Can I use 5W-30 instead of 20w40?

New engines have an ideal range of oil weights they operate under from cold to hot. Therefore the manual will specific an oil, say 5W-30, that is the perfect range the engine designers think the engine will operate best under. Putting 20W-50 in an engine designed for 5W-30 won’t kill it right off.

Can I switch from 20w50 to 5W-30?

You can switch to any oil anytime. If you use 5w30 without any history of oil consumption from 20w50 use, don’t be surprised if smoke suddenly appears and oil consumption accelerates. The best outcome is nothing occurs and switching to (recommended) 5w30 works well.

Is it OK to switch oil viscosity?

Keep in mind that a change in viscosity will have an impact on the lubricating film thickness. Changing to a higher viscosity or too thick of an oil can result in internal oil shearing, which is the process of oils pushing past each other causing increased heat and reduced operating efficiency.

Will 5W-30 hurt a 10w40 engine?

Your vehicle does not use 5W-30 oil. The recommended oil viscosity for your vehicle, according to Kia documentation, is 10W-40. If you drive the vehicle in exceptionally cold weather, well below 32 degrees, you can use 5W-30 oil but even 10W-40 is still perfectly OK to use if outdoor temperatures are below freezing.

What does 20W mean in engine oil?

The numbers 20W50 refer to the viscosity of the motor oil, set by the Society of American Engineers. This refers to its fluidity or thickness. The “20W” indicates how quickly the engine will start when cold or in cold weather. The “50” refers to the thickness of the oil when the motor has been running for a while.

What happens if you put 5w 20 instead of 5w 30?

Oil is rated to be used based on types of driving and temperatures driven in. If you check you’re owners manual, you will find that both 5w20 and 5w30 can be used in your vehicle. As there is really only a very slight difference in the two, you will be fine.

What can I use instead of 5w30?

10w30 is thicker than 5w30 because it has a higher viscosity in low temperatures. The engine oil will flow slower than 5w30 during the cold season. Thicker or higher viscosity metal oil has a better seal compared to low viscosity oil. Thicker oil offers better lubrication of motor and engine parts.