Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications!

Engine & Gear Oil - Recommended Viscosity vs. Outside Temperature

Oil viscosity vs. temperature.

Sponsored Links

All lubricants have practical limits when it comes to operating temperatures.

Lower temperatures and increased viscosity may restrict lubrication - causing metal to metal contact and damage to the machines
Higher temperatures and reduced viscosity may limit lubrication film thickness - causing metal to metal contact and damage to the machines

engine oil

For most machines - like car engines - the critical point of operation is at startup before reaching operating temperatures. In cold weather lubricants with adequate viscosities at start up temperature are required.

Engine Oil

The table below indicates appropriate engine oil viscosity vs. outside (start up) temperatures.

Engine Oil SAE Viscosity	Temperature
Engine Oil SAE Viscosity	-20^oF (-29^oC)	0^oF (-17.8^oC)	20^oF (-6.7^oC)	40^oF (4.4^oC)	60^oF (15.6^oC)	80^oF (26.7^oC)	100^oF (37.8^oC)
20W-20
20W-40
20W-50
10W-30
10W-40
10W
5W-30
5W-20

Note that machine operating temperatures - and lubricant temperatures - does not change significantly with different ambient temperatures. In most cases operating temperatures of engines are above the temperatures in the table above.

Gear Oil

The table below indicates recommended gear oil viscosity vs. outside (start up) temperatures.

Engine Oil SAE Viscosity	Temperature
Engine Oil SAE Viscosity	-20^oF (-29^oC)	0^oF (-17.8^oC)	20^oF (-6.7^oC)	40^oF (4.4^oC)	60^oF (15.6^oC)	80^oF (26.7^oC)	100^oF (37.8^oC)
75W
80W
80W-90
85W
90
140

Note that the tables above indicates average data. For specific information - check manufacturing data.

Sponsored Links

Related Topics

Miscellaneous - Engineering related topics like Beaufort Wind Scale, CE-marking, drawing standards and more.
Viscosities - Viscosities of products and chemical species at varying conditions.

Related Documents

Absolute or Dynamic Viscosity Online Converter - Convert between dynamic or absolute viscosity units - Poiseuille, Poise, centPoise and more.
API Gravity - API expresses the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. Online API to Specific Gravity calculator.
Efficiency of Small Machine Elements - Friction and efficiency in bearings and roller chains.
Industrial Lubricants - Viscosities vs. ISO-VG Grade - ISO-VG viscosity grades for industrial lubricants.
ISO Grade Oils - Viscosities and Densities - Viscosities and densities of ISO - and equivalent SAE grade oils.
Liquids - Dynamic Viscosities - Absolute (dynamic) viscosity values for some common fluids.
Liquids - Kinematic Viscosities - Kinematic viscosities of some common liquids like motor oil, diesel fuel, peanut oil and many more.
Motor Oils - Dynamic Viscosities - Dynamic viscosities for motor oils SAE 10 to 50 for temperatures ranging 0-100 ^oC.
Oil Fuels - Viscosities vs. Temperature - Viscosities of fuel oils vs. temperature.
Oil Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Oil Flow - Pressure drop in oil pipes - viscosities ranging 100 - 600 Saybolt Universal Seconds.
Oil Viscosity Converter - Convert between commonly used oil viscosity units.
SAE Multigrade Oils - Viscosities and Densities - Viscosities and densities of SAE Grade oils.
Viscosity - Absolute (Dynamic) vs. Kinematic - Vicosity is a fluid's resistance to flow and can be valued as dynamic (absolute) or kinematic.
Viscosity - Converter Chart - Convert between viscosity units like Centiposes, milliPascal, CentiStokes and SSU.

Sponsored Links

Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - Online 3D modeling!

Add standard and customized parametric components - like flange beams, lumbers, piping, stairs and more - to your Sketchup model with the Engineering ToolBox - SketchUp Extension - enabled for use with the amazing, fun and free SketchUp Make and SketchUp Pro .Add the Engineering ToolBox extension to your SketchUp from the SketchUp Pro Sketchup Extension Warehouse!

Translate

About the Engineering ToolBox!

Privacy

We don't collect information from our users. Only emails and answers are saved in our archive. Cookies are only used in the browser to improve user experience.

Some of our calculators and applications let you save application data to your local computer. These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. We don't save this data.

Google use cookies for serving our ads and handling visitor statistics. Please read Google Privacy & Terms for more information about how you can control adserving and the information collected.

AddThis use cookies for handling links to social media. Please read AddThis Privacy for more information.

Advertise in the ToolBox

If you want to promote your products or services in the Engineering ToolBox - please use Google Adwords. You can target the Engineering ToolBox by using AdWords Managed Placements.

Citation

This page can be cited as

Engineering ToolBox, (2009). Engine & Gear Oil - Recommended Viscosity vs. Outside Temperature. [online] Available at: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/engine-gear-oil-viscosity-temperature-limits-d_1545.html [Accessed Day Mo. Year].

Modify access date.

close

3D Engineering ToolBox - draw and model technical applications!

2D Engineering ToolBox - create and share online diagram drawing templates!

Engineering ToolBox Apps - mobile online and offline engineering applications!

Scientific Online Calculator

Scientific Calculator

3 30

Sponsored Links