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Javaughn Barrow

Mobil One 5W30 VS Mobil One 5W20 Engine Oil

Engine oil changes can sometimes be complicated with all the information out there. However, it still remains to be one of the most important things you should do to increase your engine’s longevity. Putting the right or wrong oil in your engine can affect its performance and efficiency. Two of the most common engine oil grades for commuter cars are ‘5W30’ and ‘5W20’ engine oils.

Both of these oils get the job done, especially from trusted manufacturers like Mobil One. That being said, there are slight differences between the two. Engine oils shift towards getting thinner and thinner grades. Engine components can operate with less resistance with a thinner oil, but can that thinner oil still protect against metal on metal contact at operating temperatures? Let’s find out.

There are a few things that the Mobil One 5W30 and Mobil One 5W20 engine oils do that help with the longevity of your engine. One of the most important factors to consider is the viscosity of these engine oils. Viscosity is how well the oil flows through the engine lubrication system at different temperatures. Temperature changes the state of liquids. Therefore, Mobile One added viscosity modifiers so the oil changes or stays in the correct state to adapt to the temperature. The two main temperature categories are cold environments/ cold start temperatures, and engine operating temperatures. To make it simple, Cold & Hot.

Evaporation Testing

Engine oils, such as the Mobil One 5W20 and 5W30 are put through a standard heat testing called the Noack Volatility test. This is an industry standard test in which the oil is heated up 480 degrees fahrenheit. The mass loss is then measured. The standard is no more than 15% of the oil’s mass was burned off. Both oil grades passed this test. Normal operating temperatures are between 190-220 degrees fahrenheit. Therefore, such results means that the oils are evaporating at an extremely slow rate, which allows for an extended oil change interval. However, you should always check your car’s owner’s manual to confirm your oil change interval and oil grade. 

The Mobil One 5W30 has an additional certification which is called the GM Dexos 1. This certification has even stricter parameters in which no more than 13% of its mass can be burned off. Being a thicker grade, the Mobil One 5W30 is better for cars that may experience higher than usual temperatures. However, most modern commuter cars are just fine with the Mobil One 5W20 engine oil.

Conclusion

Although the Mobil One 5W20 and 5W30 engine oils are close in spec, they also work in different applications. We live in a world today where most synthetic engine oils are very good for your engine’s lubrication. But remember, your engine was tested and validated on a specific engine oil. Using what the manufacturer recommends is one of the best ways to go about oil changes. That being said, between the two, Mobil One 5W30 is better suited for older higher mileage cars. The Mobil One 5W20 is more suitable for more modern commuter car engines.

Javaughn Barrow

Hello! My name is Javaughn Barrow, a young car enthusiast who writes all the articles for Karcandy.com. I’ve written over 50 articles about automobiles. With each article, I deepen my understanding and expertise in writing and the automotive world. Ever since childhood, I’ve always had a strong passion for cars. All types shapes and sizes were interesting to me. I’d spend most of my time after school researching cars and the more I found out about them the more exciting it was. In my teens, I created a fan page about corvettes posting content at least ten times a day! Yes, I was crazy about it. The page ended up garnering over 40k followers! After a while, I wanted more than a fan page. I wanted to express my passion differently. I wanted to create more helpful content, higher-quality content. My first car was a 2013 VW CC Sport. Learned very quickly car ownership wasn’t as expected. I spent a lot of time replacing control arms, cam position sensors, brake rotors, brake pads, etc. Walking away with more information than I knew before. As I was growing in my automotive journey I was learning about writing. Starting by writing a detailed outline about 300 words long then I would pay a professional to write a full 1000-word article and learn from them getting familiar with the process of writing. The moment I realized I could use my writing skills to express my passion for cars and help people simultaneously, I started Karcandy.com. I realized with my unique perspective coupled with my hard work discipline and work ethic I can create a space online to help bridge the gap between the complicated and simple in the automotive world. I’m motivated by the challenges and work it will take to create such a space. My work ethic is something I choose to refine and make better each day. I think it’s important to push myself and stay committed to my evolution as a human and this website is only one of the results of that.

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