GEAR OIL WEIGHT CHART DRIVERS

In variable climate zones, drivers who use single viscosity oils generally change to a higher numbered grade for summer driving and a lower numbered grade for winter. Multi-Viscosity OilĪlthough the viscosity of a single grade oil is every so often sufficient to meet engine requirements for a particular climate or season, it may be insufficient in a different environment, hence the need for a grade better suited to the new conditions. Depending on the viscosity range at the specified temperature, the oils are branded as SAE viscosity 60, 50, 40, 30, or 20. On the other hand, the kinetic viscosity of non-winter grade oils is measured at 212 degrees Fahrenheit in millimeter squared per second. If a specific engine oil passes at the SAE specifications for 5W and 10W and fails to pass for 0W, the oil is then branded as SAE 5W. Depending on the coldest temperature the oils are exposed to they are given the following SAE viscosity grades: 25W, 20W, 15W, 10W, 5W, or 0W.īased on the winter grades, the lower the number, and the lower is the temperature a given oil can pass. The dynamic viscosity of single viscosity winter oils is determined at a various cold temperature as established by SAE J300. Single viscosity oils are normally referred to straight weight oils. These numbers are usually defined as oil weights. Six of them are recognized as winter grades with a “W” designation. The SAE classification (SAE J300) has proven 11 viscosity grades. Single Grade or Straight Weight OilĪ single grade oil does not contain viscosity modifier or polymeric viscosity index improver. With that said, there are two viscosity types: one for cold temperature performance and the other one for high-temperature performance. Later on, oil additive technology was introduced by the manufacturers that allow engine oil viscosity to thin at a slower rate. The initial viscosities were all single, such as SAE 30. Although gear oils and engine oils use different SAE numbering systems, the viscosities that the two systems specify overlap. However, this is not the same as the similar SAE system for engine oil viscosity, SAE J300. For many years now the viscosity of lubricating oils for motor vehicles has been specified almost universally by the SAE system.įor automotive gear oils, the specification is referred to as SAE J306.

GEAR OIL WEIGHT CHART CODE

SAE established the grading system, which includes a numerical code system.

As earlier mentioned, SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers. The higher the number, the thicker is the oil. Numbers you find on different oil cans, such as SAE 30 or SAE 10W-30, are viscosity or weight numbers that indicate the thickness of the oil.

You can easily predict the behavior as well as the design of a mechanical system if you have detailed knowledge of oil viscosity. One of the factors that affect viscosity is the operating surface. Oil viscosity differs from one lubricant to another with respect to temperature. Thicker oils have more resistance to shearing and losing film strength at higher temperatures. The higher the number, the thicker the oil and vice versa.

The numbers are commonly assigned in ranges of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. The ability to flow is most often selected by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) numbers. Motor oil viscosity is a common term we need to understand completely, and it refers to the ability of an oil to flow. Oil viscosity is graded by measuring the time it takes for a standard amount of oil to flow. It changes with temperature, shear rate, pressure, and thickness. Oil viscosity is the parameter that plays an important role in lubrication.

Gear oil weight chart