8th Generation Honda Civic Forum - View Single Post - 100% Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil from amsoil
View Single Post
Old 12-20-2007, 04:26 AM   #2 (permalink)
R4DG
Senior Member
 
R4DG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston
Posts: 179
Kin
0-20w oil is straight 20 weight oil

20 weight is when it is hot and when its cold

oil like 5w-20 is a multigrade oil (2 weights, 5 weight and 20 weight)

modern oils have additives and polymers to reverse the laws of physics

in a normal liquid, the molecules expand away from each other when it is hot

motor oil, however, contract at higher temperatures to create a higher viscosity at operating temperature

when it is 195 degrees Fahrenheit in your engine, your oil's viscosity is 20 weight

but when it is cold, it is 5 weight
R4DG is offline   Reply With Quote