What "W" really means in Oil Ratings?
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What "W" really means in Oil Ratings?
How many people have thought that the "W" in the oil ratings ( Like 10W-30 or 5W-20) meant Weight?
Well I did, but it doesnt mean weight? It means Winter. Now dont get on here and tell me I am wrong or full of **** because I learned this at school. I am in automotive school.
Just thought I would tell people this who thought it meant weight. Just some useful knowledge to people. If you already knew it, then thats cool.
Well I did, but it doesnt mean weight? It means Winter. Now dont get on here and tell me I am wrong or full of **** because I learned this at school. I am in automotive school.
Just thought I would tell people this who thought it meant weight. Just some useful knowledge to people. If you already knew it, then thats cool.
it can relate. when the oil is cold at certain tempertures, it thickens thus making the oil heavier.
ive always thought of it as "weight" here, and i figured that out by ppl off this forum too. cause i dont know my oil very well
ive always thought of it as "weight" here, and i figured that out by ppl off this forum too. cause i dont know my oil very well
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Originally Posted by cambo
If i remember correctly, the W means winter because it was formulated to be okay to run during the winter or extremely cold weather.
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Originally Posted by ferio
what school do you go to? thanks for the info!
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Originally Posted by Zachgeyer
Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
that's freaking awesome! 
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Rep Power: 454 so who thinks this post should be stickied? I sure as hell do. I wish I could tell you all more, but you have to pay to learn 
But yea, I thought I would just let everyone know that.
Lets see what else can I tell you about oil. Well if you dont know, dont ever listen to people who say you can change your oil at 7500 miles, change it every 3k if you do alot of stop and go driving and about 4-4500k if you do alot of freeway driving, reason being is that you would think oil keeps doing its job but after a while it justs gets dirty, that is not true, well in a since it is, but after a certain period of time, the additives in oil dissapear, or basically go away which turn your oil into base oil, which is not good for your engine. Basically it will erode your bearings in your crankshaft, screw up your oil pump, and also cause premeture wear. And in some cases, your engine will lock up. The whole purpose of changing your oil often is because you want to have the additives in there.
Also if you have alot of miles on your engine and you want to clean it, use diesel motor oil. It sounds stupid, but diesel motor oil will clean your engine out really good. use it about 7 oil changes and change it every 2k miles. then switch back to your regular motor oil. I thought it was stupid at first, but it helps to clean your engine.
But yea, I thought I would just let everyone know that.
Lets see what else can I tell you about oil. Well if you dont know, dont ever listen to people who say you can change your oil at 7500 miles, change it every 3k if you do alot of stop and go driving and about 4-4500k if you do alot of freeway driving, reason being is that you would think oil keeps doing its job but after a while it justs gets dirty, that is not true, well in a since it is, but after a certain period of time, the additives in oil dissapear, or basically go away which turn your oil into base oil, which is not good for your engine. Basically it will erode your bearings in your crankshaft, screw up your oil pump, and also cause premeture wear. And in some cases, your engine will lock up. The whole purpose of changing your oil often is because you want to have the additives in there.
Also if you have alot of miles on your engine and you want to clean it, use diesel motor oil. It sounds stupid, but diesel motor oil will clean your engine out really good. use it about 7 oil changes and change it every 2k miles. then switch back to your regular motor oil. I thought it was stupid at first, but it helps to clean your engine.
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Originally Posted by streetglower
Lets see what else can I tell you about oil. Well if you dont know, dont ever listen to people who say you can change your oil at 7500 miles, change it every 3k if you do alot of stop and go driving and about 4-4500k if you do alot of freeway driving, reason being is that you would think oil keeps doing its job but after a while it justs gets dirty, that is not true, well in a since it is, but after a certain period of time, the additives in oil dissapear, or basically go away which turn your oil into base oil, which is not good for your engine. Basically it will erode your bearings in your crankshaft, screw up your oil pump, and also cause premeture wear. And in some cases, your engine will lock up. The whole purpose of changing your oil often is because you want to have the additives in there.
Also if you have alot of miles on your engine and you want to clean it, use diesel motor oil. It sounds stupid, but diesel motor oil will clean your engine out really good. use it about 7 oil changes and change it every 2k miles. then switch back to your regular motor oil. I thought it was stupid at first, but it helps to clean your engine.
you obviously havent seen bobistheoilguy.com.. i dont think this thread should be a sticky, but a link to the site i mentioned should.
first, oil can go well over 3k. ive got mobil 1 in my engine right now and its got about 7k in it right now.
if you look at this link, you'll see used oil analysis on an accord used for well over 3000 miles, showing great numbers, and the TBN is still good, indicating the oil still has plenty of life left in it. honda engines are pretty easy on motor oil and unless you really severly beat on your car, 3k is not necessary.
and about diesel oil, yes, it does have more cleaning agents, but if you find yourself burning oil you shouldnt use it since it can damage your cat. if you do decide to use diesel oil, id try to find rotella 10w-30 insted of the popular 15w-40. or you could just try auto-rx which has worked well for many.
