Oil Viscosity.

"Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey" (dingersghost)
12/05/2014 at 16:54 • Filed to: None

After reading this article by Mr. McParland

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I remembered the question that I have never asked: How exactly is viscosity measured, and what is the difference between oils? I know motors require a certain viscosity, i.e. 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-40, etc.

But what exactly does that number mean? I mean, when I feel oil it really feels the same to me.

DISCUSSION (8)

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
12/05/2014 at 17:04

have to taste it. The higher the number the bolder the flavor where as the lower numbers taste sweeter

deekster_caddy > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
12/05/2014 at 17:05

The lower the number the 'thinner' the oil, i.e. the more easily it flows.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

great site full of useful info!

HammerheadFistpunch > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
12/05/2014 at 17:05

Boom

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. SAE viscosity gradings include the following, from low to high viscosity: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60. The numbers 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 are suffixed with the letter W, designating they are "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower temperature. The number 20 comes with or without a W, depending on whether it is being used to denote a cold or hot viscosity grade. The document SAE J300 defines the viscometrics related to these grades.

Kinematic viscosity is graded by measuring the time it takes for a standard amount of oil to flow through a standard orifice, at standard temperatures. The longer it takes, the higher the viscosity and thus higher SAE code.

The SAE has a separate viscosity rating system for gear, axle, and manual transmission oils, SAE J306, which should not be confused with engine oil viscosity. The higher numbers of a gear oil (e.g., 75W-140) do not mean that it has higher viscosity than an engine oil.

In anticipation of new lower engine oil viscosity grades, to avoid confusion with the "winter" grades of oil the SAE adopted SAE 16 as a standard to follow SAE 20 instead of SAE 15. Regarding the change Michael Covitch of Lubrizol, Chair of the SAE International Engine Oil Viscosity Classification (EOVC) task force was quoted stating "If we continued to count down from SAE 20 to 15 to 10, etc., we would be facing continuing customer confusion issues with popular low-temperature viscosity grades such as SAE 10W, SAE 5W, and SAE 0W," he noted. "By choosing to call the new viscosity grade SAE 16, we established a precedent for future grades, counting down by fours instead of fives: SAE 12, SAE 8, SAE 4." [9]

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
12/05/2014 at 17:06

Ah that makes sense. I'm assuming 15w-40 tastes like hot sauce then?

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > HammerheadFistpunch
12/05/2014 at 17:08

That helps! Thanks!

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > deekster_caddy
12/05/2014 at 17:11

That makes sense, thanks! I always thought it was something along those lines.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
12/05/2014 at 17:20

More than you ever wanted to know about oil, including independent wear protections tests and additive tests:

http://540ratblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/mot…

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Will with a W8 races an E30
12/06/2014 at 09:00

Wow that one covers absolutely everything.