Originally Posted by Skid_Vicious
what do the oil numbers mean? for example, the oil i use for my car is 5w 30, but in the new civics it has to be 5w-20. I think the first number is viscosity - like 5w thickens at a lower temp than 10w and covers a broader range of temps....but i'm not sure. Thanks
The number is viscosity.... 5w is the weight during Winter..lol hence the W or during cold weather... the weight is light so that oil can easily flow thru when it's cold...start up has alot of wear and tear since engine components don't have oil in them during the first few seconds of engine start. The second number is it's normal weight after it heats up...it's thick to withstand heat and do what it needs to do ( clean and cool ...etc )