Recently, I read a post that alleged that at any temperature above -10*, there was no appreciable difference between a 0W oil and a 10W oil. Of course, there are no readily available data for viscosity between 40*C (104*F) and -25*C to -35*C, so validating that representation would require some actual measurements.
First, I designed a high-tech, ultra-sophisticated viscosity measuring device pictured here
:
This consists of a small dishwashing detergent bottle with the bottom cut out. I marked two lines on it; the top one to start the stopwatch and the bottom to stop the stopwatch. It is inserted into the neck of a washed Wish Bone Italian Dressing bottle.
For each oil, I took three time measurements at 75*F, 37*F and 0*F respectively. Then I averaged the times and compared them to the times for water at 75*F. Here is the data:
Code:
Relative
Temp 1st 2nd 3rd Avg Viscosity
75*F
Water 28.78 28.73 29.68 29.06 1.00
10W40 59.64 59.24 60.42 59.77 2.06
0W40 50.49 54.05 51.49 52.01 1.79
5W20 40.00 40.60 39.23 39.94 1.37
37*F
10W40 170.37 166.16 168.79 168.44 5.80
0W40 121.74 119.16 120.68 120.53 4.15
5W20 82.07 80.63 81.72 81.47 2.80
0*F
10W40 581.66 591.75 587.23 586.88 20.20
0W40 395.21 402.36 407.41 401.66 13.82
5W20 281.33 278.16 285.39 281.63 9.69
It's pretty obvious that at 75*F, there is not a huge difference between a 10W40 and a 0W40 oil. Of course, the 5W20 is less viscous than either of the 40 weight oils.
At 37*F, the 10W40 is 28% more viscous than the 0W40 oil. The 10W40 oil is 52% more viscous than the 5W20 oil and the 0W40 oil is 33% more viscous than the 5W20 oil.
At 0*F, the 10W40 is 32% more viscous than the 0W40 oil. The 10W40 oil is 52% more viscous than the 5W20 oil and the 0W40 oil is 30% more viscous than the 5W20 oil.
While I agree that at 75*F there is no appreciable difference between 10W and 0W oil, it is clear that once the temp drops to 40*F there starts to be an increasing viscosity difference between 10W and 0W oil.
First, I designed a high-tech, ultra-sophisticated viscosity measuring device pictured here
This consists of a small dishwashing detergent bottle with the bottom cut out. I marked two lines on it; the top one to start the stopwatch and the bottom to stop the stopwatch. It is inserted into the neck of a washed Wish Bone Italian Dressing bottle.
For each oil, I took three time measurements at 75*F, 37*F and 0*F respectively. Then I averaged the times and compared them to the times for water at 75*F. Here is the data:
Code:
Relative
Temp 1st 2nd 3rd Avg Viscosity
75*F
Water 28.78 28.73 29.68 29.06 1.00
10W40 59.64 59.24 60.42 59.77 2.06
0W40 50.49 54.05 51.49 52.01 1.79
5W20 40.00 40.60 39.23 39.94 1.37
37*F
10W40 170.37 166.16 168.79 168.44 5.80
0W40 121.74 119.16 120.68 120.53 4.15
5W20 82.07 80.63 81.72 81.47 2.80
0*F
10W40 581.66 591.75 587.23 586.88 20.20
0W40 395.21 402.36 407.41 401.66 13.82
5W20 281.33 278.16 285.39 281.63 9.69
It's pretty obvious that at 75*F, there is not a huge difference between a 10W40 and a 0W40 oil. Of course, the 5W20 is less viscous than either of the 40 weight oils.
At 37*F, the 10W40 is 28% more viscous than the 0W40 oil. The 10W40 oil is 52% more viscous than the 5W20 oil and the 0W40 oil is 33% more viscous than the 5W20 oil.
At 0*F, the 10W40 is 32% more viscous than the 0W40 oil. The 10W40 oil is 52% more viscous than the 5W20 oil and the 0W40 oil is 30% more viscous than the 5W20 oil.
While I agree that at 75*F there is no appreciable difference between 10W and 0W oil, it is clear that once the temp drops to 40*F there starts to be an increasing viscosity difference between 10W and 0W oil.