What Type of Vehicles is 0W40 Engine Oil Suitable For?

[McHadley]

0W40 engine oil is relatively viscous, making it suitable for older vehicles with significant mileage or certain American cars that have larger internal bearing clearances in their engines. 0W40 oil is particularly well-suited for German cars or older vehicles/engines (with considerable age). It is also appropriate for vehicles that frequently operate at high speeds or under heavy loads. For example, Volkswagen brand vehicles. Volkswagen engines employ slightly different technical processes compared to standard cars, featuring cast iron cylinder blocks with larger clearances between the cylinder walls and pistons. This necessitates higher viscosity oil to form thicker oil films, preventing piston seizure under high temperatures – a condition where 0W40 oil performs optimally. The designation "0W40" refers to the oil's classification. "0W" indicates excellent cold-start performance, capable of meeting engine starting requirements even at -35°C ambient temperatures. "40" denotes medium viscosity at 100°C, corresponding to a kinematic viscosity of 14.5 centistokes (cSt).