Differences in motor oils: which one to fill in in the summer, and which one in the winter. What to look for when choosing engine oil in the winter period of operation Is it possible to use oils in winter

02.07.2020

Now all oils are considered all-weather, but in fact this is far from the case. Identical canisters stand side by side on the shelves in the same store, and only a specialist can distinguish their temperature resistance. So what kind of oil to choose for the winter, so as not to kill the engine?

Modern synthetic lubricants are made from crude oil by targeted molecular synthesis. Then, chemical additives are added to the boiled base, and as a result, it is possible to obtain a product with pre-planned characteristics. Synthetic oil thickens worse in cold weather and has high temperature resistance. It is noticeably ahead of the usual mineral in terms of operational properties. However, even synthetics are designed for different temperature conditions, and it is not recommended to operate summer oil designed for African countries at extremely low temperatures somewhere in the far north.

If, in a 30-degree frost, you try to start the engine with such a lubricant, then even a serviceable starter and a fully charged battery will have difficulty starting. In other words, if the so-called seasonality of fuel and lubricants is not taken into account, then the equipment will experience excessive loads in borderline operating modes.

Any lubricants, despite their all-weather catalog, have different viscosities, tolerances, base bases and additive packages, which means they differ in temperature operating conditions. There are oils recommended for high temperatures, as well as oils for cold and even extreme frosts. And all of them are recommended for our Russian climatic conditions and are sold on the same shelf in the store. How not to get confused here?

Summer oils for cars are made more viscous. These products include lubricants that have a viscosity classification from 20 to 60 SAE (Specification of the Institute of the Society of Automobile Engineers). It resists high temperatures better and liquefies less in the heat. However, in cold weather, they quickly lose their declared performance properties.

Winter oils, on the contrary, are recognized by the letter W (from the English. Winter-winter). These products are available in SAE viscosities from 0W to 20W. Modern synthetic oils can operate in an extended temperature range and are considered all-weather. Therefore, they are not changed, as before with the onset of cold weather. However, their temperature corridor is not unlimited.

For multigrade oils, the labeling always indicates two values. For example, from SAE 0W-30 or 5W-40. The first number indicates the viscosity at low temperatures (winter), and the second indicates the viscosity at high temperatures (summer). The SAE 0 index corresponds to a threshold of -30 degrees, and the SAE 30 viscosity index corresponds to an operating threshold at +20 degrees. Thus, such oil can be used at frosts not lower than 30 and at heat not higher than 20 gr.

Another very common multigrade oil is SAE 5W-40. This means that it will lubricate the motor well at temperatures from -25 gr. up to +35 gr.

Now dealership technicians, when carrying out scheduled maintenance, almost do not think about the criteria for oil. The craftsmen simply fill in the lubricants recommended by the manufacturer with a viscosity of SAE 5W-30 or 10W-40, leaving the owners themselves to solve problems with starting when severe frosts occur.

However, the winter is often colder than expected. We often have cold temperatures below 25 degrees, and such oils are no longer adapted to work at extreme temperatures.

Therefore, you can independently control the process of changing the oil and ask the service center masters to fill in oil more adapted to frost, namely 0W-30. It is better pumped by the pump through the lubrication system and does not interfere with crankshaft cranking. Such oil does not require a long warm-up of the engine.

But what to do when the frosts hit even more severely? There is no oil capable of working well below 30 degrees. If the frosts have dropped below 40 degrees, then it is better to abandon the use of personal transport and transfer to public transport. Any oil in the engine will begin to solidify and will not be able to be actively pumped through the lubrication system by the pump. This means that during a cold start, metal rubbing parts will experience increased wear.

There is even a special pumpability parameter. You need to look at it for oils that have zero SAE viscosity.

The pour point of synthetic oil is 48 degrees below zero. In this case, the lubricant turns into jelly and prevents the crankshaft from turning. The engine will not start.

Knowing this, automakers enter software bookmarks into the engine control unit that prevent the engine from starting at extremely low temperatures. How many do not twist the key in the ignition, and the computer will not give the command to start.

Thus, for frosty winters, SAE 0W-30 (-30° to +20°C) can be used, and for summer SAE 5W-40 (from -25° to +35°C).

This picture is familiar to many: a frosty morning and two motorists start their four wheeled "friends". One, the owner of a well-deserved "pensioner", started, as they say, "with a half kick", and his neighbor in a brand new car frightens others with an ineffectual howl of a starter until the battery is completely discharged.

How so? The car is new, the manufacturer guaranteed a confident start even at lower temperatures! And the point, in most cases, is in engine oil filled in for the winter. Not in the vehicle itself.

The main parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing engine oil for winter

When operating a car in winter, a motorist, when choosing engine oil, should pay special attention to three of them, which are directly responsible for starting and trouble-free operation of the engine in the conditions of the Russian winter.

Viscosity

The main parameter is viscosity. Everyone has heard of him without exception. But hearing it is one thing, but understanding what it is is quite another. In a nutshell, viscosity is the ability of an oil to maintain its properties within a certain temperature corridor. Simply put, lubricate, reduce the friction force between parts, equally well, both at minus twenty and at plus temperature. And if it's quite simple - do not freeze or boil.

Video - which engine oil is the best:

It is the viscosity index that the manufacturer indicates when labeling his products, in SAE system. For example, let's take one of the most common all-weather oils SAE 5W40, where the number five is responsible for viscosity at negative values, and 40 at positive values.

It should be remembered that this is a “number”, and not an indicator of the temperature regime!

Rotation and pumpability

But there are two more parameters that are directly dependent on viscosity, but no less important when choosing engine oil for winter. Namely: crankability and pumpability. But the manufacturer does not directly cover this. We'll talk about them in more detail a little later.

Table of oils for cars by temperature

In the meantime, let's see which marking according to the SAE system corresponds to different temperature conditions.

Remember we asked you not to confuse the number of markings with the temperature of the medium at which the use of oil is allowed? The table below clearly shows which of the values corresponds to a certain threshold.

The lower the value of the first number of the marking, the higher the possibility of operating the car in winter.

The first four oils are purely winter, use in summer is prohibited. Following are four of their comrades, but already in the neighboring summer "workshop". And the first and second groups in our time are used only by very meticulous motorists.

