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Understanding Oil
Grades
25 February 2020

What does the W stand for?

The W stands for WINTER, this is commonly mistaken
by many who consider this to stand for Weight. The
number before the W represents the viscosity
(thickness)and rates the oil’s flow at -17.8 degrees
Celsius. So, a 5W-30 would thicken less than a 10W-30
but more than 0W-30. The second number after the W

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1/6/23, 5:36 PM Understanding Oil Grades | Online Lubricants

represents the oils viscosity measured at 100 degrees

Celsius. This demonstrates the oils resistance to
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Example – a good way to remember how oil reacts to

temperature is by imagining you’re adding cooking oil
in to a frying pan – at first, when the oil hasn’t had a
chance to heat up it starts out quite thick but once the
pan gets hotter, the oil becomes thinner and more
runny. Share this post

Low temperatures = Thicker  post  tweet

High temperatures = Thinner  share  save

Monograde oils such as SAE 30, 40 and 50 are no

longer used in the latest automotive engines but may Continue Reading...
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generators. See below a chart demonstrating some
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1/6/23, 5:36 PM Understanding Oil Grades | Online Lubricants

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