Can I use 5w30 instead of 0w20? (5w30 vs 0w20)

Among them, 5w30 and 0w20 are well-known multi-grade engine oil for their top-notch performance.

But, The 5w30 engine oil can easily be found in the local store and provides better performance in a few cases compared to 0w20.

For this, You’ll think can I use 5w30 instead of 0w20, or that’ll cause a problem in the engine.

So, In this dedicated article, We’ll try to explain whether you can use 5w30 in place of 0w30 in your vehicle engine and the key differences between them.

Can I use 5w30 instead of 0w20?

The ans is Yes, you can you 5w30 instead of 0w20. You won’t find any massive differences, but in extreme colder weather conditions, you will find a performance drop by using 5w30.

Also, It depends on the Variable Valve Timing (VVT). If your car engine has VVT, It’s recommended to don’t change the weight and stick with the manufacturers’ recommendation.

Generally, Most of the newer engine model comes with this feature which needs a thinner oil. Because VVT mechanism performs well at recommended weight means in thinner oil compare to a thicker oil.

So, If you’re the owner of a relatively new vehicle, you should use the 0w20 next time. For this, It’s recommended not to use 5w30 if you have a 2010 or newer model with less than 40,000 miles.

Note: As 0w20 is synthetic oil, try to use 5w30 synthetic engine oil to avoid any kind of issue.

What Happens If You Put 5w30 Instead of 0w20?

Nothing special will happen if you use 5w20 engine oil. Also, It completely depends on which car you’re using and where you’re located. Below are few things that will happen if you use 5w30 instead of 0w30.

Weather: Whether it’ll provide a better result or not depends on the ambient temperatures.  If you live in a hot climate area, having a 30 weight oil provides you a better result, but for the colder area, you’ll notice a slight performance drop using 5w30 at the place of 0w20.

Fuel Economy: As 0w20 has well-known for its outstanding fuel economy, You’ll notice a bit more fuel consumption for using 5w30. 

Warranty: First of all, check the owner’s manual, which has a chart that gives different viscosity options depending on the different climate temperatures. If your car manufactures don’t accept 5w30 engine oil, then you’ll lose the warranty for using it.

Can I Mix 5w30 With 0w20?

Yes, It’s OK to mix 5w30 with 0w20, but It’s better to use 5w30 synthetic oil rather than regular oil.

Because The 0w20 are either fully synthetic or part synthetic motor oil, it’ll affect your car warranty if you have.

What is the difference between 5w30 and 0w20 oil?

Viscosity and weather preference:

The viscosity of an engine oil refers to its resistance to flow. The first number before “W” (W = Winter) measures how smoothly the oil flow over the engine components in the engine starting point.

The smaller number means the oil is thinner than the higher number grade. That means 0w20 oil will flow more accessible and provide better performance than the 5w30 at colder temperatures.

The last digit indicates the oil’s viscosity at higher temperature means how well the oil flows at the standard engine operating temperatures. 

The higher-grade means the oil has high thickness and the higher grade is better. So, The 5w30 performs well in the hot temperature comparing to 0w20.

The viscosity of  5w30 is significantly wider than 0w20, which is 1.7 times higher. This indicates the feasibility of 5w20 in American and European climates.

You’ll get an overall better performance with 0w20 in the colder climates, where 5w30 more preferable for warmer weather conditions.

In addition, 5w30 motor oil is most popular due to its all-weather better performance. It works well in colder temperatures, and in higher temperatures, it shows its real strength.

Fuel Economic:

As 0w20 has less viscosity than 5w30, it provides a better efficiency around 10-12% higher than 5w30. It doesn’t impact fuel economy. Though 0w20 consumes low fuel, it is costlier than 5w30.

For this, Most European companies rarely suggest the 0w20 motor oils. Also, It’s easier to find 5w30 motor oil in a regular lubrication store than 0w20.

5w30 vs 0w20 Comparison Table:

Characteristics0w205w30
Oil TypeMulti-GradeMuti-Grade
viscosity8.8 mm2/s9.5 mm2/s
Viscosity Index173154
Maximum Operating Temperature (°C)+20+25
Minimum Operating Temperature (°C)-15-35
Pour point (°C)-48-44
Flash Point (°C)206185
Preferable climateMore preferable for colder weather.More preferable for warmer weather.
Friction
ThicknessThinnest Thin
PerformanceProvide outstanding engine protection by fighting with engine stress: deposits, wear and heat.Provide better protection against friction due to Thicker anti-wear film.
Suitable VehicleGasoline and Hybrid engine, Compact car or Sub compactSUVs, trucks, small vans and selected cars
Fuel Economy Top in the market but costlierExcellent

Final words

For getting an optimum driving experience changing the engine oil regularly are highly essential. To provide outstanding performance, most of the manufacturers comes with multi-grade engine oil.

0w20 and 5w30 are the most popular engine oil among them, which provide better performance. So, A user wants to change their engine oil from 0w20 to 5w30 for various reasons.

But, many users think that Whether it cause any problem or not. If you wanted to know about this, I hope the above guide might help you to find the answer and a brief comparison.

Similar Posts