Most prefer the so-called all-weather motor oil. And as you can see, some of them are able to seriously compete with their "clean" counterparts. And, whatever you say, it's convenient. Therefore, in the future we will focus on all-weather oils.

Video - what engine oil to fill in the engine:

So what is the best engine oil to pour in winter? The answer to this question is very easy to find in the owner's manual for the car. There, the manufacturer quite categorically answers it. But there are two problems here. The first is mentality. Almost any resident of our country will look at the instructions only when something breaks. The second is that there is simply no such booklet at hand.

Therefore, we will figure it out ourselves and it's time to recall the parameters mentioned above: crankability and pumpability. The essence is clear from the names themselves. Pumpability - the ability of oil to pass through the engine system under the influence of the oil pump, and crankability, respectively, is responsible for cold start at low ambient temperatures.

But how do they relate to viscosity? The table is helpful.

And what can be seen from it? The mentioned parameters, superimposed on the temperature scale, differ significantly from the viscosity indicators.

Consider oil labeled 5W40. The minimum pumpability is minus thirty-five degrees, the maximum is plus forty. Crankability — minus twenty-seven. And what do we have in the viscosity table? Operation is allowed at minus thirty. Here it is the first underwater stone. Look, only oil with the number zero has the best performance in these indicators.

Therefore, we can draw a preliminary conclusion.

Which oil is better in winter 5W30 or 5W40?

For most regions of the Russian Federation, it makes absolutely no sense to purchase oils with a lower viscosity index of less than 5. The ideal option is a pair of 5W30 and 5W40.

Well, you say, they sang “war songs” here, and now we have to choose one of the two? Quite right, but we propose to do this together by simply comparing the parameters discussed.

Oil 5W30 according to the parameters declared by the manufacturer for the winter period of operation surpasses its "fortieth" competitor 5W40!

But we remember that both of these products are like twins in terms of pumpability and cranking. And which one to choose?

It sounds a little paradoxical, but this happens quite often in life. When choosing engine oil for the winter, you should pay attention to summer characteristics. Our winter is long, but not endless, and if you do not plan to change the oil in the spring, you should think about the upcoming warm days. Agree, autumn, winter, but I remember the sun, the sea, rest ...

And here we see that SAE 5W40, both in terms of viscosity (working at +30) and maximum pumpability (the figure reaches +40), is confidently leading. The winner is determined: from this pair of oils (5w30 or 5w40), it is better to use 5W40 if you will not change the oil for the summer period.

Diesel and petrol power unit

"How - how - the skeptic will say - I have a diesel car, everything is different for me." And no one will argue with him. Oil for diesel and gasoline engines, indeed, is qualitatively different. This is due to the different principles of operation of power units and the type of fuel.

Diesel fuel, even if it is of high quality, due to its chemical composition, gives more soot and soot, which, in addition to the main functions, engine oil fights. Therefore, diesel oils contain a greater amount of detergent additives. In addition, diesel oils have a higher base number, which reduces the harmful effects of the acidic environment inherent in solar combustion processes.

American and European automakers have developed two additional standards dividing oils into gasoline and diesel: API and ACEA respectively.

In the first case, the letter S - indicates oil for a gasoline engine, C - diesel. In the second: A - gasoline, B - diesel.

Also, these standards divide oils into engine types depending on the timing of production and purpose (two-stroke, four-stroke, passenger, truck, and so on). This classification is indicated by the second letter of the marking.

For clarity, below are the tables:

for petrol engines

for diesel engines

Undoubtedly, these indicators should be taken into account, but they in no way cancel the SAE standard. The degree of viscosity and other related parameters are the same for both diesel and gasoline oils.

In any case, the label of each oil will necessarily have an SAE indicator, but API or ACEA is already an additional marking, and even then not always.

And if we talk about the type of oil for diesel operation in winter, experts advise using oil designed for diesel engines. The fact is that at present, manufacturers have put on the market a lot of universal oils suitable for both types of power plants, combining almost incompatible ones.

The main thing here is to be careful. If the canister has the API designation with the first letter S (SJ / CF) - this product is a priority for gasoline engines, the letter C (CF / SJ) is priority for a diesel engine.

But universality is not always good and convenient. According to the results of studies, such oils are very dependent on the quality of the fuel used: the lower it is, the shorter the life of the oil and, accordingly, its useful properties. We will not talk about the quality of fuel in our country, this is superfluous.

Climatic conditions for different regions

An equally important factor when choosing engine oil is the region of residence, its climatic conditions. All of the above is suitable for the temperate climatic zone of the country: it is hot in summer, and in winter it does not hit teeth.

But if you live in the south, where it doesn't always snow in the winter, you should consider oils oriented more towards warm and hot weather.

And what about those places where polar bears? From the surveys conducted, both motorists and professionals operating vehicles in the Far North, we came to the conclusion that the vast majority use SAE 5W40.

The lower operating threshold is somewhat arbitrary, and you won’t be able to start the engine at minus forty without installing heating systems with absolutely any oil, so why “fence the garden”?

Particularly attentive and picky readers may notice, why did they say “so-called all-weather oils” at the very beginning. But we didn't agree. To make it clear what exactly we had in mind, let's cite a conversation between two motorists starting cars in the morning.

One is already rumbling, warming up, the second, in no way. The frustrated owner asks the “lucky one”: “What kind of oil are you pouring?”. The answer is fresh. A joke, of course, but as you know, in every joke there is only a fraction of a joke.

The word all-weather has already played a cruel joke with many motorists. The fact is that if an oil change is made in the spring, by winter the engine crankcase is by no means the same product that you took off the shelf in the store.

It is difficult to say in what percentages these same properties are reduced for every thousand, but if this were not the case, there would be no need to change it. Right?

Therefore, it is preferable to change the oil in the winter. Such a simple rule allows you to use all the declared characteristics to the fullest. And go into the summer with quite suitable oil for mild operating conditions.

As you know, the miser pays twice. Therefore, a few simple tips related to changing oils. Whatever the service or other “knowledgeable” people do not say, take your time and do not skimp, but use flushing oils.

