What is the Difference Between Summer and Winter Engine Oil?
2 Answers
Summer engine oil is thicker with better adhesion, which is beneficial for lubrication; winter engine oil is easier to start and has better fluidity. Below is an introduction to engine oil: 1. The effectiveness of engine oil depends on an important characteristic—viscosity. Only when the oil has viscosity characteristics can it provide a protective film for various engine components. 2. Generally, viscosity refers to the physical property of the oil (while the viscosity index is a physicochemical indicator of the base oil), which originally means the degree of difficulty in the flow of fluids or semi-fluids, commonly referred to as 'thick' or 'thin.' Higher viscosity results in slower flow. 3. SAE classifies engine oil into two main categories based on viscosity grade: single-grade viscosity type and multi-grade viscosity type. The single-grade viscosity type is further divided into high-temperature environment-specific and low-temperature environment-specific types.
When it comes to the difference between summer and winter engine oils, it mainly lies in their performance under different temperatures. After driving for over a decade, I've found that summer oil is designed to be thicker because at high temperatures, oil that's too thin won't provide sufficient lubrication, leading to faster engine wear. Winter oil, on the other hand, is thinner, allowing it to flow quickly during cold starts and reducing engine difficulty. If you use the wrong oil, you might find your car hard to start in winter, or even drain the battery; in summer, it could lead to excessive oil temperature, affecting cooling efficiency. Modern vehicles typically recommend multi-grade oils like 5W-30, which are suitable year-round, but it's still advisable to check the local climate. In colder regions, choose oil grades starting with 'W' in autumn and winter to avoid premature engine failure. Regular oil changes are crucial—I once forgot to change mine and ended up paying over a thousand in repairs, which wasn't worth the risk.