5W40 or 5W50?

gemithomas · 22nd January 2008, 21:35

Sorry. I know this has been asked a hundred times but when i searched i could not find a correct answer as to what are the advantages / disadvantages that i could encounter if i switch my engine oil to Mobil1 5W40 or 5W50. I found that most reommended the 5W50 for the FIAT 1.6 engine but i am confused if it is ok to shift both the values (prior and after the 'W'). Why do most recommend 5W50 over 5W40 or Even 0W40 while moving to synthetic oil. That too when the FIAT recommemded grade is 15W40??

Hoping to get some good insights. ASAP since i am planning to change my oil by this weekend.

THanks in advance.

kpzen · 22nd January 2008, 22:01

At low temperature 5W 50 and 5W 40 will show similar properties.

At high temperatures 5W 50 will be more viscous than 5W 40.

jkdas · 22nd January 2008, 23:04

5W50 for longer drives and 5W40 for short bursts ( read, inside city rides)

gemithomas · 23rd January 2008, 08:47

From what i understand those numbers stand for the viscosity of the oil when cold (value before the 'W') and hot (Value after 'W'). THis also means that higher the viscosity more time the oil takes to move through. In such case is it really advisable to move to a '50' rating oil when the company recommended one is only '40' (15W40).

Moving down from '15' to '5' logically does not cause any problems since it means that the oil would move around faster during cold starts. But my "laymans intellegence" tells me that the engine functions at very high temperatures and thus most of the time (except for initial few minutes) the engine is hot enough for the oil to be working at the higher viscosity rating. In that case i cannot understand why we would choose something that is more viscous than what is recommended thereby letting the oil take more time to move around??

I still dont get the reason why most recommend 5W50?

4x4addict · 23rd January 2008, 12:14

In most parts in India the higher the right side number the better as it helps better against the heat so in extremely hot conditions 5-50 is better than 5-40 etc. The left side number is to protect against extreme cold. So IMHO unless the manufacture recommends it it doesn't really help going too low if it costs more. i.e is 10-40 is cheaper than 5-40 then may as well go with 10-40 if the manufacturer recommends 10 as the lower number.

Agree with gemithomas that moving to a lower left side number will allow btter flow of oil with lower viscosity, but I am not sure if there is any compromise in the oil formulation to allow a 0-50 range. I would prefer to go with 10-50 or even 15-50 in extremely hot areas.

GTO · 23rd January 2008, 16:11

@ Gemi : Have a look at our Synthetic Oil Advice thread where there are some interesting posts on viscosity.

gemithomas · 23rd January 2008, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

@ Gemi : Have a look at our Synthetic Oil Advice thread where there are some interesting posts on viscosity.

thats basically where got this 5W50 grade

gemithomas · 28th January 2008, 15:15

what happened. Have you all ditched my question?

theMAG · 28th January 2008, 15:22

If getting 5W50 is not a constraint, go for it.

tsk1979 · 28th January 2008, 15:25

In hot conditions like our summers the 5W50 will be better than 5W50.
However in hot summer 20W50 and 5W50 will perform similar.
If you are in sub zero, then 5W50 or 5W40 or 0W30 makes more sense than a 10W40 20W50 etc.,
You are in bangalore, and considering the ambient temperature 5W40 and 5W50 will give you similar results, rest everything being same.

gemithomas · 28th January 2008, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

In hot conditions like our summers the 5W50 will be better than 5W50.
However in hot summer 20W50 and 5W50 will perform similar.
If you are in sub zero, then 5W50 or 5W40 or 0W30 makes more sense than a 10W40 20W50 etc.,
You are in bangalore, and considering the ambient temperature 5W40 and 5W50 will give you similar results, rest everything being same.

thanks a lot. But waht bothers me is that the company recommends 15W40. I cant get 15W40 in synthetics.

I find most suggestions for the 5W50 synthetic.

My doubt is why is 5W50 recommended by most and not 5W40 (looking at company recommended values)

Sorry. I'm just confused and frustrated that i cant get a correct answere even after a lot of searching around.

nitrous · 28th January 2008, 15:42

I can see that U dont understand oil grades,gemi.
A 15W40 oil will work efficiently between 15 and 40(temperature unit,but neither centigrade or farenheit). A 5W50 will work efficiently between 5 and 50.
So, Now do u understand that the 5W50 will work like a 15W40 between 15 & 40?
Bottomline: The two numbers are basically a range.

tsk1979 · 28th January 2008, 15:48

nitrous has explained it.
So get an engine oil which has the rage equal to or higher than what company recommends.
But thats just the starting.
There is API rating also.
If your car says API-SL, make sure you get API-SL or higher(API-SM)

Jaggu · 28th January 2008, 15:53

If you can get Mobil 1 5w50 take it, second option 5w40.

