Motor oil viscosity is important to understand if you drive in extremely hot or cold temperatures, as well as if you carry heavy loads with your truck. Viscosity refers to how fluid the oil pours at certain temperatures. Thinner oils have a lower viscosity, making them more fluid in colder temperatures. However, thicker oils work best in higher temperatures or for heavy leads.
Motor oil grades are displayed as #W-#, where the numbers represent thinner and thicker viscosity. For example, a 5W-30 is a lower viscosity motor oil grade. The 5 before the W means that it’s a thin oil viscosity for lower temperatures, measured at zero degrees Fahrenheit. The number after it refers to how it performs in higher temperatures.
So a 5W-30 is great for lower temperatures, but a 15W-40 would be better in hotter climates or for vehicles carrying a heavy load. However, your vehicle’s owner manual is the best place to start when looking for engine oil viscosity appropriate for your vehicle. For any other questions related to your car, talk to the experts at Bill Holt Chevrolet of Blue Ridge, Inc. located in Blue Ridge, GA.