5W30 ENGINE OIL
Castrol 5W-30 oil explained
5W 30 engine oil is the most popular engine oil for modern cars. This is because it is extremely adaptable at handling a wide range of temperatures and maintains its efficacy in low winter temperatures.
What does 5W-30 mean?
“W” stands for winter. The number before the “W” signifies the viscosity of an oil at low temperatures and the number following the “W” indicates its viscosity at normal operating temperatures when the engine is running. The 5 number indicates that the oil is thin at low temperatures and better able to operate in cold start and icy conditions.
Castrol 5W-30 product range
If your car requires a 5W-30 engine oil, Castrol offers a full range of options across all 3 of our brands – EDGE, MAGNATEC and GTX - to meet the needs of every driver and vehicle manufacturer.
Fully synthetic 5W-30 oil
5W-30 synthetic oils use a high quality mineral base oil but have beneficial additives. These additives make the oil more chemically stable, less likely to acidify or oxidise and better able to retain their properties over a longer period of time.
5W–30 synthetic oils are more expensive than 5W-30 semi synthetic and mineral oils because they contain more additives. These additives do not just deliver superior engine performance and protection, they also extend the life of the oil meaning that you need to change the oil less often.
Semi synthetic 5W-30 oil
5W-30 semi synthetic oils are sometimes referred to as blends. 5W-30 semi synthetic oils are cheaper than their fully synthetic counterparts but contain less additives. As today’s motor manufacturer specifications are becoming more demanding semi-synthetics are losing out to fully synthetic engine oils when manufacturers, mechanics and consumers are valuing performance and protection highly.
5W-30 vs 5W-40
We have already explained that the viscosity measures or numbers refer to a lubricant’s viscosity at low and high temperatures. 5W-30 synthetic oils are extremely popular because they deliver outstanding performance and protection across a wide temperature range. If you are working with a very powerful engine or operating at higher temperatures with higher loads a 5W-40 may be more appropriate.
5W-30 vs 0W-30
A 0W-30 oil has a thinner consistency which means that it handles low temperature conditions well. This makes it perfect for geographies exposed to harsh winter conditions.