They are not expensive, but they can extend the operational properties of fresh oil quite significantly. And, of course, we install a new oil filter. Iron Rule: change the oil, change the filter! Expensive? How much does an engine repair cost? That's it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can add, in which region you would not live and what type of oil you did not consider the most suitable, preparation for winter is a responsible matter. Don't be lazy, do it.

See what's in the battery banks after the summer heat, and what is the condition of the transmission and clutch. The smallest detail can be a decisive factor even at not very low temperatures.

It's a shame to walk or shake and huddle in public transport when your favorite car is left at the doorstep, refusing to start.

Good luck on the roads!

Video - which oil is better to fill in in winter (freezing 5W30, 5W40):

May be of interest:

Scanner for self-diagnosis of a car

How to quickly get rid of scratches on the body of a car

What does the installation of autobuffers give?

Mirror DVR Car DVRs Mirror

Similar articles

Comments on the article:

Konstantin

I live on the border with Kazakhstan. Climate and temperature regime in summer +30, in winter -40. Been driving since 1990. Now the owner of Toyota RAV 4. This is my fifth car. The first years I tried all known brands. Now I'm sure that pouring only synthetic 10w40.

Yuri Rodimenkov

I have a 2007 Hyundai Getz. I have been using Mobil 1 5W-40 synthetic motor oil since the beginning of my life. I am very pleased with the oil. A warm engine runs almost silently and without vibration. In cold weather, the car starts without problems. There was not a single case of failure when starting the engine in winter. From replacement to replacement, the oil level remains within acceptable limits, never had to top up. I recommend this brand of oil to everyone.

Novel

In winter, oil can turn to stone after a long period of storage due to low temperatures and high viscosity of the oil. It is necessary to abandon mineral water and use better semi-synthetics with 5W parameters. Also, do not forget to depress the clutch pedal before starting the engine.

Sergey

It is often recommended to use 5W-30 oil for new engines and 5W-40 for older engines. Say, the gaps are increased, you need thicker oil. But besides the density, it is necessary to pay attention to the design of the engine: if the oil channels are designed for more liquid oil, then with a viscosity of 40 it may not be pumped. Therefore, in winter, of course, it is necessary to use 0w- and 5W- oils, but in summer, be more careful about the second digit. Perhaps a 10W-30 oil would be better. Moreover, semi-synthetics, due to its greater stability, detergent properties, and less tendency to form slags and deposits. For the winter, you can pour both semi-synthetics and synthetics. Here it is already necessary to look at tests of specific oils for frost resistance. It happens that the semi-synthetics of one company are more fluid in the cold than the synthetics of another.

Martin

Both in winter and summer I use Top Tec 4100 5W-40 liquid moth oil, it starts at -25 without any questions, I don’t need a long warm-up, 2-3 minutes and drove slowly, it warms up completely on the road. Yes, and in the summer at +28 he feels calm in traffic jams. Good oil.

Koptev

Yes, what is one of the big advantages of Liquid Moli oil is that in reality the car began to start in cold weather without problems. But this is only one of the pluses, firstly, the car picks up speed faster, the engine stopped eating oil, fuel consumption has decreased. It is clear that the oil is of high quality and the best for my car.

Arkady

Koptev will support the review, in fact, with LIQUI MOLI oil, the car even began to drive differently, the motor purrs like a cat, all sorts of glitches are gone. My only regret is that I didn't use this oil sooner.

Casimir

Regarding the liquidation of the moth, at first I tried to buy it, the price is of course biting, but then I got tired of problems with the engine. As a result, now I fill liquid moths, there are no problems at all, the car flies, the engine purrs.

Sergey

Naturally, any winter is different in viscosity, for this there is a temperature marking of 30-40 gr. Here you can choose for yourself, depending on the place of movement in the regions. It's simple - why load the engine and battery by oil at 40, if the temperature for the whole season does not exceed 30 gr. Also in reverse order, oil increases viscosity by 30 at temperatures above. Well, the manufacturer is already on experience.

Nikita

I pour Top Tec 4200 5W-30 LM, everything is fine, now we have such winters, you won’t understand what, I call eurowinter like that)

Ivanovich

I know for sure that the main thing is a timely oil change. I am also sure that when changing the oil it is necessary to use flushing oil, the procedure really does not take much time, and the effect is noticeable. And still living in the central part of Russia, for a domestic car, I use only semi-synthetic winter-summer oils. I also change the filter along with the oil change. All.

Igor

You just need to drive with good oil, then flushing will not be needed. I have been riding Livi Moth for a year, there has never been a need to flush. Unless of course you change the brand of oil.

Oleg

In winter, we all know that starting an engine can be problematic. This largely depends on the oil poured into the engine.
I try to always follow the instructions in the service book of the machine.
Now there are a huge number of oils and choosing them is not always easy. I never use the advice of friends, and even more so sellers.
Three types of oils are mainly used: mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic. I never pour mineral water in winter, it freezes already at -10 degrees. But in the spring I definitely change the filled oil for mineral water. Mineral water, better than other oils, cleans engine parts from carbon deposits, all this rubbish is drained in the fall along with mining.
For the engine, I use only semi-synthetics in winter, because if you use synthetics, then if there is carbon deposits in the engine, then its detachment will quickly clog the oil filter and oil supply channels. This can lead to expensive engine repairs. You also have to take into account that our synthetics are not the German Liqui Moly, but a surrogate.

Dmitriy

In my Chevy Niva in winter I fill only Lukoil-Lux 5W-40 synthetics, 3 winters, oil from replacement to replacement, normal flight.

Vladimir

If you do not want to take risks and experiment, then pour what your manufacturer recommends. The same Honda and Toyota have their own oils and they are very good.
I recently poured Mobil-1 5w 50 and I can safely recommend it. It works great both in summer and winter. Never once have I had any problems. Tried another 5w 40 - I liked it too.

Kirill

Are there really drivers who change engine oil seasonally like tires? I use 5w-40 because it is recommended by the manufacturer, moreover, I fill in oil that comes under the Nissan KE90090042R brand, because I have a car of this brand. I've been pouring it for ten years now, there are no problems with a cold start even in severe frosts, more, in this sense, the battery is worried.

