There are so many variations in motor oil that it can get very confusing sometimes. People often get confused between sae 30 and 5w30. In this article, we will talk about whether sae30 is the same as 5w30?
We will also discuss various aspects associated with these motor oils. So without further ado, let’s hop onto the discussion.
Is sae 30 the same as 5w30?
Sae 30 is not the same as 5w30. They are different in several aspects, among which the most significant difference lies in their use. Sae 30 is used in single viscosity appliances such as lawnmowers, and generators whereas 5w30 are multi-viscosity motor oil that can be used in cars and trucks.
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Sae 30 and sae 5w30 are different in their design and purpose. The sae 30 is a single viscosity motor oil. On the other hand, the sae 5w30 is multi-viscosity motor oil.
The 5w30 motor oil, by its name, indicates that the motor oil will act like a 5 weight thinner oil when it works in cold temperatures. On the other hand, when the oil gets hot, it will act like a 30 weight thicker motor oil.
However, in the case of sae 30, there is no such indication in the case of cold temperature. So the oil does not operate as efficiently when it’s placed in a cold environment. Such is the difference between sae 30 and 5w30.
You can use sae 30, which is a single viscosity oil, in the motors of lawnmowers and generators. On the other hand, you can use the 5w30 motor oil in motors that only operate with multi-viscosity motor oil, such as cars, trucks, and buses.
What’s the difference between 5w-30 and SAE30?
There are many differences between 5w30 and sae 30. Here are some of the key differences between these two motor oils:
Operation:
Both sae 30 and 5w30 are motor oils. But their key difference lies in the appliances that they can operate.
The sae30 motor oil is a single viscosity motor oil that can only be used in motors that are compatible with single viscosity motor oil such as lawnmowers, generators, and more.
On the other hand, the 5w30 motor oil can only operate motors that are compatible with multi-viscosity oil. These oils can help you operate cars, trucks, and buses.
Workable temperature:
There is also a major difference in the temperature that they can operate on. The sae 30 motor oil can work in warm temperatures very efficiently. But it causes trouble when the temperature falls.
In cold temperatures, the sae 5w30 motor oil becomes 5 weight thinner, which makes it rather easy for the motor oil to operate even in cold climatic conditions. The motor oil is very unlikely to freeze.
On the other hand, the sae 30 motor oil will be much thicker when the temperature is cold.
The sae 30 motor oil becomes 30 weight thicker when the temperature falls, thus making it very hard for the motor oil to run appliances in the cold climatic conditions.
This is another reason why this motor oil is not allowed to be used in cars and trucks. The machine will be jammed as soon as the temperature drop if you use sae 30 motor oil.
Can I use sae 30 instead of 5w30?
You can replace sae 5w30 in motors in the place of sae 30. But you cannot always replace 5w30 with sae 30. This is because the functionality of 5w30 is much advanced in comparison to sae 30.
The sae 5w30 motor oil has almost the same flow rate as the sae 30 motor oil. This is applicable as long as they both maintain a normal operating temperature. At normal temperature, you can use 5w30 instead of sae 30, but not vice versa.
5w30 is multi-viscosity motor oil. On the other hand, the sae 30 motor oil is single viscosity. 5w30 can be used to run both single and multi-viscosity appliances, so you can use 5w30 instead of sae 30.
However, you cannot use sae 30 instead of 5w30 because single viscosity motor oil cannot be used in multi-viscosity motor oil.
What happens if you put SAE 30 instead of 5w30?
Here’s what happens if you put sae 30 instead of 5w30 in a motor:
Jammed operation:
5w30 motor oil is used in multi-viscosity motors. These motor oils are designed to be used in complex motors that perform advanced operations. These motor oils are also designed to operate in cold temperatures.
However, if you use sae30 instead of 5w30, the operation will not be the same. It is likely that the motor will be jammed as soon as the temperature falls.
Cannot operate in cold temperature:
5w30 can work in cold temperatures. This motor oil becomes 5 weight thinner when the room temperature drops.
But if you put sae 30 in its place then there will be some major motor troubles because that oil is not designed to work in the cold.
The “w” in 5w30 motor oil represents winter. The motor oil becomes thinner when the temperature in order to help the motor operate better when it’s cold. This is one of the major reasons why 5w30 is preferred in cars, buses, and trucks.
On the other hand, the sae 30 becomes 30 weight thicker when the temperature drops. So it will be very difficult for the machine to operate in the cold if you put sae 30 instead of sae 5w30.
Disruption in viscosity:
Sae 30 is a single viscosity motor oil. On the other hand, the sae 5w30 is multi-viscosity motor oil. You can replace the single viscosity motor oils with multi-viscosity motor oil but vice versa will cause serious issues.
So your multi-viscosity motor will develop several sets of troubles if you put sae 30 instead of 5w30 motor oil.
What is SAE 30 equivalent to?
Sae 30 is equivalent to ISO 100. It is used in smaller air-cooled engines. In addition, this motor oil is used in appliances such as lawnmowers, generators, chainsaws, tractors, and more.
The sae 30 motor oil is a single viscosity motor oil. It performs well in normal temperatures. The oil is also efficient in summer through fall. But its efficiency drops when winter approaches because the oil becomes 30 weight thicker then.
What is SAE 30 oil used for?
Sae 30 is used to run a range of motors. It is one of the most popular motor oils, especially during the summer through fall and in regions where the temperature remains moderately warm throughout all seasons.
The oil does not get thicker when it’s hot. Instead, its efficiency improves when the temperature is above the average room temperature.
You can use sae 30 in any single viscosity motor. This motor oil is used in home appliances as well. It is one of the most popular choices for smaller engines and motors.
You can use sae 30 in lawnmowers, chainsaws, tractors, and other such small engines. This motor oil is highly efficient in running such appliances.
What can I use instead of 5w30?
There are some great alternatives for 5w30 motor oil. You can use 10w30 motor oil instead of 5w30. These motor oils are thicker than 5w30 as they have a higher viscosity when the temperature falls.
So the engine will operate a little slower than with 5w30 motor oi. But it still works quite efficiently when you use 10w30 instead of 5w30.
Note that the motor oils that are thicker and have a higher viscosity are also likely to offer a better seal than those with lower viscosity. So in many cases, using 10w30 instead of 5w30 will offer you better results.
What can I use instead of SAE 30?
There are a great number of motor oils that you can use instead of sae 30. Sae 30 is a single viscosity motor oil, that can easily be replaced with multi-viscosity motor oils.
You can use 5w30 and 10w30 motor oils instead of sae 30. They will operate equally well if not better. Since they have almost the same viscosity in normal temperature, the replacements will work great in normal temperature since they have higher viscosity.
And the 5w and 10w part in these motor oils represents their functionality in winter. The 5w30 and 10w30 will perform much better than the sae30 motor oil when the temperature is cold.
You can replace sae 30 with 5w30 motor oil in small engines such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, tractors, and more.
Final Thoughts
Sae 30 is not the same as 5w30, but quite similar. Sae30 is single viscosity and 5w30 is double viscosity oil. Both of these motor oils have the same viscosity, as represented by 30, in normal temperature. But in colder temperatures, 5w30 motor oil is 5 weight thinner, offering better performance.