? To find all your answers, go through the article below.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20-Answerd
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my ford?
Ford requires a synthetic oil like 5w20. But, we think you should stick to a 5w20 oil for your ford if you don’t want to risk the durability of your engine.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my ford f150?
Yes, you can use a 5w30 engine oil in your ford f150. Just make sure the Oil is from a Motorcraft brand.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my Hyundai?
Hyundai is specifically designed for a 5w20 oil. So, if you use 5w30 oil instead of 5w20 Oil, it may cause damage to your engine.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my jeep?
5w30 and 5w20 operate the same in lower temperatures. But the main difference is at higher temperatures. Nevertheless, 5w30 will not work as 5w20 in hot conditions.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my honda civic?
Other than high temperatures, 5w30 and 5w20 are similar in features. Anyways, your honda civic won’t lack behind in performance if you use 5w30 instead of 5w20.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my honda?
Internal engine components are delicate objects. If your engine is designed for a 5w30 oil and uses a 5w20 oil, that won’t be relevant.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my ford escape?
Ford escapes going well with 5w20 oils. However, it would help if you considered more what the manufacturer recommends. If he says to use 5w20, stick by that.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my Kia?
Kia recommends a 5w50 oil mainly. But if you are using a 5w20 oil instead and not facing any problem, then 5w30 Oil won’t be bad as well.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my honda accord?
A Honda accord is compatible with a 5w30 oil. And, we know changing oil types is not a good decision for our engine. So, you better use a 5w30 in your honda accord.
Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my Toyota?
Toyota prefers a 5w20 oil. The Toyota brand has also said that if you can’t find a 5w20, 5w30 is applicable.
5w20 vs 5w30: Difference
5w20 Oil is nowhere less than 5w30 Oil. Still, they do carry some differences and play a great role with their features. Before that, we have to know about both oils specifically. So, let’s continue.
What is 5w20 Oil?
In a 5w20 oil, 20 indicates the viscosity. It means the Oil has low viscosity and is thin in high temperatures. As a result, lubrication is easy and quick here.
What is 5w20 oil used for?
5w20 is a great oil to reduce friction in engines. The main reason why this Oil is suitable is thinner viscosity. Moreover, a 5w20 oil drags less in engine parts. Especially, pistons, valvetrains, and craft banks will remain safe in your vehicle.
What does 5w20 motor oil mean?
5w20 is an SAE class of motor oil. This type of Oil is multi-graded within a good flow of properties in cool temperatures. If the Oil is 5W, it would be suitable for low temperatures down up to -35°.
Is 5w20 high mileage oil?
Yes, 5w20 is a high mileage oil mainly used for enhanced performance of engines. Furthermore, it helps in reducing smoke and oil consumption from gears and smoothens the whole function.
Best 5w20 Oil
Here are some 5w20 oils with the best features-
- Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-20 Oil
- Motorcraft Motor 5W20
- Royal Purple 5W-20 Oil
- Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-20 Oil
- Castrol EDGE 5W-20 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
- Mobil 1 44975 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil
Castrol 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil
Castrol Edge 5w20 is an advanced full synthetic motor oil having all features for ultimate performance. And the extended drains it can enable are 20,000 miles. Hence, you can easily run this Oil throughout the year.
What’s best about Castrol Edge 5w20 is the film strength. Other than that, this Oil is three times stronger than any other motor oil in terms of fighting against viscosity breakdown.
Well, if you judge Castrol Edge for its power, you won’t find a single flaw. Also, there is a proprietary titanium additive in this Oil that provides unsurpassed wear protection every time.
Pros
- Fights against viscosity breakdown
- Provides unsurpassed wear protection
- Great in film strength
Valvoline Full Synthetic 5W-20 Motor Oil
Valvoline™ Advanced Full Synthetic motor oil is a great product having special formulations. In particular, Valvoline’s Oil works great in engine performance and protection. Here, what will attract you the most is quality.
In respect of varnish protection, Valvoline 5w20 offers excellent engine cleanliness keeping all sludges out. Even under severe driving conditions, Valvoline Edge Oil doesn’t let its high-temperature protection go bland.
Pros
- Great for quality and performance
- Keeps all sludge out of the engine
- Ensures high-temperature protection
What is 5w30 Oil?
When we think of multi-grade Oil, the first recommendation we get is 5w30. Being a fine motor oil, it owns an SAE specification of 5w30. In the same way, its viscosity ranges from a lower grade of 5 to a higher grade of 30.
What does the ‘W’ stand for in 5w30 Oil?
Usually, we see a ‘w” in all synthetic oils, like 5w30. Here, “w” means winter referring to the flowing capacity in lower temperatures. 5w motor oils flow better than 15w motor oils in low temperatures. That’s because of having a decreased number which assures fine lubrication.
What is 5w30 Synthetic Oil?
5w30 is a motor oil that has less viscosity or thickness. Most importantly, it possesses a winter viscosity of a grade five. Compared to other oils like 10w30 and 15w30, 5w30 is less dense in low temperatures. On the other hand, “30” in 5w30 indicates high-temperature viscosity. If you collate it with a 5w20 oil, the viscosity in hot temperatures is high.