Kostya

I know at least 2 people who change the oil every 5-7 thousand along with the filter. But they love their cars very much and they have money.

I myself usually change when the car skated at least 10-15 thousand, and by the way, the oil is clean even after 15 thousand. I don’t have any special operating conditions, I don’t carry cargo, I just use it in the “home-work-shopping” format.

As for what to pour, I use 5w 40 for myself, and I consider LIQUI MOLY Synthoil High Tech to be ideal. If you want to buy something cheaper, then I advise you to pay attention to SHELL Helix Ultra. It is inexpensive, and the oil is really good, there are no problems with it.

Vladimir

Personally, I usually change the oil in the fall, i.e. closer to winter. I use only synthetic oil and I think that in winter you should not even fill in semi-synthetics, and even more so mineral water. Although it depends on the weather. We have colds down to minus 40. Well, of course, the information is very interesting, and especially for beginners. Moreover, there is a video with full instructions. detailed information

Arkady

I'm just one of those people who love their car and take care of it. I change the oil every 8-10 thousand kilometers, and although the operating conditions are not the most difficult, I feel that the car is thanking me.

Lil had a lot of different oils, from the simplest to the top ones, and now he settled on the MOBIL 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 option. I do not advise you to ride it for a long time, it will not last 15-20 thousand, as many people like to ride. Here 10 is the maximum. But it has a huge plus, in winter the car starts without problems at any temperature, and we often have -28 and below. And if on other oils my Honda started with difficulty (even on the one recommended by the manufacturer), then on this the engine seized immediately.

I can also advise Motul 8100 X-clean FE 5W30. The oil is really good, but expensive. If you take it in the long term, then Mobile is at least a little worse, but cheaper, and if you change it a little more often, it turns out to be profitable.

In general, I will say the following. You can pour even the cheapest oil, from a more or less normal manufacturer, just change it more often, don’t wait 12-14 thousand, change it after 8, it’s inexpensive, and you can change the filter every other time.

Love the car and it will always reciprocate)).

Igor Ch.

I change my oil during scheduled maintenance. Regardless of the season, every 15,000 km. The service fills in what is indicated in the instructions - 5w40. Otherwise it will void the warranty. Naturally, I do everything with the officials. I don’t top up in between, but I always carry a liter canister with me just in case. So far, this need has not arisen. But I roll back no more than 85,000 km, still under warranty, then I change the car. Since 2010 I have been driving only Hyundai.

Michael

The correct answer is any, but not the cheapest. Pour any 5w30 and I assure you, for 10 thousand mileage you will not see any difference between expensive and cheap. At first I also took the top ones, but what's the point? We do not have severe operating conditions, and if you do not live in the far north, then the car will start without problems. We rarely get below minus 15 in winter. The car, even on the simplest oil, starts with a kick floor.

From the last thing I tried - ZIC X7 LS 5W-30. Very cheap and good option. I traveled 9500 km and it was generally clean when it was replaced, but 4 liters cost about 1600 rubles, which I think is generally inexpensive.

Zakhar

I don’t understand people who buy a car and then start saving on it. If you are unable to serve normally, be prepared for expensive repairs - this rule always works.

I disagree with many here and believe that the ideal for winter is 0W30 or 10W40. This is due to the fact that it has a lower viscosity and it will be much easier to pump it in cold weather, which means that the chances of starting a car increase many times over.

We have harsh winters and often -30 and even lower. Through trial and error, I found a good oil for myself - this is Ravenol Arctic Low SAPS ALS SAE 0W-30. The car can be easily started even at -35. It is perfectly pumped through the system and of course there are difficulties with starting, but it starts the first time, which I have not observed with other oil. So there is definitely a difference in expensive and cheap oil, it all depends on the region where the car is operated.

If the winter is very mild, then I agree, then it doesn’t matter at all what to fill in the engine, especially if you maintain replacement intervals. I change every 9-11 thousand run and be sure to change all filters, including oil, cabin and air.

Also, do not forget to take some oil with you to top up and check its level, you can not always rely on electronics.

Stanislav

To facilitate starting the engine at low temperatures, on vehicles with a manual transmission, there is such a technique as pressing the clutch pedal when starting the engine so that the input shaft and gears do not rotate in thickened gear oil. I use engine oil with a viscosity of 5W40, as recommended by the manufacturer himself.

Anatoly

The main thing is to maintain the desired viscosity, and there already buy one that has enough money. This is the best rule.
If you bought a cheap one, then change it after 10 thousand. If the oil is expensive and of high quality and your car is unloaded, then 20 will pass normally.
I have a different relationship with the car. I don't drive them for more than 4-5 years, and during this time nothing will happen to the engine for sure.
I have not seen statistics anywhere, if you change after 7-8 thousand, and not after 20, then the engine passes not 300 thousand, but a million.
In cars that come to us from America, it feels like they don’t even change the oil every 100 thousand, and nothing, cars drive.

If you need cheap, try GENERAL MOTORS Dexos2 Longlife 5W30. Just change it in 10 thousand for sure.

Maksim

By the way, many have forgotten that the engines are also different, or rather, even their wear.
It's one thing to pour oil into a new engine, but quite another to pour it into a worn one. My car has passed almost 250 thousand and I know what I'm talking about. Here, you definitely need to change the oil more often, and sometimes I change it after 8-9 thousand and pour it in a special one, which is intended for them. In principle, Shell Helix HX7 is very well suited. And it's also inexpensive.
If you have our old VAZ, then there is no point in pouring expensive oils, they will be no better than they are. Calmly pour Lukoil Lux 10W40 and you will not know grief, it generally costs less than a thousand rubles per 4 liters.

It is very important to choose the right oil, and if your car drives normally, there is no point in trying something expensive. You can even consult oil sellers, they are usually adequate. If the car has a high mileage, then normal oil perfectly protects the engine from wear and tear and you won’t have to make capital for a long time.

Before, I don’t remember such a distinction at all, but now you just say that you need oil for a car with high mileage. Well, I wrote a couple of quite successful options here.

You will change the oil normally, the engine will definitely be grateful to you.

