Best Engine Oil 10w-30

Best motor oil 10w-30

Choosing 10w-30 oil for your car? In this article, we will tell you what to look for when choosing 10w-30 viscosity oil.

10w-30 oil is typically used for high mileage vehicles, over 70 miles for hot climate use.

When choosing 10w-30 oil for a car, we recommend buying motor oil that meets the API classification SN, SN+, SP.

For Asian (Japanese and Korean), as well as American vehicles it is recommended to use oil with ILSAC GF-4, GF-5, GF-6 classification.

The specification SAE 10W-30 is appropriated to low-viscosity engine oils that are intended for operation mainly in a moderate climate without severe winter frosts. This viscosity class also includes some specialized “energy-saving” oils produced with consideration of API SN, SP, or ILSAC GF-5, GF-6 requirements.

This viscosity class also includes a number of special oils for motorcycles, tractors, agricultural and construction special equipment, manufactured according to specific standards.

10w-30 Motor Oil Best Choice

Best 10w-30 motor oils on the market:

How does 10W-30 stand for?

The first number of the 10w viscosity indicates the winter temperature rating. The second number, 30, indicates how well the oil will flow when heated to 100° C / 212° F or higher.

Lower viscosity is good for cold temperatures (hence the association with the letter “W”) because the oil is more liquid. Thinner engine oil flows easier and moves faster. When you start a cold engine again, the engine oil needs to get to the top of the engine where it drains down. Since motor oil is vital to engine lubrication, it has to move fast, and the low viscosity helps it do that.

Types of 10w-30 Car Oils

The composition of modern motor oils is formed on the principle of adding a certain set of additives to their base (sometimes called base oil).

The base can be obtained from:

1. From artificially synthesized organic compounds – in this case, the oils are called synthetic.
2. A mixture of mineral and synthetic bases – semi-synthetic oils.

Fully synthetic engine oil 10w-30

Fully synthetic oil provides higher viscosity, resistance to oxidation and thermal degradation, and helps fight oil sludge. It helps improve fuel efficiency and can even increase vehicle power by reducing engine drag.

Fully synthetic oil is ideal for vehicles that require maximum performance and high levels of lubrication. If you live in a climate with very cold winters or very hot summers, or if you use your vehicle for towing or hauling cargo, synthetic oil may be the best type of oil for your vehicle. Older engines can also benefit from synthetic oil because it can help prevent the harmful sludge that some older engines are prone to.

Since the cost of synthetic motor oil is higher than regular oil, consult with your technician to see if this oil is right for your car.

Synthetic Blended Motor Oil 10w-30

Synthetic oil has many of the characteristics of fully synthetic oil but at a lower cost. This type of oil consists of a blend of synthetic and conventional base oils with the addition of some additives that provide additional resistance to oxidation and excellent low-temperature properties. Synthetic blends make it easy for drivers to switch from conventional oil to synthetic oil, so this type of oil is becoming increasingly popular among today’s drivers. It’s also a great intermediate option for drivers who want the added protection and performance of synthetic oil, but aren’t willing to pay for a full switch to synthetic oil.

Conventional 10w-30 Engine Oil

This oil is great for low-mileage, low- to medium-mileage late-model cars with a simple engine design.

High mileage engine oil 10w-30

High mileage oil is specifically designed for cars with over 75,000 miles. This type of oil helps reduce oil consumption, minimize oil leaks and seepage, and reduce smoke and emissions in older engines.

Detailed deciphering of 10w-30 oil:

• SAE – an indication that the lubricant belongs to the SAE class of the international classification;
• 10w-30 is an indicator of versatility, the grease can be used in both winter and summer;
• 10w – winter viscosity index;
• 30 – summer index.

Chemical basis of 10w-30 oil

10w-30 engine oil can have any base – semi-synthetic, fully synthetic. The introduced viscosity modifier packages in this case will differ greatly: since SAE 30 oils are quite “liquid” at high temperatures, a high-quality mineral base oil can fit the requirements with a minimum of correction, but to provide the necessary low-temperature properties will already require additives.

Advantages and disadvantages of 10w-30 oil

SAE 10w-30 engine oil comes in different bases: conventional, semi-synthetic, and synthetic. For a new car, it is better to choose synthetic oil, since its ability to thicken is not as strong.

The advantages of SAE 10w-30 engine oil:

• 10w-30 oil can be used for diesel and gasoline engines
• 10w-30 is suitable for natural gas engines
• 10w-30 is designed for cars and trucks
• 10w-30 is suitable for multistage engines with turbocharging.
• 10w-30 oil does not lose its properties during long-term operation in a city environment with frequent gear shifting, engine idling

Specialists recommend pouring universal engine oil SAE 10w-30 in cars with mileage, which is not less than ¼ of the operating life of the new engine, when the process of lapping the parts is over.

The disadvantages include high viscosity at low temperatures. During periods of severe cold, it is important to observe the warm-up mode when starting, otherwise, engine parts may fail due to the high friction force. The lubricant will deteriorate: it will form fouling of paraffin components.

SAE and API classification 10w-30

Car oils are classified according to two key indicators: the scope of use: gasoline/diesel engine, turbocharged engine; oil viscosity.

The standards by which lubricants are classified are considered the same for all oils. The most common is the SAE and API classifications.

The API standard introduces two groups of quality classes, prefixed with S (gasoline engines) and C (diesel).

The letter after the prefix defines a particular class, assigned to new classes in order of alphabetical order: API SP oil meets more stringent requirements than API SL.

If a particular oil grade can be used in engines of both types in terms of their properties, a double class is indicated – for example, API SN/CF.

The API classification divides oils into three groups according to their purpose and quality:

• S – for gasoline engines;
• C – for diesel engines;
• EC – universal energy-saving oil.

The other letters indicate the class the grease belongs to.

All classes differ from each other:

• API SL – oils for engines in cars manufactured after 2000. For multi-valve, turbocharged, with work on lean mixtures, with increased requirements for energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.
• API SM – oils for engines of cars manufactured after 2004. Ability to be certified according to ILSAC energy-saving category.
• API SN – oils for engines of vehicles manufactured after 2010. Designed for oils used in the most advanced gasoline engines of passenger and sports cars and small vans. Some oils in this category may comply with the ILSAC GF-5 specification and qualify as energy-saving.
• API SP – oils for engines of cars manufactured after 2020. Designed for oils used in the most advanced gasoline engines of passenger and sport utility vehicles and small vans. Some oils in this category may comply with the specification ILSAC GF-6.

ILSAC 10w-30 motor oils classification

• GF-4 – oils for engines of cars manufactured after 2004, SAE viscosity grades 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30. The oils are compatible with catalytic exhaust gas recovery systems.
• GF-5 – oils for engines of vehicles manufactured after 2010 meet the quality requirements of API SN classification. Viscosity grades SAE 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30. They are characterized by improved energy efficiency, enhanced anti-wear properties, reduced sludge formation in the turbine, a noticeable reduction of carbon deposits in the engine.
• GF-6- oils for engines of cars manufactured after 2020, includes improvements: fuel economy and preservation of fuel economy, preservation of engine life, protection from wear.

Recommended oil brands 10w-30:

• Liqui Moly.
• Royal Purple
• Mobil
• Castrol
• Havoline
• Quaker State
• Shell
• Valvoline
• Pennzoil

The cost of 10w-30 engine oil:

• Up to $20: synthetic-based 10w-30 oils
• Up to $25: 10w-30 synthetic oils of popular brands
• Up to $50: synthetic oils 10w-30 premium brands