5W20 engine oil: specifications, features and reviews

The engine is the heart of the car. From his work depends on the functioning of all other units and mechanisms. Therefore, when carrying out maintenance, it needs special attention. The engine performance depends largely on the type of lubricant used. Today, drivers prefer motor oil 5W20. Sometimes some do not even pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations. We will understand what is the reason for the popular popularity of this product.

Explanation

When choosing engine oil, you need to pay attention to two indicators - the quality category and the degree of viscosity. The first parameter is determined by the combination of the letter of the Latin alphabet and the symbol S for gasoline engines, and the symbol C for diesel installations. For example, SS or SJ. More to dwell on the quality category will not. Let's just note that the further the second letter from the beginning of the alphabet, the more modern the engine oil. So, in SJ more advanced technologies are realized, than in SH. The viscosity class of the liquid is indicated by the marking type 5W20. It determines how viscous the liquid is at this or that ambient temperature. In accordance with this, winter marks of grease, marked with the symbol W, are singled out, summer ones - only numbers are indicated, and all-season marks are a combination of winter and summer numbers. Thus, the oil 5W20 is all-season.

Oil viscosity and temperature

The viscosity of the engine oil directly affects engine durability. If this figure is too low, the lubricant will drain off the friction parts of the motor, not providing reliable protection. On the contrary, at high viscosity, the liquid will not have time to penetrate between the working surfaces during start-up, which will significantly reduce the life of the engine. The viscosity of any liquid directly depends on the ambient temperature. The colder in the street, the thicker the oil becomes and the slower it spreads through the rubbing parts, but it's better to wrap them around, the protective film lasts longer. But if you use an oil with high viscosity at low temperatures, it will simply solidify and will not turn on at all.

Oil 5W20 has sufficient consistency for quick start-up during engine start-up in winter, but at the same time does not become too liquid at ambient temperatures above zero. This is one of the features of lubrication of this category.

Kinematic viscosity

Lubrication for the summer period should be distinguished by a high viscosity, which is necessary for the optimum functioning of the engine in the operating temperature range. Winter oil, on the other hand, has a low viscosity, which makes it easier to start the engine. But, while warming up, the product loses its qualities. The all-season grease, as in our case, the oil 5W20, must simultaneously meet these two conditions. The kinematic viscosity, which is more typical for summer fuel, is determined at a temperature of 100 ^o C. For all-season products, this indicator is in a certain range.

The reduction of the kinematic criterion below the threshold level leads to intensive wear of the crankshaft and camshaft components, the crank mechanism. The increase leads to a "starvation" of the power plant, the appearance of scoring and premature wear.

Dynamic viscosity

The all-season grease, as in our case, the oil 5W20, should also have the characteristics of the winter product. It is characterized by dynamic viscosity, which, in turn, is determined by two criteria:

• Crankability - the maximum allowable density of lubrication, in which the crankshaft starts to rotate with the speed necessary for starting the cold engine ;
• Pumpability is the maximum viscosity of the oil, which ensures that the oil pump does not pump air in place of lubrication.

Dynamic viscosity testing is carried out on a special test bench at a certain air temperature. For oils of viscosity class 5W, it is equal to -35 ° C.

Characteristic of engine oil 5W20

Determination of the characteristics of engine oil is carried out under conditions that are as close as possible to the real ones. The indicators are determined on special experimental installations, for example, on a mini rotary viscometer or a cold start simulator.

Very often manufacturers check their product for dynamic viscosity. So do the companies "Ford", "Mercedes", "Hyundai". Their 5W20 oil does not change its viscosity characteristics even at ultra-high operating temperatures, which protects against intensive engine wear during overloads.

Oils 5W20 and 5W40

In view of the high cost and low prevalence, many drivers prefer to pour 5W20 brand 5W40 in their car instead of oil. The correctness of this action can be questioned. Many modern manufacturers recommend the use of low viscosity motor oils due to the improved engine design. In particular, in many power plants the gaps in friction pairs are reduced, there is a special system of gas distribution phases and other features. For proper operation of the engine, heat removal in the liners requires a low viscosity oil, such as that of the 5W20.

According to the reports, the oils of 5W20 and 5W40 provide the engine with a uniform and stable operation, however, when using the first variant, the breakdowns appear much less often, and there are practically no failures in the operation of the power plant. On the other hand, the use of the brand 5W40 will not be fatal to the motor.

Features of 5W20 oil from Castrol

To date, the recognized manufacturer of motor oil is the company Castrol. Special oil "Castrol" 5W20 for "Ford" and other automotive brands has become due to its chemical formula. The composition of the lubricant is completely free of paraffins, so that the product does not freeze even at extremely low temperatures. The oil has high resistance to oxidation processes due to the presence of sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine atoms in the composition of additives. In itself, the lubricant is not a mixture of different materials, but a homogeneous product. The oil is recommended to be used according to the recommendations of the manufacturer, while not mixing with the compounds of other brands.