Where does the term "weight" come from?

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bluesubie

So in other words, you don't know. I'm still looking for a document that specifically states "W" stands for winter (not that it denotes multi-viscosity oil for winter usage).

Quote:

To correct this problem, a new low-temperature classification was eventually added to the Standard in 1950, and it became possible to grade oils by a low-temperature W-grade designation, such as SAE 5W, 10W, or 20W. Now the consumer could ask specifically for an SAE 5W grade, at that time the lowest of the three low-viscosity SAE W-grades, for cold weather driving, or an SAE 40 grade, for example, for summer operation.

http://www.sae.org/news/releases/rightoil.htm

-Dennis


Dennis:

You appear to have missed my SAE quote from above:

Originally Posted By: SAE
It was recognized by 1930 that a classification for winter oils must be based on the viscosity of the oil at the starting temperature, and work was started on this problem. In June, 1933, the 10-W and 20-W oils, which are classified in accord with their viscosity at 0 deg. fahr., were adopted for publication and trial.


http://papers.sae.org/340098/

 

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: bluesubie

So in other words, you don't know. I'm still looking for a document that specifically states "W" stands for winter (not that it denotes multi-viscosity oil for winter usage).

Quote:

To correct this problem, a new low-temperature classification was eventually added to the Standard in 1950, and it became possible to grade oils by a low-temperature W-grade designation, such as SAE 5W, 10W, or 20W. Now the consumer could ask specifically for an SAE 5W grade, at that time the lowest of the three low-viscosity SAE W-grades, for cold weather driving, or an SAE 40 grade, for example, for summer operation.

http://www.sae.org/news/releases/rightoil.htm

-Dennis


Dennis:

You appear to have missed my SAE quote from above:

Originally Posted By: SAE
It was recognized by 1930 that a classification for winter oils must be based on the viscosity of the oil at the starting temperature, and work was started on this problem. In June, 1933, the 10-W and 20-W oils, which are classified in accord with their viscosity at 0 deg. fahr., were adopted for publication and trial.


http://papers.sae.org/340098/

I read it but it states that it is a classification for winter oils but does not specifically state that "W" stands for winter. Here's another discussion:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1013767&page=all

I can't find the thread that I was thinking of, but I thought that I had read here from someone in the industry that it only denotes a multi-viscosity oil but doesn't stand for anything.

Just playing devil's advocate.

-Dennis

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bluesubie
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: bluesubie

So in other words, you don't know. I'm still looking for a document that specifically states "W" stands for winter (not that it denotes multi-viscosity oil for winter usage).

Quote:

To correct this problem, a new low-temperature classification was eventually added to the Standard in 1950, and it became possible to grade oils by a low-temperature W-grade designation, such as SAE 5W, 10W, or 20W. Now the consumer could ask specifically for an SAE 5W grade, at that time the lowest of the three low-viscosity SAE W-grades, for cold weather driving, or an SAE 40 grade, for example, for summer operation.

http://www.sae.org/news/releases/rightoil.htm

-Dennis


Dennis:

You appear to have missed my SAE quote from above:

Originally Posted By: SAE
It was recognized by 1930 that a classification for winter oils must be based on the viscosity of the oil at the starting temperature, and work was started on this problem. In June, 1933, the 10-W and 20-W oils, which are classified in accord with their viscosity at 0 deg. fahr., were adopted for publication and trial.


http://papers.sae.org/340098/

I read it but it states that it is a classification for winter oils but does not specifically state that "W" stands for winter. Here's another discussion:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1013767&page=all

I can't find the thread that I was thinking of, but I thought that I had read here from someone in the industry that it only denotes a multi-viscosity oil but doesn't stand for anything.

Just playing devil's advocate.

-Dennis


That thread is hilarious!!!

And whether W "stands" for winter or "denotes" the "classification" for winter oils, ultimately, as per the SAE, the "W" moniker exists due to the need to recognize "a classification for winter oils", which I think is the closest thing we are going to get to an answer on this subject, LOL!

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: bluesubie
I'm still looking for a document that specifically states "W" stands for winter (not that it denotes multi-viscosity oil for winter usage).

-Dennis

Vavloine explicitly says the W stands for winter, not weight:
http://www.valvoline.com/car-care/motor-oil-myths/

 

[bruce381]

I think that viscosity was perhaps a harder to be comfortable with word or understanding or to scientific back in the old days.

And so much more easier for the layman say give me that 20 wt oil since weight is used in so many other common terms.