My recommendation based on HOT climate down south and not so prominent winter to shout out. Yes the 5 part will give some additional protection during start up.

Dont bother about company recommendation of 15w40, since both 5w40 and 5w50 are better oils. Hope this helps.

Sankar · 28th January 2008, 17:59

5W50 is more expensive by a couple of hundreds per liter than 5W40 in the case of Mobil Synthetic.

22nd January 2008, 21:35	#1
gemithomas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,366 Thanked: 143 Times View My Garage	5W40 or 5W50? Sorry. I know this has been asked a hundred times but when i searched i could not find a correct answer as to what are the advantages / disadvantages that i could encounter if i switch my engine oil to Mobil1 5W40 or 5W50. I found that most reommended the 5W50 for the FIAT 1.6 engine but i am confused if it is ok to shift both the values (prior and after the 'W'). Why do most recommend 5W50 over 5W40 or Even 0W40 while moving to synthetic oil. That too when the FIAT recommemded grade is 15W40?? Hoping to get some good insights. ASAP since i am planning to change my oil by this weekend. THanks in advance.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2008, 22:01	#2
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,610 Thanked: 1,876 Times View My Garage	At low temperature 5W 50 and 5W 40 will show similar properties. At high temperatures 5W 50 will be more viscous than 5W 40.
	() Thanks

22nd January 2008, 23:04	#3
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	5W50 for longer drives and 5W40 for short bursts ( read, inside city rides)
	() Thanks

23rd January 2008, 08:47	#4
gemithomas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,366 Thanked: 143 Times View My Garage	From what i understand those numbers stand for the viscosity of the oil when cold (value before the 'W') and hot (Value after 'W'). THis also means that higher the viscosity more time the oil takes to move through. In such case is it really advisable to move to a '50' rating oil when the company recommended one is only '40' (15W40). Moving down from '15' to '5' logically does not cause any problems since it means that the oil would move around faster during cold starts. But my "laymans intellegence" tells me that the engine functions at very high temperatures and thus most of the time (except for initial few minutes) the engine is hot enough for the oil to be working at the higher viscosity rating. In that case i cannot understand why we would choose something that is more viscous than what is recommended thereby letting the oil take more time to move around?? I still dont get the reason why most recommend 5W50?
	() Thanks

23rd January 2008, 12:14	#5
4x4addict Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,483 Thanked: 4,532 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (5)	In most parts in India the higher the right side number the better as it helps better against the heat so in extremely hot conditions 5-50 is better than 5-40 etc. The left side number is to protect against extreme cold. So IMHO unless the manufacture recommends it it doesn't really help going too low if it costs more. i.e is 10-40 is cheaper than 5-40 then may as well go with 10-40 if the manufacturer recommends 10 as the lower number. Agree with gemithomas that moving to a lower left side number will allow btter flow of oil with lower viscosity, but I am not sure if there is any compromise in the oil formulation to allow a 0-50 range. I would prefer to go with 10-50 or even 15-50 in extremely hot areas.
	() Thanks

23rd January 2008, 16:11	#6
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	@ Gemi : Have a look at our Synthetic Oil Advice thread where there are some interesting posts on viscosity.
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:15	#8
gemithomas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Trivandrum Posts: 2,366 Thanked: 143 Times View My Garage	what happened. Have you all ditched my question?
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:22	#9
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	If getting 5W50 is not a constraint, go for it.
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:25	#10
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	In hot conditions like our summers the 5W50 will be better than 5W50. However in hot summer 20W50 and 5W50 will perform similar. If you are in sub zero, then 5W50 or 5W40 or 0W30 makes more sense than a 10W40 20W50 etc., You are in bangalore, and considering the ambient temperature 5W40 and 5W50 will give you similar results, rest everything being same.
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:42	#12
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	I can see that U dont understand oil grades,gemi. A 15W40 oil will work efficiently between 15 and 40(temperature unit,but neither centigrade or farenheit). A 5W50 will work efficiently between 5 and 50. So, Now do u understand that the 5W50 will work like a 15W40 between 15 & 40? Bottomline: The two numbers are basically a range.
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:48	#13
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	nitrous has explained it. So get an engine oil which has the rage equal to or higher than what company recommends. But thats just the starting. There is API rating also. If your car says API-SL, make sure you get API-SL or higher(API-SM)
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 15:53	#14
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	If you can get Mobil 1 5w50 take it, second option 5w40. My recommendation based on HOT climate down south and not so prominent winter to shout out. Yes the 5 part will give some additional protection during start up. Dont bother about company recommendation of 15w40, since both 5w40 and 5w50 are better oils. Hope this helps.
	() Thanks

28th January 2008, 17:59	#15
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,766 Thanked: 9,054 Times	5W50 is more expensive by a couple of hundreds per liter than 5W40 in the case of Mobil Synthetic.
	() Thanks