Can You Mix 5w20 and 5w30 Oil?
Is it possible to mix 5w30 and 5w20 oil?
We cannot oppose the fact that it is safe to mix motor oils from the same brand, even if we keep emphasizing that mixing motor oils is not advisable.
It is possible to top-up 5W30 on a 5W20 engine.
The performance and flow of 5W30 and 5W20 will be the same at low temperatures.
That sounds good to hear, right? If both oils are from the same brand and class, they will blend better.
Can You Mix 5w30 And 5w20 Oil?
The simple answer is YES. It is safe to mix.
If you are topping your 5W30 engine with 5W20 oil or vice versa, you are not likely to cause any harm or damage to the engine’s core components.
The difference in their weight rating is because the oils may have different Additives.
Additives in the two oils won’t blend per se, but it still doesn’t pose any harm to any part of your car engine. What is your rationale for wanting to mix different oils?
Is your engine running low on oil, and you can’t get the exact one you have been using, or do you just want to try out some new stuff?
If you have a reason for it, you should drain out the new oil after you arrive at your destination and refill it with the regular oil.
Even if you drain out the new oil and refill the old one at the same time, your car would still run fine.
If you are on a mission to completely change the oil you use for your car engine, we recommend that you make extensive research regarding the potential disadvantages of not using your car manufacturer’s recommended oil.
What Happens When You Mix 5W30 with 5W20?
There won’t be anything serious that will happen. The oils will come together, but they won’t blend into a single oil, so they’d stay and flow separately.
In low temperatures, the two oils would flow evenly to the top ends.
If the two oils you are about to mix are from the same brand, it would make sense.
This means that the differences won’t make a difference and that could mean better performance.
Although, when you mix oils, your engine isn’t guaranteed to perform better due to incompatible Additives in the oils
If you drive in a state that has high temperatures, 5W30 will perform better.
Some drivers switch to thicker oils during the summer season and then return to thinner oils during the winter. If you want to practice this, it’s safe.
FAQs
Will 5W-30 Oil Hurt a 5W20 Engine?
All motor oils are compatible with all engines; however, every oil has different benefits to it.
If you put a 5w30 into an engine specified for 5w20, it won’t harm the engine, but you may need to refill oil earlier than you think.
Since 5W30 is thicker, it would cause the engine to use more fuel, which would result in a decrease in fuel economy.
Failure to use 5W30 instead of 5W20 can lead to fatal engine damage.
Difference Between 5w20 and 5w30 Oil
When the engine is running, 5w30 is thicker than 5w20 in the Viscosity of the oils. Both oils have the same rating, but 5W20 and 5W30 have different qualities.
Can I Use 5w30 During Summer?
It would do your engine a lot of good if you used 5W30 during the summer.
When the sun is high and the engine is hot, 5W30 won’t thin out quickly and would still deliver good benefits depending on the add-ons included by the manufacturer.
If the oil in your engine thins out, this will cause faster wear and may even cause the engine to knock, which is the worst scenario you can experience during summer.
This can be avoided if you use 5w30 during the summer.
Can I Use 5W20 During Summer?
There’s nothing wrong with running 5W20 in the summer.
It is cool to stick with the oil even in the summer if your car is specified for 5W20. The engine of your car would function more efficiently as a result of this.
Is It Possible To Mix 5w40 With 5w30?
If you mix oils, your car’s engine won’t get to enjoy the full benefits each of the mixed oils should have delivered.
It is cool to mix 5W40 and 5W30, and your engine will not be affected immediately. In the long run, mixing oils can be dangerous to the engine.
Conclusion
It is best to use the same brand if you want to mix 5w30 and 5w20. We would like to say that your car needs synthetic oils.
Synthetics promote the lifespan of motor engines. You should be careful not to use expired oil for your engine since motor oils do degrade over time.
If you don’t change the oil filter, you could end up with serious engine damage, which would burn a hole in your pocket.
Truck driver by profession, automotive lover by heart. Ricky is the main publisher and editor at Truckile.com sharing his life-long knowledge and experience in the auto industry and truck driving!