Hi all! With the advent of cold weather, the question of how to choose the right winter oil for the engine becomes relevant. On the one hand, it is simple, but on the other hand, there are some nuances. If you fill in the first liquid that comes across or thoughtlessly follow the advice of a neighbor, you can harm the motor. Why is that? Let's figure it out.

Do I need to change the oil in winter

At sub-zero temperatures, the engine is most demanding on the quality of the oil. The lower the viscosity of the lubricant during a cold start, the better. Just in winter, the effect of engine oil starvation is observed. What it is?

As you know, when starting, oil must be pumped through the engine. The sooner this happens, the better. Because for some time, the motor has to run almost dry. And when, inside the engine, metal rubs against metal, nothing good will happen.

Naturally, the thicker the engine oils, the harder it is for them to spread over all the details. In addition, the load on the battery also increases. Not in vain, most battery failures occur in the winter. Not only does it itself lose up to 40% of its capacity in severe frost, but also an additional load in the form of a thick lubricating fluid.

To combat this, you need to use a high-quality winter or all-weather lubricant that will be stable at low temperatures. Therefore, all experts recommend changing the oil before the onset of cold weather. Even if there are still a few thousand left before the planned replacement, it will be justified. Especially if a liquid with a low low-temperature viscosity is filled under the hood.

What is oil viscosity

is its main characteristic. It determines the maximum allowable temperatures at which the lubricant retains its properties. If the car is operated in a gentle mode, in a warm climate, you can not pay much attention to viscosity. The engine will feel good on any all-weather lubricant.

But, when the machine is used at extremely low or high temperatures, special attention must be paid to viscosity.

What is viscosity? In fact, this is the ability of the oil to create a lubricating film between engine parts. There is a simple dependency here:

high viscosity- the film is thicker;
low viscosity - the film is thinner.

Basic requirements for viscosity:

it should not be too high - the lubricant layer on the parts will be too thick and the engine will work harder - as a result, increased fuel consumption;
on should not be low - the lubricating film layer will turn out to be thin - as a result, grinding of engine parts and its rapid wear is possible.

Therefore, the viscosity of the oil must be optimal. At the same time, you need to understand that the concept of optimality for each engine will be different.

Viscosity index

A very interesting and most importantly important parameter that determines the performance characteristics of the lubricant. Let's deal with it in more detail.

When the engine is running, it heats up and the viscosity of the oil drops. Those. it liquefies. The dependence of the rate of oil dilution is its viscosity index.

From here you can get the following dependency:

the higher the index, the slower the oil loses its density, and, accordingly, the engine parts are better lubricated;
the lower the index, the faster it liquefies. In this case, the lubricating film becomes thinner and engine wear increases.

In a sense, this parameter is a characteristic of the stability of the lubricant. Those. determines how well it performs at extreme temperatures. For the choice of winter oil, this means that the higher the viscosity index, the easier it will be for a cold start of the engine.

Unfortunately, manufacturers do not indicate this value on the canister. But, it will not be superfluous to know their average characteristics for different types of oils:

Synthetic - 140-170.
semi-synthetic – 130-150.
Mineral - 110-135.

As you can see, this indicator is the lowest for mineral water. Which is not surprising - it's no secret to anyone that these lubricants turn into jelly in the cold.

Synthetics have the highest rate, but unfortunately, it can be used on new engines. Motors with high mileage are no longer so well tolerated.

SAE engine oil classification

Each canister of oil is marked with its SAE viscosity. For example:

10w40;
15w40;
5w30 etc.

What do these numbers mean, and how to understand which oil is better to fill in the engine for the winter? Let's figure it out.

There are 3 types of lubricant in total:

Summer.
Winter.
All season.

It should be said right away that all-weather fluids have practically replaced summer and winter oil. Still, it’s inconvenient to depend on the weather and change the lubricant when winter or summer comes. Moreover, all-weather fluids provide stable operation in a wide temperature range.

To be fair, it should be noted that there is:

5 summer stamps - 20, 30, 40, 50, 60;
6 winter - 0w, 5w, 10w, 15w, 20w, 25w.

All-weather fluids are marked as follows: 10w40, 5w30, etc. The number before the letter w (winter) indicates the lower temperature limit at which the engine is lubricated during cold start. The number after - refers to work at positive temperatures.

By the way, do not assume that these figures are equal to the extreme operating temperatures of the oil. Everything is a little more complicated. And we'll get to that soon.

Temperature conditions

Let's see what the SAE markings mean and in what temperature conditions they can be used. For clarity, let's take several brands of oil:

Mobile Super 5w30 - provides engine lubrication at temperatures up to -30 degrees;
Lukoil Genesis Polar Special 0w30- a real extreme, the liquid is able to withstand temperatures of -40 degrees;
Zik A + 10w30 - universal all-weather oil, will provide a good cold start at temperatures up to -25 degrees
Mobil Ultra 10w40 - fluid with a higher high temperature viscosity is best used in warm regions;
Castrol GTX 15w40 - no longer suitable for cold winters, the cold start temperature is up to -15 degrees.

Thus, you can easily determine which engine oil is best for the winter.

Oil Selection Criteria

To determine what kind of oil to fill in the engine for the winter, several criteria must be taken into account. Among them:

car manufacturer's recommendations;
car mileage;
terms of Use;
driving style;
fluid specifications according to API ACEA, as well as tolerances.

In order not to get into the technical jungle, you can use the selection of oil by car brand. Let's not stop there. It is enough to know that there are a lot of services on the Internet where you can make such a selection.

The motor is different. All units differ in their device and nuances of work. Therefore, first of all, you need to pay attention to the recommendations of the plant - the manufacturer knows best what kind of oil to pour into a car. Well, for tolerances, if any, of course.

For example, the recommended oil for a car is 10w40. If you fill in 15w40, it will be more difficult for the pump to pump liquid in cold weather. If you change it to 0w20, the motor will start to wear out, because. too fluid lubricant is not able to provide good lubrication of the motor.

Mileage and engine condition

As you know, when a car passes the mark of 60-70 thousand, it is recommended to switch from synthetics to semi-synthetics. This is due to a decrease in the performance of the motor. Therefore, in order to determine which oil is best suited for the motor, you need to take into account its condition.

