Difference between revisions of "What Motor Oil Should You Use?"

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===SAE Weight===
===SAE Weight===
The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil.  The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its viscosity, or how "thick" it is.  30-weight oil is less viscous than 40-weight oil.
The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil.  The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its [[viscosity]], or how "thick" it is.  30-weight oil is less viscous than 40-weight oil.


In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures.  Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures.
In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures.  Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures.
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