What is 5w30 full synthetic Oil?
For the past four decades, automakers have been recommending 5w30 as a lead viscosity oil. Its main reason is 5w30 conforms to being a full synthetic oil. In effect, all types of vehicles.
Best 5w30 Full Synthetic Oil
Some of the best 5w30 full synthetic oils are-
- Valvoline SynPower 5w30 Motor Oil
- Liqui Moly Longtime High Tech 5w30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil
- Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30 Oil
- Castrol EDGE Extended Performance 5w30 Motor Oil
- Royal Purple High-Performance 5w30 Gear Oil
Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil
We all generally face certain damaging factors in our engines. And to cover up those hurdles, Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil comes up with enhanced quality. Also, the Oil will be protecting your engine parts up to 10,000 miles in the middle of oil changes.
Besides, Mobil 1 5w30 meets the standard of ILSAC GF-6. Hence, getting time chain wear protection and low-speed pre-ignition will be a cakewalk for you. Moreover, you will get low-temperature protection and high-temperature protection at your internal heat engine.
Pros
- Keeps engine parts safe every time
- Removes all-time chain wears
- Ensures a low-speed pre-ignition
Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5W-30 Motor Oil
Valvoline Advanced Full Synthetic 5w30 Motor Oil is worth the first choice for any vehicle owner. This Oil provides superb performance indulging protection against wear, deposits, and heat. In addition, you won’t find any sludge in your engine.
Now, the question is, how Valvoline serves so great? There are some antioxidant properties in Valvoline’s Oil that help with resisting breakdowns. Even if the temperature is too high, the Oil will keep protecting your vehicle.
Pros
- Ensures superb performance of engines
- Protects against wear, deposits, and heat
- Resists breakdown
About 5w20 Synthetic Oil
5w20 Synthetic Oil’s formula is made to provide exceptional performance and lubrication in engines. This 5w20 synthetic Oil is also available in grades 5w30 and 0w20 consuming the same formula.
Which Oil is thicker, 5w20 or 5w30?
When contrasting between 5w20 and 5w30, 5w20 is thinner in higher temperatures than 5w30. 20 in 5w20 indicates the viscosity in operating temperatures which is less than 5w30.
Similarly, 30 in 5w30 indicates the viscosity in higher temperatures which is more than 5w20. So yeah, 5w30 oil is thicker than 5w20 Oil.
Weather condition: which one performs best in summer and winter
5w20 is a low-temperature grade oil recommended for winter use. Although 5w30 wouldn’t be bad for cold weather, 5w20 is still better than that.
Coming to 5w30 Oil, this is also great for the winter season. But if you compare 5w30 with 5w20, 5w30 lubricates better than 5w20 in summer.
In 5w30, 30 represents the viscosity in high temperatures. So, it is obvious that 5w30 will perform better than 5w20 in summer, though it’s not best for summer.
What Motor Oils Do and Don’t Do
Look below to know what motor oils do-
- Removes corrosions and rusts from engines
- Removes debris from engine parts
- Carries heat away from engine parts and make them cool
- Makes a seal between cylinder liners and pistons
- Lubricates engine parts and make them able to move swiftly
What engine oils don’t do are-
- Creating wears and deposits in the engine
- Failing engine systems
- Grinding and seizing up of engines
What does oil weight mean- oil weights explained
The viscosity of an oil refers to the weight of Oil. As a result, you can know how well the Oil flows in particular temperatures. If you see, a 5w20 oil flows faster than a 5w30 oil because 20 and 30 in the above indicate the weight of Oil.
15w40 vs 10w30-What happens if I use 15W40 instead of 5w30?
Difference between 0W-40 and 5W-40
Will Synthetic Oil Quite Noisy Lifters
Check Difference Between 5w30 and 5w40. And
Check Answer: can I use 5w40 instead of 15w40?
And Can I use 75W140 instead of 75W90?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are 5w20 and 5w30 interchangeable?
5w20 and 5w30 exhibit the same viscosity in cold conditions. The reason is, both these oils hold the same winter ratings. In all situations, you can’t rely on 5w30 Oil. Because if an internal engine is designed for 5w20 Oil, it won’t be better to use a 5w30 oil instead.
2. Can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20 in my Honda?
As mentioned before, 5w20 and 5w30 are the same in winter ratings. And of course, both of them exhibit similar viscosity in cold conditions. If you use a 5w30 oil in an engine designed for a 5w20 oil, you will be risking the damage of that engine. So, it will be better to use 5w20 Oil in your Honda.
Conclusion
Summing up, we conclude that using 5w30 Oil instead of 5w20 Oil won’t be a major issue. Many mechanics use 5w30 oils when they don’t have 5w20 oils. For instance, you can apply the same trick but make sure your manufacturer recommends so.
Finally, don’t leave any stone unturned to find your best Oil and have a nice experience.
