Can You Use 5w30 Instead Of 0w20 [Know In Details]

Can you use 5W30 instead of 0W20? Most car owners ask this question when the 0W20 runs out, or it’s not available. Yes, you can use 5W30 instead of 0W20. 

The viscosity & weight difference between 5W30 and 0W20 is minimal. And your car engine won’t see any difference if you put 5W30 instead of 0W20 at operating temperatures. 

But the best bait is- to do the oil change according to your car manual. To get more insight on this topic, keep scrolling till the end.

Can You Use 5w30 Instead Of 0w20?

Yes, you can use 5W30 instead of 0W20. Both 5W30 and 0W20 are specially formulated to use in colder climates. They will flow at the top of the engine with ease and lubricate your internal engine parts for better protection.

However, you may lose a bit of engine performance if you put 5W30 and drive your car in extremely cold conditions.

Here, we suggest you stick with the oil your car manufacturer recommends. Because their engineer will know better than you and me what oil will be best for the vehicle. If your car manual says to use 0W20, don’t think about switching oil grades. 

But today’s cars are computer-controlled and have stuff like Variable Valve Timing. The variable valve timing system needs thinner oils to function properly. And you know that 0W20 is thinner than the 5W30. So, if you have newer model cars, it’s not recommendable to use 5W30 instead of 0W20. 

Note: You can also read “Can I use 5w20 instead of 0w20 honda“.

What If I Use 5w30 Instead Of 0w20?

Nothing will happen if you use 5W30 instead of 0W20. It all depends on at what temperature you drive your car. If you live in hot climates like death valley hot (125 F), you should use 5W30 to provide better protection to your car engine.

On the other hand, you should put 0W20 into your car engine if you live and drive your car in extremely cold weather.

Keep in mind; most low or multi-viscosity lubricants behave similarly. And the difference between the 0 and 5 weight is minimal. At normal operating temperature, your engine won’t see any differences if you put 5W30 instead of 0W20. 

However, we find low motor oils like 0W20 offer better fuel economy than thicker oils like 5W30. 

Nonetheless, it may void your warranty if you put 5W30 while your car manual recommends you to put 0W20. But, switching from 0W20 to 5W30 will not damage your engine. Again, we want you to use 0W20 if you drive your car in extremely cold weather. 

Is 5w30 The Same As 0w20

5W30 is not the same as 0W20. The viscosity grades of these two oils are different, which makes one apart from another. Below, we will show you some differences between the 5W30 and the 0W20. 

Viscosity Grade

The first difference between 5W30 and 0W20 is the viscosity grade. The viscosity of 5W30 is greater than the 0W20. In other words, 5W30 is thicker than the 0W20. Thicker oil is good for hot temperatures. In contrast, a thinner oil performs the best in cold temperatures. 

Purpose Of Use

Though both oils can be used in cold driving conditions, 0W20 is better and provides better protection in extremely cold climates. On the other hand, 5W30 performs the best when you drive your vehicle at a hotter temperature. 

Fuel Economy

We find thinner oils like 0W20 deliver better fuel economy. It means you will get better fuel efficiency if you put 0W20 instead of 5W30. However, we recommend you put the oil into the engine according to your car manual. 

FAQs:

Conclusion

So, can you use 5W30 instead of 0W20? Yes, you can, but you may lose fuel economy if you put 5W30 instead of 0W20. However, it doesn’t bring any damage to our engine if you use 5W30.

We suggest putting the engine oil your car manual recommends. If you put 5W30, make sure you replace it at the next oil change.