Posted: 25 Jul 2006, 22:39
OIL WEIGHT & VISCOSITY
Using the proper oil also means to follow the owner's manual recommendation for oil weight and viscosity.
Oil must provide protection over a wide range of temperatures from cold starts to long hauls. So the SAE has an oil-flow test that determines the rating at 0 degrees F (low) and 210 degrees F (high).
When an oil does well at both extremes it gets a “multi-grade"| rating that includes a number/letter followed by a dash and a number, such as 5W-30.
If you live in a hot climate or are driving through a region where a combination of high heat and high-altitude are going to be encountered, your owner's manual will probably give suggestions for a multi-grade or “all-season"| oil such as 15W-40.
Such oil has the cold flow characteristics of 15-weight at start-up, yet the coating and protecting property of a 40-weight oil at the high temperatures.
Using the proper oil also means to follow the owner's manual recommendation for oil weight and viscosity.
Oil must provide protection over a wide range of temperatures from cold starts to long hauls. So the SAE has an oil-flow test that determines the rating at 0 degrees F (low) and 210 degrees F (high).
When an oil does well at both extremes it gets a “multi-grade"| rating that includes a number/letter followed by a dash and a number, such as 5W-30.
If you live in a hot climate or are driving through a region where a combination of high heat and high-altitude are going to be encountered, your owner's manual will probably give suggestions for a multi-grade or “all-season"| oil such as 15W-40.
Such oil has the cold flow characteristics of 15-weight at start-up, yet the coating and protecting property of a 40-weight oil at the high temperatures.