![]() 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. 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. As a result, it's important to not only select the right type of oil for each application, but also to conduct regular oil changes in your preventive maintenance program.Oil viscosity is the parameter that plays an important role in lubrication. When this goes unchecked, you’ll start experiencing damage and problems with equipment. Inappropriate oil viscosity can result in occasional contact between machine components. However, a thinner viscosity oil can help improve the start-up of a piece of equipment as well as reduce fuel usage. When the oil has a higher viscosity, or is thicker at warm temperatures, you will use less oil and experience less wear and tear on your vehicles or equipment. Viscosity can also affect how quickly oil is consumed and how easily equipment can be started and operated in extreme temperatures. For example, viscosity can increase or decrease the heat created by bearings and cylinders. How 10w30 Oil Affects EquipmentĪlthough understanding oil viscosity is important in solid fleet maintenance, oil viscosity also affects the performance of a wide range of industrial equipment. Thus, the higher viscosity, or thicker oil, keeps all the engine parts well lubricated and separated. On the other hand, when the engine is hot, you don't want your motor oil to be too thin. A low viscosity motor oil allows it to do that. This is important because when you start a cold engine, the oil needs to lubricate the equipment quickly. Motor oil that is thinner can flow more easily and faster. The “W” that you see on oil labels stands for the word "Winter" because this portion of the label shows the viscosity level of oil when an engine is cold. The scale ranges from 0W, which is the thinnest type of oil, to a rating of 60, which is the thickest oil. In order to have a standard way to measure the viscosity of engine oil, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) developed a viscosity scale.
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