What kind of cars is 0W-20 engine oil suitable for?
2 Answers
0W-20 engine oil is suitable for some Japanese cars equipped with naturally aspirated engines. Meaning of 0W-20: 0W-20, the "W" stands for "winter", meaning it is for winter use. The number before "W" represents the viscosity at low temperatures. The smaller the number, the better the fluidity at low temperatures and the stronger the cold resistance. "20" refers to the viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius. The larger the number, the higher the viscosity and the stronger the high-temperature resistance. Disadvantages of 0W-20: If the viscosity of the engine oil is too low, it cannot form a stable oil film on the surface of various components inside the engine, which will aggravate engine wear. If the viscosity is too high, it will increase the resistance during engine operation, leading to reduced engine power and increased fuel consumption.
The 0W-20 engine oil is most suitable for today's turbocharged new cars. Japanese models like Toyota hybrids and Honda Earth Dreams engines typically specify its use. Last time, my neighbor's Volkswagen Teramont maintenance manual also recommended 0W-20. It's particularly thin with excellent cold-flow properties, making winter starts smooth even in sub-zero temperatures, and it can also save some fuel. However, older cars shouldn't use it, especially decade-old German models with larger piston clearances that are prone to oil consumption. My friend stubbornly put 0W-20 in his 2007 Passat, and after 3,000 kilometers, the dipstick couldn't even detect oil—he ended up switching back to 5W-40.
