some background info:
just for kicks i did a test with conventional (dino) oil 5W-30 and 10W-30
put some of each in 2 clear plastic cups and tested both at room/garage temperature (60F) and the refrigerator (38F) and the freezer -2F
the 5W-30 looked thinner in all cases. obviously, the difference was more subtle at room temp vs. the freezer.
i also got my wife involved and she confirmed the results
another background info:
In "7.5Wx30 Oil" thread i asked about 50/50 mix of 5W-30 and 10W-30 producing 7.5W ...
kschachn, OVERKILL and others commented and correct me if i am wrong but the conclusion was that:
1-
There is no spec/designation for 6,7,7.5,8W etc. only 0W, 5W, 10W ... at least for auto oil.
sounds like there is 7.5W (another thread) for motorcycles but for that’s beside the point here.
2-
For all practical purposes, it is not practical/feasible/useful to have any classification in between 0,5,10W ...
as a result, 50/50 Mix will no longer meet the 5W spec and most likely be considered a 10W ...
Not wanting to split hair ... i can totally understand the above logic.
another thing leading to my question:
Based on the above logic, let's say that:
company A has an oil that barely misses the 0W spec and gets the Winter classification of 5W
company B (or even company A) has an oil that narrowly makes the 5W spec and is classified as 5W
correct me if i am wrong here but Oil A and B can practically (mathematically?) be 5W (4.9W) apart and both be classified as 5W
now my main question:
when people say brand x 5W-30 is "thinner" than brand y 5W-30 ... is it because of the reason above (oil A vs. B)
or am i over-simplifying things?
just for kicks i did a test with conventional (dino) oil 5W-30 and 10W-30
put some of each in 2 clear plastic cups and tested both at room/garage temperature (60F) and the refrigerator (38F) and the freezer -2F
the 5W-30 looked thinner in all cases. obviously, the difference was more subtle at room temp vs. the freezer.
i also got my wife involved and she confirmed the results
another background info:
In "7.5Wx30 Oil" thread i asked about 50/50 mix of 5W-30 and 10W-30 producing 7.5W ...
kschachn, OVERKILL and others commented and correct me if i am wrong but the conclusion was that:
1-
There is no spec/designation for 6,7,7.5,8W etc. only 0W, 5W, 10W ... at least for auto oil.
sounds like there is 7.5W (another thread) for motorcycles but for that’s beside the point here.
2-
For all practical purposes, it is not practical/feasible/useful to have any classification in between 0,5,10W ...
as a result, 50/50 Mix will no longer meet the 5W spec and most likely be considered a 10W ...
Not wanting to split hair ... i can totally understand the above logic.
another thing leading to my question:
Based on the above logic, let's say that:
company A has an oil that barely misses the 0W spec and gets the Winter classification of 5W
company B (or even company A) has an oil that narrowly makes the 5W spec and is classified as 5W
correct me if i am wrong here but Oil A and B can practically (mathematically?) be 5W (4.9W) apart and both be classified as 5W
now my main question:
when people say brand x 5W-30 is "thinner" than brand y 5W-30 ... is it because of the reason above (oil A vs. B)
or am i over-simplifying things?