every engine is different, every oil is different. for example, turbo cars are very hard on oil, but cars like our civics are very easy on oil.. so there is no one interval.. there are a lot of factors to consider
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Originally Posted by ctx66
you obviously havent seen bobistheoilguy.com.. i dont think this thread should be a sticky, but a link to the site i mentioned should.
first, oil can go well over 3k. ive got mobil 1 in my engine right now and its got about 7k in it right now.
if you look at this link, you'll see used oil analysis on an accord used for well over 3000 miles, showing great numbers, and the TBN is still good, indicating the oil still has plenty of life left in it. honda engines are pretty easy on motor oil and unless you really severly beat on your car, 3k is not necessary.
and about diesel oil, yes, it does have more cleaning agents, but if you find yourself burning oil you shouldnt use it since it can damage your cat. if you do decide to use diesel oil, id try to find rotella 10w-30 insted of the popular 15w-40. or you could just try auto-rx which has worked well for many.
every engine is different, every oil is different. for example, turbo cars are very hard on oil, but cars like our civics are very easy on oil.. so there is no one interval.. there are a lot of factors to consider
first, oil can go well over 3k. ive got mobil 1 in my engine right now and its got about 7k in it right now.
if you look at this link, you'll see used oil analysis on an accord used for well over 3000 miles, showing great numbers, and the TBN is still good, indicating the oil still has plenty of life left in it. honda engines are pretty easy on motor oil and unless you really severly beat on your car, 3k is not necessary.
and about diesel oil, yes, it does have more cleaning agents, but if you find yourself burning oil you shouldnt use it since it can damage your cat. if you do decide to use diesel oil, id try to find rotella 10w-30 insted of the popular 15w-40. or you could just try auto-rx which has worked well for many.
every engine is different, every oil is different. for example, turbo cars are very hard on oil, but cars like our civics are very easy on oil.. so there is no one interval.. there are a lot of factors to consider
maybe you should read the books there.. chris
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Originally Posted by ctx66
you obviously havent seen bobistheoilguy.com.. i dont think this thread should be a sticky, but a link to the site i mentioned should.
first, oil can go well over 3k. ive got mobil 1 in my engine right now and its got about 7k in it right now.
if you look at this link, you'll see used oil analysis on an accord used for well over 3000 miles, showing great numbers, and the TBN is still good, indicating the oil still has plenty of life left in it. honda engines are pretty easy on motor oil and unless you really severly beat on your car, 3k is not necessary.
and about diesel oil, yes, it does have more cleaning agents, but if you find yourself burning oil you shouldnt use it since it can damage your cat. if you do decide to use diesel oil, id try to find rotella 10w-30 insted of the popular 15w-40. or you could just try auto-rx which has worked well for many.
every engine is different, every oil is different. for example, turbo cars are very hard on oil, but cars like our civics are very easy on oil.. so there is no one interval.. there are a lot of factors to consider
first, oil can go well over 3k. ive got mobil 1 in my engine right now and its got about 7k in it right now.
if you look at this link, you'll see used oil analysis on an accord used for well over 3000 miles, showing great numbers, and the TBN is still good, indicating the oil still has plenty of life left in it. honda engines are pretty easy on motor oil and unless you really severly beat on your car, 3k is not necessary.
and about diesel oil, yes, it does have more cleaning agents, but if you find yourself burning oil you shouldnt use it since it can damage your cat. if you do decide to use diesel oil, id try to find rotella 10w-30 insted of the popular 15w-40. or you could just try auto-rx which has worked well for many.
every engine is different, every oil is different. for example, turbo cars are very hard on oil, but cars like our civics are very easy on oil.. so there is no one interval.. there are a lot of factors to consider
For the real truth about your car and the oil in it, send in a sample to Blackstone labs. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
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i changed this one guys oil in a s-10 once... you would not believe how lumpy it was... looked like cocoa puffs in chocolate syrup.
synthetics can last a whole lot longer than conventional oil too, and mobil one is the best oil ever made! woo
i changed this one guys oil in a s-10 once... you would not believe how lumpy it was... looked like cocoa puffs in chocolate syrup.
synthetics can last a whole lot longer than conventional oil too, and mobil one is the best oil ever made! woo
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Originally Posted by RallyeRed2k2
i go to UTI also but in glendale heights, illinois. Im in advanced electronics phase 22
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Rep Power: 0 actually it is commonly refered to as weight and winter. it just refers to how the thick or the 'weight' of the oil will be while cold or warmed up. polymers are added to the base oil (5W, 10W, 20W...) that stop the oil from thinning too much when under operating temperatures. when the oil is cold, the polymers are all coiled up and flow as thin as the normal rating (for me it would be 5W), but when the oil is up to temperature, the polymers unwind and stretch into chains that stop the oil from thinning too much. so for me, i have oil that when it is cold is at a 5 weight/winter viscosity, but it will never get as thin as a 20 weight/winter would when heated. (5W-20). lets thank the oil gods for creating multi-viscosity oils.
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Rep Power: 348 I learned the W thing from a car show (I forget which one right now but I'm guessing motorweek) and I still think the rest of this was an interesting read...
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