With an increase in mileage, the requirements for the density of the lubricating fluid change in the engine. And it is recommended to use an oil with a higher high temperature viscosity index. In simple terms - you need to fill in the liquid thicker than before. It is also better not to pour too thin oil into worn motors - due to the increased gaps, the lubricating film will drain from the parts.

But, this is a double-edged sword. Too thick grease will kill the engine in cold weather. Therefore, a good engine oil for the winter should be a compromise solution.

If you listen to the experts, they advise:

with a car mileage of more than 100 thousand, use 5w40 all season, and in winter 5w30 and 10w30;
with a run of more than 250 thousand, use 5W50 all season, and specifically for winter - 5w40 and 10w40.

But, again, even with high mileage, the engine can be in very good condition, as well as be killed after 50 thousand. Therefore, mileage should be considered only in conjunction with the general condition of the motor.

API, ACEA standards and approvals

Everything is simple here - in order to understand which oil to fill in, you need to check the tolerance. If the liquid has it, then it suits the car. If you do not know what tolerance is, then I will explain. This is a special marking on the canister, which means that the oil has passed internal certification from the car manufacturer and is approved by them for use in engines.

As for the API and ACEA standards, this is also not difficult. These standards determine the compatibility of the motor with the brand of lubricant. So, according to API (American standard):

Marking "C" - for a diesel engine.
Marking "S" - for gasoline engines.
"S\C" is a universal liquid.

For example, the SL / CI-4 marking indicates a universal oil suitable for both diesel and gasoline engines. The second letters on the label speak of quality. The closer to the end of the alphabet, the later the specification was adopted - and therefore the liquid is better.

ACEA is the European standard. Everything about it is almost exactly the same. Only the letters are different:

"A" - gasoline;
"B" - diesel;
"E" - trucks;
"C" - universal class (similar to "S\C")

Instead of the second letter, a number is indicated to decipher the specification. The more it is, the better. For example, B5-2002 indicates a liquid for lubricating light diesel engines, and the specification was adopted in 2002.

So, what is the best oil for the winter? Naturally, more fluid. Such a liquid will avoid oil starvation during a cold start and will not cause problems in severe frosts. At the same time, it is worth considering other criteria described in the article. Still, the operation of the car directly depends on the correct choice of oil.

That's all, leave your comments and read other blog articles.

Before the winter season, motorists think about what kind of oil to pour into the engine in winter. It all depends on what kind of oil you use and what climate you live in. Winter engine oil, in contrast to the summer counterpart, should be more fluid for better engine start to "cold". Summer oils have a thicker viscosity, so in severe frosts they freeze and prevent engine parts from turning, which not only harms the car, but also prevents them from being used in some cases.

Do I need to change engine oil in winter

The quality of consumables at low temperatures plays a big role. Winter engine oil is distinguished, first of all, by a different viscosity, it is more liquid and does not thicken up to a certain temperature, which makes it possible to effectively lubricate the nodes, allowing them to scroll. That is why you need to choose products with low viscosity. This is necessary so that, at startup, the oil can get to all even remote motor components, lubricate them with high quality and create a protective film. Otherwise, the motor will run dry, which will adversely affect its technical condition and lead to rapid wear.

If you pour oils with a high viscosity, in the cold they will thicken greatly and will not lubricate the parts, and it is also possible that they will stick to them, preventing them from moving. The car will either not start, or will work with large overloads, which is highly undesirable. With this start, the load on the battery also increases significantly, as a result of which it quickly loses charge. Due to frost, the battery already loses about 40% of its charge per night, not to mention the additional efforts that the starter expends, which is unable to turn the engine flywheel due to the high density of the oil. It is in order to avoid various kinds of problems that it is necessary to use winter engine oil. In the event of the onset of the winter season, you should not look back at the mileage, even if you change the oil earlier, this will only benefit the car.

Choose the oil to pour into the engine in winter

Be sure to pay attention to the viscosity of the product, not so much the brand of the product plays a role as its technical indicators. Pay attention to the temperature tolerance at which the oil can be used. If you live in a warm climate, then the viscosity used for summer oils will also work, but for a more severe climate, you have to choose the appropriate product.

Viscosity is understood as the ability of a product to form a protective film when exposed to certain temperatures. The higher the viscosity index, the thicker the lubricant, and the film, respectively, thicker. Viscosity is subject to the following requirements:

Not too high. With an excessively thick layer of lubricant, sticking of parts can occur, because of this, the engine experiences increased loads, fuel consumption increases, regardless of whether you have a gasoline or diesel engine.
Should not be excessively low. If the film is too thin, it may not be enough for good lubrication, which will lead to rapid wear of parts.

Engine oil viscosity index

Such a characteristic as the viscosity index is a very important parameter. It should be noted that when the engine is running, the oil heats up and becomes more liquid. The viscosity index indicates how quickly the oil becomes liquid. You can derive the following dependency:

With a high index, the density of the product is lost slowly. Parts are better lubricated;
With a low indexation of the product, it liquefies quickly enough, due to which the wear of the motor increases;
The index indicates the stability of the lubricant, determines its quality, shows at what temperatures it can work.

When choosing a winter type of lubricant, you need to look at products with a high indexation, this will make it easier to start the engine in cold weather. It is extremely rare that these values \u200b\u200bare indicated on the canister. Manufacturers usually don't do this. The type of oil will help you understand the maximum temperature values:

Synthetic - 140-170 degrees;
Semi-synthetic - 130-150;
Mineral water - 110-135.

The last type has the lowest value, which means that such oil will look like jelly in the cold. However, mineral oils are not suitable for older cars, because they are designed for new types of engines that have a completely different design.

What kind of oil to fill in the engine for the winter according to SAE classification

This is the most understandable and common classification for drivers, which is indicated on canisters, for example, it may look like this:

10w40;
15w40;

Oils are divided into three types: summer, all-weather, winter. All-weather ones are of higher quality and are often applicable at any time of the year. This makes them the most popular, as you do not have to monitor the weather, which is important if you can suddenly catch frost. Summer brands include oils whose indicator is 20-60: this figure is indicated before the letter W. There are six winter types, their number is from 0 to 25. All-weather fluid can be recognized by the designation or, for example, 5w30. The letter W in this case stands for winter, the value in front of it is an indicator of the temperature limit at which the oil will remain of sufficient viscosity, the second digit indicates the viscosity for summer. However, it is worth noting that the numbers indicated on the packaging are not the extreme limit at which the oil will work in a given temperature regime.

