If you have a car or any other automotive, you must be aware of oil’s importance to its systems. Oil is instrumental in the working of any machine so long as it runs on a hydraulic system.
We pit the SAE 30 vs. 10w30 to see whether they would have the same level of effectiveness and to see which one is better than the other.
Which is more viscous? Which one guarantees more efficiency?
Let’s dive in.
What Is the Meaning of SAE And SAE30?
SAE loosely translated means Society of Automotive Engineers. It gets its name from the Society of Automotive Engineers.
They were the association responsible for coining the code-based system of defining the viscosity of the oil.
When it comes to machines, Viscosity refers to how long it would take oil to flow through all the machine components via its openings.
The longer it takes to flow, the less viscous it is.
Viscosity, therefore, determines the strength and thickness of an oil film in a machine. SAE 30 engine oil, therefore, means an oil that has a viscosity of 30.
The oil used in motors is usually in a rating of 0 to 50.
SAE 30 motor oil is a nondetergent oil that works for small motor engines like generators, lawnmowers, or other 4stroke garden tools. Its viscosity varies in temperature.
A perfect 30 should, however, thickens in the face of high temperatures.
What Is 10W30?
SAE 10W30 is a type of oil with SAE10W viscosity when in low temperatures and SAE 30 of viscosity when at high temperatures.” W” stands for winter.
You can read the difference between 10w30 and 5w30 to learn more about 10W30 engine oil.
But in short, the SAE 10W30 has a relative viscosity that thins when the oil is heated instead of thickening.
The 10 in this oil refers to the oil’s viscosity in cool temperature, and 30 represents its viscosity when in operation.
Therefore, it is a double grade oil, which is in contrast to the SAE 30 that is a single grade.
The 10w30 is ideal for heavy engines since it can withstand even the warmest temperatures for long without having any disastrous consequences on the engine.
Is SAE 30 The Same As 10w30?
SAE 30 and 10W30 aren’t the same. SAE 30 is an oil that has a viscosity of 30 at overly high temperatures.
The 10W30, on the other hand, has a grade 10 viscosity at low temperatures and grade 30 viscosity when the temperature is high.
Therefore, the 10w30 is ideal for varying temperatures since it has the grades for any temperature condition. It can improve the starting of an engine in the cold weather thanks to the W in the name that denotes winter.
Meanwhile, the SAE 30 is best only for warmer temperatures, which is rather obvious since it is only a single grade oil.
Can I Use SAE 10w30 Instead of SAE 30?
It is perfectly okay to use SAE 10w30 in place of SAE 30 motor oil.
However, it will depend on the type of machine you are using the oil on if it’s a lawnmower, the better since there will be no consequences of note if you interchange the two grades of oil.
Learn how to use the oil for your lawnmower.
Can You Mix SAE 30 And 10w30?
Mixing SAE 30 and 10w30 is a terrible idea and might have you counting losses. You can’t mix the two because they aren’t of the same grade. If you want to mix, consider mixing straight grade oils.
That means mixing single grade type of oils with their single grad counterparts. For instance, if you have the SAE 30 engine oil, you can mix it with SAE 40.
If you want to combine the 10w30 with another oil, consider mixing it with a double grade like 10w40.
You should remember that mixing various types of oils won’t necessarily improve your engine’s performance. If it, however, is a mixture of the wrong grades of oil, then your engine will pay for it with disastrous consequences.
SAE 30 vs. 5w30
SAE 5w30 is usually thinner when in cold temperatures. It has several modifiers that make it floe better in colder temperatures and be excellent at high temperatures.
It is better in that regard than the single grade SAE 30.
By being thinner, the 5w30 gives the engine more protection than how the SAE 30m performs.
While the single grade function makes the SAE 30 suitable for “lighter engines” like those of the lawnmower or generator, the 5w30 can work for car and truck engines.
If you want to, you can interchange these two oil grades. The 5w30 can replace SAE 30 oil in an engine as long as the SAE 30 was used to rebuild the engine. The 5w30 is quite versatile and would work with most engines.
Why Isn’t SAE 30 No Longer Used for Cars?
Using SAE 30 motor oils for your car wouldn’t be disastrous for the engine. However, the recommended oil grade is the double grades 5w30 and 10w30 that give more protection to the engine at varying temperatures.
Thus, the SAE 30 engine oil is no longer used for modern cars because it affords lesser protection than its double grade counterparts.
Which Oil Is Recommended For Low Temperatures?
Typically, any oil grade with a W in the code is ideal for use in cold weather. Such oils would include the 10W30 and even the 5w30.
A lower number on the oil grade often denotes that the oil will thicken less with cold temperatures.
Thinking along the same line will have the 5w30 being more preferable than the 10w30.
Which Oil Grade is Ideal for Lawnmowers?
Lawnmowers usually operate in warmer environments and, as such, would require oils that work best at warm temperatures.
SAE 30 and SAE 10w30 would be your best bets for lawn mower oil. They provide the engine with the best conditions even the temperature rises since they don’t thicken that much.
Their ability to work for lawnmowers also means they can work for virtually any other light engine like the generator’s.
Important Points to Remember
- An engine needs oil to be thin when starting cold and thick enough when it is already hot. The different oil grades available in the market are made to suit any temperature, which is why you should choose wisely.
- Thick oil will damage your engine in addition to making use of more fuel. Thick oils will not transfer heat as perfectly as thin oils, which will lead to higher operating temperatures. Such temperatures are more likely to lead to the breakdown of harmful sludge.
Final Thoughts
We hope our SAE 30 vs. 10w30 review helps you choose the best oil for your engine. We also hope you’re more knowledgeable about the various oil grades and why they have their names.
Remember to always use the right oil grade for your engine to keep it in good working condition. Oil isn’t only for running the engine but also lubricating any motor’s inner workings.
That’s the reason you should always pay attention to the type of oil you use in your car, your lawnmower, or any other machine you might own.
All the best.
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Can see 30 be used in diesel engines.