Is 5w30 or 5w40 engine oil more expensive?
2 Answers
The prices of 5w30 and 5w40 engine oils are similar. Here are the differences between 5w30 and 5w40: 1. Different high-temperature viscosity: 5W30 has lower high-temperature viscosity, better fluidity, can better reduce fuel consumption, and the engine cools faster; 5W40 has higher high-temperature viscosity, is thicker, has poorer fluidity, greater resistance, but less fluctuation and is more stable. 2. Different usage ambient temperatures: 5W30 can be used in summer temperatures below 30 degrees, while 5W40 can be used in summer temperatures below 40 degrees.
Last time I compared the prices of these two engine oils at the auto parts market. Actually, the 5W in the viscosity rating only represents low-temperature fluidity, while 30 and 40 refer to high-temperature viscosity. The price difference between these two oils mainly depends on the brand and base oil formulation. For example, Shell Helix Ultra 5W30 and 5W40 fully synthetic oils are basically priced the same. However, some specialized 5W40 formulations for particular vehicle models might be more expensive, such as Mercedes-Benz OEM-certified oils. Generally speaking, semi-synthetic 5W30 could be cheaper than fully synthetic 5W40, but the price gap is minimal for oils of the same grade and brand. The key factors are purchasing channels and promotional activities. I recommend stocking up during major e-commerce sales for the best deals.
