Can you Mix 5w20 and 5w30? 🛢️[Truth Explained]

Can you Mix 5w20 and 5w30? Did the oil warning light come on while you were driving and you were unsure what to do? It most likely suggested that you needed to top off your engine oil. Finding the right oil for your engine, on the other hand, is not always easy.

This post will go through the potential effects of combining 5W20 with 5W30 oil, as well as when and how to do so.

Can 5W20 AND 5W30 Oil Be Mixed?

Here’s What You Should Know Before Mixing 5w20 and 5w30 Oil.

Yes, 5W20 and 5W30 oil may be mixed. Your engine, however, MUST support it. To avoid engine damage, both oils should be of the same brand and have a comparable API service level.

However, combining both oils is unlikely to provide apparent improvements; As a result, if your primary aim is to enhance engine performance or mileage, you may be disappointed.

What Happens When You Mix Them?

Understanding both oils is required to fully comprehend what happens in the engine when they are blended.

According to the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) multi-grade oil format, the letter W signifies that both multi-grade oils are acceptable for winter and hence suited for low temperatures.

The number before the letter denotes the viscosity at temperatures below 0°C, whereas the number after the letter shows the viscosity at temperatures over 100°C.

Because of its increased viscosity, 5W30 multi-grade oil is better appropriate for high temperatures and is consequently used throughout the summer and in tropical climates.

This, however, does not exclude the usage of the oil in frigid conditions. The 5W20 oil, on the other hand, works much better in cold environments.

So, what happens when you blend the two oils? Because the oils have varying viscosities and additive components, they will not completely mix to produce a single oil combination.

If you blend both oils for emergency use, your engine may not suffer immediate harm.

However, using both oils in an unsuitable engine can cause serious engine damage over time, including overheating, sludge buildup, oil leaks, and deposits.

As a result, if you must use incompatible oil in an emergency, it is advised that you cleanse the oil and refill with the proper engine oil.

What combinations are possible?

Although mixing both oils is safe for your engine, experts nevertheless advise against it.

However, if you need to top up oil in a 5W30 engine with 5W30 oil in an emergency, the larger proportion of oil used should be for the heavier oil (5W30 oil), and the lower proportion for the thinner oil (5W20 oil) (5W20 oil).

In a 5W30 engine, for example, you might use two parts 5W30 oil and one part 5W20 oil, and vice versa.

If your engine allows you to mix both oils, consult the owner’s handbook to verify you use the correct ratio.

Can 5w20 be substituted for 5w30?

Because 5W20 oil has a lower viscosity, it may not be the ideal choice for a 5W30 engine. This is due to the fact that the 5W30 engine is better suited for viscous lubricants, which would lubricate the engine under high temperatures.

The 5W20 oil, on the other hand, would be too thin to effectively protect the engine’s components against friction, resulting in wear and tear over time.

Because the barrier generated by the oil would be too thin, the oil would not adequately separate the engine parts.

Only use 5W20 oil in a 5W30 engine if the engine is compatible with both lubricants.

In such circumstances, the oils should be blended before use, and 5W20 oil should not be used in the engine alone.

5w30 Vs 5w20

The use of 5W30 oil in a 5W20 engine may not be a good idea since the oil has a greater viscosity and would be too thick for the 5W20 engine’s components, which require a thinner barrier.

The engine components will not receive adequate oil coating because the oil is too thick to pass through, thereby resulting in overheating, wear and tear, and oil starvation.

While moving against one another, the engine parts would likewise encounter additional resistance.

When blended with 5W20 oil, a 5W30 oil may be safe in 5W20 engines.

What Are the Key Differences Between 5w30 and 5w20?

When compared to 5W30 oil, 5W20 oil works at a lower temperature. 5W30 oil may still be used at low temperatures, however not as low as 5W20 oil.

Although it cannot function at much lower temperatures, it can function at greater temperatures.

At lower temperatures, 5W30 oil may work to some extent, but not as well as 5W20 oil due to its higher viscosity, which reduces penetrating ability and may result in oil deprivation of various engine components.

In contrast, 5W20 oil may coat the fine sections with a thin barrier all the way down to the engine’s lowest regions, guaranteeing that no area of the engine is deprived of oil.

At higher temperatures, 5W20 oil becomes too thin to fully cover the engine’s components, resulting in premature wear and tear.

The 5W30 oil, on the other hand, can effectively lubricate engine components and avoid friction. Heat causes the engine oil to become more watery.

This will benefit 5W30 oil but be detrimental to 5W20 oil, which will lose its capacity to produce a sufficient barrier to protect engine parts.