SAE marking is much more complicated and means the following:

5w30 - the lubricant will retain its properties until the external temperature drops below -30 degrees. This rule applies to a non-working car that is stored in the cold, that is, at lower temperatures, the lubricant will thicken and starting the engine will be much more difficult.
The marking shows that the oil is designed for use at temperatures up to -40 degrees;
10w30 - up to -25 degrees;
15w40 - up to -15 degrees.

For some manufacturers, these figures may not match. Therefore, motor winter, brands should be studied separately and choose the one that, in terms of parameters, will best suit your car. It will not be superfluous to study which oil was recommended by the factory of your car brand.

So which engine oil for the winter is better

Before choosing an oil, you need to study its characteristics well. Several criteria will need to be taken into account:

Lubricant recommended by car manufacturers;
Which car has mileage, it is known that for engines with high mileage it is better to use special lubricants, as they are more demanding on quality;
Under what conditions is the vehicle being used?
driving style. The more aggressive the driving style, the better the oil is needed, since the engine is under more stress;
Does the liquid have the appropriate certificates, for example, API ACEA, in addition, the products must have various tolerances, without which it is impossible to give her a quality guarantee;

Many stores have special catalogs with which they can pick up oil according to the make of your car. To do this, you need to know the VIN code and the year of manufacture. In addition, you can choose products using the Internet, there are many catalog sites where you can quickly search for what you need.

You need to pay attention to the design of the engine. The best thing to do would be to listen to the recommendations given by the car manufacturer. However, you can deviate from them to a small extent, for example, if the service book indicates that you need to fill in 10w40 car oil, nothing bad will happen if you fill in 15w40, but you should prepare for the fact that the oil pump will be a little more difficult to work in severe frosts. Too thick lubricants should not be used, as the engine itself is designed for thinner ones. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that it is desirable to add products similar to the one you use, when changing the viscosity or brand of oil, it is better to flush the engine.

The mileage of the car, the technical condition of the engine plays an important role. If you have used synthetics, but the mileage has reached 70,000, it is better to switch to semi-synthetics, as it is softer in relation to parts whose performance has decreased somewhat during the period of use of the car. This rule applies to both gasoline engines and those that use diesel fuel for operation.

If the motor is sufficiently worn, oil with a high viscosity index should not be used. You should not use a product with high fluidity, that is, you need to use a slightly thicker oil than the one that was standard for your car when it was new. Density begins to play an important role, since large gaps are formed with the development, which must be closed with lubrication. However, excessively thick oil can damage the engine. That is why, when choosing which oil is better to fill in the engine in winter, experts recommend paying attention to the following products:

If the car's mileage exceeds 100,000, you can use the all-weather option, in winter it is better to switch to lubricants labeled 5w30 and 10w30.
If the mileage exceeds 250 thousand, you can use off-season oil or winter oil 5w40, 10w40.
If the condition of the engine is good, you can not change the oil to another, but if the mileage is low, but the power unit is dead, it is better to use oil for it as for old engines.

Approvals and standards

Only high-quality oil should be poured at any time of the year, which is why it is necessary to study the markings and tolerances well. This will allow you to choose exactly the product that you need. It is imperative to check the oil tolerance before buying it, if it is, then the car will work well on it, especially if the tolerance was issued by the same concern whose car you use.

Tolerance is a marking that must be on a canister of liquid. This is an automotive company certification that is awarded to a product as a result of independent testing by the automaker. Standards can differ from each other, most often these are API and ACEA, they are easy to understand. API is an American oil rating system. It has the following markings:

"C" - such products are used for diesel engines;
"S" - for engines running on gasoline;
"SC" - universal.

In addition, there may be products marked SL / CI-4: this is also a universal lubricant for engines running on any type of fuel.

ACEA is a European standard. It's also easy to understand:

"A" - means gasoline engines.
"B" - diesel.
"E" - for trucks.
"C" - applies universally.

In custody

For the stable operation of the car at any time of the year, it is important to choose the right lubricant. It is necessary that it meets European or American standards, has high quality and sufficient viscosity.

For many experienced motorists, it is no secret that the quality of the engine oil and a number of characteristics of the lubricant will depend. If in summer the requirements for the protection of parts under conditions of high temperatures and loads are mainly put forward, then in winter other additional parameters must be taken into account. We note right away that the division into winter oil for an engine or oil for summer has almost completely lost its relevance today. The modern fuels and lubricants market offers products of a universal type.

In other words, all-weather motor oil for year-round use is widely represented on sale. Moreover, the line between products only for and engines is gradually blurring, as more and more often an option is offered that can be equally poured into both diesel and gasoline units. At the same time, it has not yet been possible to achieve an unambiguous and complete transition to universal oil for gasoline and diesel engines, taking into account the features of operation, the types of fuel used and other differences between units running on diesel fuel and gasoline. In this article, we intend to talk about which oil is better to fill in the engine in winter, what is the conditional marking of winter engine oil, how to monitor the level and correctly add lubricant to the engine during the winter operation of the car.

Read in this article

What kind of oil to fill in the engine for the winter

As mentioned above, the vast majority of products on the fuel and lubricants market are all-weather. At the same time, many car owners are still in a hurry to change the lubricant before the onset of cold weather. We note right away that this winter is highly recommended, especially in cases where the old lubricant has worked out half or two-thirds of its resource before a scheduled replacement.

Now let's move on to how to choose oil for the winter season, taking into account viscosity and other parameters that are extremely important for the proper operation of the internal combustion engine and its proper operation. Let's start with the fact that you need to fill in the engine with those products that are recommended by the car manufacturer. This information is contained in the instruction manual. However, the list is not limited to only one or two positions. Not only the motor resource will also depend on the parameters and quality of the filled lubricant. Oil affects the elasticity and noise level during engine operation, fuel consumption, ease of starting at low temperatures, etc.

