thick / thin oil:which number is which
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,092
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From: LIC NY USA
thick / thin oil:which number is which
that discussion about oil got me thinking.i always thought low numbers means thicker oil.apparently a 20w50 is a thick oil.does the 1st number indicate the thickness?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Re: thick / thin oil:which number is which (java0881)
I thought the different numbers where how it changes with temperature. I remember gear oil or something like that having large numbers, so I believe larger is thicker.
-Chris
-Chris
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: thick / thin oil:which number is which (java0881)
Think of it how the oil ACTS. Take 10W-30. In a cold engine it acts like a straight 10 oil (lower number is thinner). In a hot engine it acts like a regular 30 weight.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 89
From: arvada co
Re: thick / thin oil:which number is which (java0881)
If I remember my high school auto mechanics class correctly….
The W is for ‘winterised’, not weight. Multi vis oils are for easier starting in cold weather. You can go out and buy straight 30 motor oil. How they pull off getting oil to be thin when cold & thick when hot is beyond me.
:confused:
The W is for ‘winterised’, not weight. Multi vis oils are for easier starting in cold weather. You can go out and buy straight 30 motor oil. How they pull off getting oil to be thin when cold & thick when hot is beyond me.
:confused:
