Which consumes more fuel, 0w30 or 5w30?
2 Answers
Compared to 0w30, 5w30 consumes slightly more fuel. Here are the relevant introductions about 5w30 and 0w30: 1. Description: 5W30 and 0W30 are engine oil grades, where 'W' stands for winter use. The main difference between the two lies in the number before 'W', which represents the oil's fluidity and the applicable minimum temperature value. A smaller number indicates lower oil viscosity, meaning better low-temperature fluidity and a lower applicable minimum temperature value. This implies that 0W oil has better fluidity than 5W oil and can be used at lower minimum temperatures. 2. Precautions for using engine oil: Gasoline engine oil cannot be used in diesel engines. Special gasoline engine oil should not be used as a substitute for diesel engine oil to avoid accelerating the wear of diesel engines. In principle, gasoline engine oil and diesel engine oil should be used separately. Only when the automobile manufacturer provides a substitution instruction or indicates that it is a universal oil for both gasoline and diesel engines can it be substituted or used within the specified grade range.
The relationship between oil viscosity and fuel consumption is quite interesting. The main difference between 0W-30 and 5W-30 lies in the number before the "W," which represents low-temperature viscosity. 0W has better fluidity during cold starts, reducing internal engine friction, theoretically making the car slightly more fuel-efficient, especially in winter or cold regions where the engine starts faster and fuel efficiency is marginally higher. 5W-30 has slightly poorer fluidity at low temperatures, resulting in greater initial resistance when the engine starts, which may consume a bit more fuel. However, in real-life situations, the difference is minimal, and fuel consumption is more influenced by driving habits, road conditions, and engine condition. For example, if you drive in a temperate city, the fuel consumption between the two is almost the same, so there's no need to overthink it. I recommend choosing the oil according to the manufacturer's manual and not altering your maintenance plan for such a minor difference.