It is well known that a thicker lubricant creates a thicker oil film, which allows the motor to run quieter. Also, such material is less consumed for waste, the risk of gaskets and other sealing elements is reduced. For this reason, in the summer, car owners, especially with a mileage of more than 100 thousand km, prefer to fill the engine with a lubricant with a higher viscosity, while remaining within the tolerances and recommendations of the engine manufacturer. The argument is that with the run in conjugated pairs, the gaps increase slightly. In other words, if a lubricant with an index, for example, 5W30, was initially poured into the motor, then after a run of 100-150 thousand. km. transition to 5W40 or 10W40 is carried out. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that more viscous technical fluids in conditions of negative temperatures thicken more and are pumped worse. As a result, an engine that normally starts with a thicker oil in summer may have difficulty starting in winter. In this case, the answer, is it possible to change the oil in the engine in winter, will be completely in the affirmative.
Also let's see how to check the engine oil in winter. To check, it will be enough to remove the oil dipstick before a cold start of the internal combustion engine and look at the condition of the lubricant, at what speed the oil collects in a drop at the end of the dipstick, etc. If it is clear that the grease is very thick, then the need for replacement is quite obvious. By the way, given that the lubricant in the engine thickens in the cold, it is useful to know how to properly add oil to the engine in winter. As you know, it is undesirable for the engine, that is, the lubricant is poured strictly according to the level. The oil level in the engine itself is checked in winter no more in the usual way (after parking), but after the internal combustion engine has been preheated to operating temperatures.

The fact is that if you evaluate the oil level on a cold engine, then the readings may be incorrect due to a decrease in the volume of oil during cooling. To accurately determine the level, the engine is fully warmed up at idle and then in motion (only if the level is not lowered to a critical level). Full warm-up makes it possible to warm up not only the coolant, but also the oil itself, the temperature of which increases more slowly. After the unit is turned off, then a pause is maintained for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the completely diluted grease has time to drain back into the sump, and the readings on the dipstick will make it possible to make an objective assessment, that is, add or remove excess grease if necessary.

So, we decided on an oil check. It becomes clear that the less viscous it turns out to be, the easier it will be for the engine to start in cold weather. If you notice that the filled lubricant is not suitable for winter, or you simply intend to choose the most optimal solution, then let's return to the features and nuances when choosing. Next, we will try to answer common questions about which oil to pour for the winter, which is better, 5w30 or 5w40 in winter, etc.

The choice of "winter" engine oil

The main parameters of the oil, which must be taken into account before purchase, can be determined by special markings. In the case of the selection of lubricants for the winter, it is necessary to choose a product that will be best suited in terms of viscosity and temperature indicators. Conditionally "winter" oil in the list of common universal solutions can be considered oils from 0W30 to 10W40.

Oil 0W30 will be the least viscous, that is, even in severe frosts (about -35 or -40) it remains fluid and is well pumped through the system.
Products with the 5W30 index are also well suited for winter, where the temperature drop in the region is quite significant. 10W30 is recommended for use in areas where winters are milder.
Marking 10W40 means that such an oil is universal, well suited both for winter with a slight decrease in temperature (about -5), and for operation in the summer.

At the same time, it is important to know that the smaller the first digit is, the thinner the oil will be after the internal combustion engine has warmed up and the unit has reached operating temperatures. An oil that is too thin will mean that the lubricating fluid will in some cases be inferior in terms of protection of mating loaded engine parts compared to more viscous counterparts. In other words, the thinner the oil, the thinner the oil film and the more the engine wears out. It turns out that for a confident start and minimal wear during a cold start, it is better to use low-viscosity oils, and after the engine warms up, such an oil may not provide the proper degree of protection. Given these features, it is recommended to adhere to the instruction manual and the golden mean rule. For example, if a manufacturer has indicated that both 5W30 and 10W40 oils can be used for a particular engine, then it is necessary to build on the degree of possible temperature drop in the region.

In other words, if winter temperatures don't usually drop below -5 or -7, then 10W40 might be a good choice. If the temperature drop reaches -15 or -20 degrees, then it is more reasonable to stop at 5W30 or 5W40, etc. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that with the onset of heat, the oil may also need to be changed to a more viscous one for improved engine protection. It is for this reason that some experts recommend pouring a less viscous lubricant into the engine in winter and a more viscous oil in summer, that is, to replace it seasonally. We add that such a change is relevant only if the increase and decrease in temperatures in the region greatly exceeds the calculated "universal" parameters of the oil. This means that if in the climatic zone in winter, on average, it is not lower than -20, and in summer not higher than +35, then oil marked 5W30 can be used year-round.

Now a few words about manufacturers and types of oil. Experts and experienced motorists emphasize that, first of all, the tolerances of the internal combustion engine manufacturer are important, and only then should one or another brand be preferred. If otherwise, the necessary marking for temperature and viscosity is first selected, then compliance with all tolerances specified in the manual is taken into account. Only after that, the type of oil is determined (mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic), and only then can you focus on a specific fuel and lubricants manufacturer, unique product features, final cost, etc.

It turns out that it is not so important whether you fill the engine with Liqui Moly, Castrol, Mobil or Xado. The main thing is that the selected product is original, suitable for this type of engine, has the right viscosity, taking into account seasonality, and meets all the tolerances of the power unit manufacturer.

Summing up

Given the fact that a large number of types and brands of motor oil are available on the market, it is recommended not to opt for the cheapest options. It is also better to purchase fuels and lubricants in trusted car dealerships and large retail outlets, which will help reduce the likelihood of buying fake goods. We add that with a predicted significant decrease in temperatures in the region, one should not opt for mineral oil. In this case, it is optimal to fill in semi-synthetics.

Finally, I would like to note that if the car is in a heated box or garage during long-term parking, as well as during everyday operation, it usually stands idle on the street for no more than 2-4 hours, then there is no particular need to fill in oil with reduced viscosity in winter.

In this case, it will be enough, which will slow down the cooling rate of the internal combustion engine. Another way to reduce the risk of increased wear and facilitate cold starting is to install, use engine auto-heating with help, etc.