5W20 is the superior choice for fuel economy at typical operating temperatures. Because it creates a thinner barrier for engine part lubrication, less oil is utilized.

This may not seem like much at first, but it adds up over time and helps save money on gas.

Other Potential Drawbacks of Mixing 5w20 and 5w30

Yes, it is OK. You can blend a 5w20 with a 5w30 oil with no noticeable or serious consequences. You must, however, ensure that they have the same API classification and are produced with the same categorization.

However, if you can avoid combining the two, you should probably do so. This is because the rule of thumb is to always follow the suggested viscosity, and it is not advisable to blend two viscosities.

If you want to be on the safe side, you can use this rule. If you want to be a little more challenged, try the blend.

Conclusion

If you mix both oils in your automobile, it may void your warranty and result in expensive engine repairs.

Engines that respond to incompatible lubricants may have poor internal combustion and shortened engine life.

Unless in an emergency, do not mix multi-grade engine oils since there is no benefit to your vehicle and significant injury to your engine if your engine is incompatible.

Questions and Answers on can you mix 5w20 and 5w30

Q) Are There Any Advantages to Mixing Oils?

A: Not at all. Some people may benefit from combining oils, but this is only a short-term solution. Changing the amount of base oil in your engine will need the installation of a new oil filter as well as an oil change. So, if you mix 5w20 and 5w30, you’ll need to replace the oil again after a few thousand miles.

Q) Will 5W-30 engine oil harm a 5W20 engine?

A: Although all motor oils are relatively compatible with all engines, each oil has its own set of benefits to provide an engine. Putting a 5w30 in an engine designed for 5w20 will not harm the engine; nevertheless, the engine may not run optimally, and you may need to replace oil sooner than expected.

Also, because 5W30 is thicker, it causes the engine to use more gasoline, resulting in a drop in fuel efficiency and, most likely, a decrease in horsepower response. Furthermore, employing 5W30 instead of 5W20 on a regular basis might cause serious engine damage in the long term.

Q) What’s the Difference Between 5w20 and 5w30 Oil?

A: When the engine is running, the viscosity of the oils varies; 5w30 is thicker than 5w20. However, at lower temperatures, both oils have the same viscosity rating. The ingredients used in the formulation of 5W20 and 5W30 also differ.

Q) Is 5w30 suitable for summer?

A: Because of its viscosity, 5W30 would benefit your engine much throughout the summer. When the sun is shining brightly and the engine is hot, 5W30 will not thin out rapidly and will continue to provide good advantages depending on the additives provided by the manufacturer.

The worst-case situation during the summer is that the oil in your engine thins out, causing quicker wear and maybe even knocking. During the heat, use 5w30 to avoid this.

Q) Can I combine 5w40 and 5w30?

A: You can combine any two oils; but, when you mix oils, your car’s engine will not receive the full advantages that each of the mixed oils would have provided if used alone.

Aside from that, combining 5W40 and 5W30 is nice, and your engine will not suffer instantly. Regardless, combining fluids might be damaging to the engine in the long term.

Q) What if I put 5W-30 instead of 5W20 by mistake?

A: What happens if you enter 5w30 instead of 5w20? When you use 5W-30 motor oil instead of 5W-20, you risk harming your car’s engine since 5W-20 motor oil is compatible with internal engine components. The winter rating of 5W-20 and 5W-30 motor oils is the same. It signifies that both motor oils have the same viscosity when cold.

Q) In my Honda Civic, can I use 5w30 instead of 5w20?

The owner’s handbook suggests it, however it also states that 5w30 can be used if 5w20 is unavailable, but that it should be replaced at the next oil change.

Q) Which is better, 5w20 or 5w30 oil?

A: The most prevalent on the market is 5w30. Many car manufacturers, however, prefer the lower viscosity variant, 5w20. 5w20 might give superior protection in colder locations since the lower viscosity improves oil mobility in freezing situations.

Q) When should I change from 5W20 to 5W30 oil?

A: Remember that thinner motor oil (5W20) will flow better through your engine than 5W30. Unless otherwise specified, use 5W20 in cold weather. If moving to 5W30 isn’t an issue for you, utilize it throughout the warmer months.

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Ethan Simons

Ethan Simons is a seasoned automotive expert with over a decade of experience in engine mechanics and diagnostics. His expertise and practical advice have helped many auto enthusiasts tackle intricate engine repairs. He is a DIY car maintenance enthusiast. Through his informative guides and hands-on approach, Ethan continues to inspire a community of avid automobile enthusiasts.