Best Engine Oil 5w40

Motor Oil 5w-40

Choosing 5w-40 oil for your car? In this article, we’ll tell you what to look for when choosing a 5w-40 viscosity oil.

5w-40 oil is typically used for modern cars with over 100 miles on the road. Also, 5w-40 4T oil is used for motorcycles, ATVs, and other motorcycle equipment.

When buying 5w-40 motorcycle oil, pay attention to the JASO approvals. Modern oils must have a tolerance MA-2, such oil is recommended for sports motorcycles and motorcycle equipment, which operates at high loads.

When choosing the oil 5w-40 for American cars recommend buying motor oil, which meets the classification API SN, SN+, SP, or ILSAC GF-5, GF-6 (for Asian cars). For European cars, it is recommended to choose an oil that meets the ACEA classification (A3/B3/B4). For diesel engines with DPF, it is recommended to use oil that corresponds to the ACEA C3 classification.

For German automobiles, it is recommended to choose the oil 5w-40, which corresponds to the tolerance of the manufacturers: VW, BMW, MB.

Engine oil is a lubricant designed to reduce the sliding and rolling friction of the contacting parts in the engine. By enveloping each element it creates a film. Liquid resistance to movement is many times less than dry. The thicker the oil, that is, the lower its viscosity, the thicker the film remains on the engine components.

Oils are labeled differently depending on their ability to reduce friction and work effectively at different ambient temperatures.

Functions of a 5w-40 automotive oil

There are many tasks before the engine lubricant. And each of them is important:

• To leave a film of the right thickness on the parts of the engine. It is necessary to reduce friction.
• To cool the engine, whose operating temperature is 302 °F.
• During the combustion process, sludge is formed. These are oxides that result from the combustion of fuel. If the products of combustion are deposited on the metal surfaces of the engine, corrosion occurs. The oil prevents the sludge from settling on the walls. It keeps it in suspension.

Different types cope with the task in different ways. It depends on how the lubricant is made, what is taken as the basis, what additives are present.

Synthetic and semi-synthetic motor oils cope with the above tasks with different efficiency. This is due to the fact that they have different viscosity and it changes differently with the temperature of the engine.

According to the laws of physics, the lower the temperature of the fluid, the more viscous it is. As the temperature rises, the oil becomes thinner. Kinematic and dynamic characteristics change.

To make the lubricating fluid work successfully at all temperatures various additives, synthesized with the required properties, are added to the base oil, base. They are also called additives. It is the additives that set the properties that are responsible for the effective operation of the lubricant.

How 5w-40 engine oil works

Oil with this name is marked according to the classification sae 5w-40 – the first number 5, which defines its dynamic viscosity. According to this figure, you can determine the ambient air temperature in winter, at which a cold engine can be started without endangering the normal operation of all engine components.

Oil marked 5w-40 is designed for year-round operation, i.e. it is a universal (all-season) oil.

5w-40 Motor Oil Best Choice

Best 5w-40 motor oils on the market:

Types of automobile oils 5w-40

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 oil can be obtained from:

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

Fully synthetic motor oil 5w-40

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 5w-40

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 5w-40 Motor Oil

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

High mileage engine oil 5w-40

High mileage oil is specifically designed for vehicles 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.

Benefits of SAE 5w-40 engine oils

Grease 5w-40 has gained high popularity due to its properties and unpretentiousness in relation to weather conditions. The additives used in synthetics of this viscosity provide the fluid with anti-corrosion, anti-acid, and detergent characteristics.

All compositions with viscosity 5w-40 have the following advantages:

• Providing effective engine starting in cold weather.
• Increase of engine power unit life.
• High-quality enveloping of the engine elements with a strong protective film, which is not allowed if all conditions of use are observed.
• Resistance to oxidative processes and prevention of corrosion.
• Excellent detergent properties that guarantee the cleanliness of engine parts.
• Absence of evaporation.

Classification of SAE 5w-40 engine oils

All engine lubricants are classified according to their viscosity. This classification is called SAE. According to this form of classification, they may be divided into classes according to their fluidity, that is, on the ability of the liquid lubricant to spread over the surface of the part and, at the same time, to adhere to the metal surface. This classification is used worldwide.

SAE and API classifications 5w-40

• Car oils are classified according to two key indicators: the scope of use: petrol/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 for both types of properties, a double class is specified – for example, API SN / CF.

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 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 5w-40 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 5w-40:

• Liqui Moly.
• Castrol.
• Red Line.
• Motul.
• Mobil.
• Lucas Oil.
• Amsoil.
• Castrol.
• Havoline.
• Quaker State.
• Shell.
• Valvoline.
• Total.
• Maxima.

Cost of engine oil 5w-40:

• Up to $25: synthetic-based 5w-40 oils.
• Up to $40: synthetic oils 5w-40 popular brands.
• Up to $60: synthetic oils 5w-40 premium brands.