Difference between Genuine 5w20 and 0w20?
2 Answers
Genuine 5w20 and 0w20 have the following differences: 1. Different viscosity: 0w20 engine oil has a lower viscosity than 5w20. Regardless of the brand, engine oils use the unified SAE grade classification. The winter viscosity grades for engine oils are: 0W, 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W, 25W. The symbol 'W' stands for winter, and the smaller the number before 'W', the lower the low-temperature viscosity, the better the low-temperature fluidity, and the lower the applicable minimum temperature. The number after 'W' represents the oil's stability at high temperatures. 2. Different applicable temperature ranges: 5w20 is suitable for temperatures ranging from -30°C to -35°C; 0w20 is suitable for temperatures ranging from -35°C to -40°C. '0W' means it can start normally at temperatures as low as -35°C. 3. Different cold-start performance: The number before 'W' represents the fluidity at low temperatures. The smaller the number, the better the cold-start performance. Therefore, 0w20 has better cold-start performance than 5w20.
The difference between Genuine 5W20 and 0W20 mainly lies in the 'W' number, which represents low-temperature startup performance. The 0W20 has a smaller 'W' number, allowing it to flow quickly at around -40°C, protecting the engine during cold starts, making it especially suitable for cold northern regions. On the other hand, 5W20 has a slightly slower cold start performance, with a minimum temperature of about -30°C. Under normal driving temperatures, both perform similarly, with a high-temperature viscosity of 20. As a daily driver, I've found that 0W20 might help save a bit on fuel costs but is more expensive. It's best to use what the manual recommends and not switch arbitrarily. In warmer southern regions, 5W20 is sufficient and more cost-effective. Always check the vehicle manual requirements, as different engines have different needs. For example, my car's manual specifies 0W20, and after switching, winter starts are faster and quieter.
