Motor oil 0W-40 – characteristics, test and rating of the best – Automotive oil expert
Content
The engine needs high-quality lubrication, which reduces friction and protects the engine from premature wear, as well as increases its efficiency or, at least, does not reduce it. Each engine modification has its own oil viscosity recommended by the manufacturer. Oils of exactly the recommended viscosity guarantee uninterrupted engine operation, of course, provided they are of high quality.
In the article we will analyze the features of 0w-40 oils, and consider a small rating of oils of this viscosity.
Viscosity and temperature range
This all-season oil, as follows from the specification, can be used in both winter and summer. The first number with the letter W is the winter index of the oil; oils with this index are among the most “winter”, have the lowest freezing point and are recommended for use in the far north. But! I advise you to pay attention not only to the oil index according to SAE, but also to the actual laboratory indicators of the oil - pour point and dynamic viscosity. The fact is that the behavior of oil in cold weather depends on its quality and composition. From experience I will say that sometimes oils with the 5W index, which in theory cannot withstand such low temperatures as 0W oils, show better fluidity results in cold weather.
The second number in the labeling is often mistakenly called the “summer” SAE index, that is, an indication of the summer temperature at which the oil can be used, but this is a misconception. The second digit in the index is the most important and it indicates the viscosity of the oil at operating temperature, that is, at 100°C. The thickness of the oil film also depends on the viscosity of the oil. In engines of different modifications, the gaps between parts and the thickness of the oil channels differ; if the channels are thin and the oil is too thick, it will not be pumped in time and oil starvation will occur. This is just one example. Always use only the viscosity recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Technical specifications 0w-40 - transcript
Oil 0w-40 is applicable from -35° C and below. When evaluating laboratory tests for a specific brand of oil, pay attention to dynamic viscosity. For 0W oils, it is determined at -35° C and should be no more than 6200 mPa*s; the lower this figure, the lower the temperature at which the oil will allow the engine to start safely. The second part of the code contains the number 40, which indicates the kinematic viscosity at 40 and 100 ° C; the higher the number, the thicker the oil. According to the standard, this oil should have a viscosity at 100°C in the range of 12,5-16,3 mm2/s; this is an average viscosity oil in the SAE classification, often used for used cars and newer engines.
Important! The choice of oil must be made not only by its viscosity, but also by the tolerances specified by the vehicle manufacturer in the vehicle’s operating instructions.
Oil tests 0w-40
The 0w-40 motor oil test is of interest to many vehicle owners. This is not surprising, because in our time, when the marketing gods come up with various tricks to sell their products, people tend to believe what they see for themselves.
That is why so-called amateur tests, which are carried out by ordinary motorists and share their results on the Internet, are very popular.
We decided to publish one of these popular revisions, since it most clearly shows what happens to oil at a temperature of -29 °C.
As can be seen from the plot, lubricant 0w-40 retained its fluidity even in such severe frost, which confirms the relevance of the SAE viscosity grade system.
Rating of motor oils 0w-40
Whatever the tests and descriptions, when choosing motor oil for their vehicle, most are guided not only by the markings, but also by the name of the manufacturer who produced this product.
In this regard, we decided to prepare a rating of the TOP 5 0w-40 oils, which will help motorists choose the best manufacturer.
1st place – LUKOIL Genesis Polartech 0W-40 4 l
Features:
- Synthetic motor oil.
- The average price is 1990 rubles.
- API class SN, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4.
- Viscosity index – 181.
- Additives based on ZDDP.
- Pour point -52°C.
Tolerances:
- Renault RN 0700/0710.
- BMW LL-01.
- Porsche A40.
- FIAT 9.55535-M2;
- Ford WSS-M2C-937-A.
Advantages:
- TermoStars technology - unique cleaning additives that significantly reduce the effects of corrosion and reduce deposits.
- Retains soot deposits, and practically does not thicken until replacement.
- PAO - synthetics - the presence of polyalphaolefin in the base composition.
- Adapted for urban conditions, reduces engine wear in traffic jams
- Tolerates low temperatures very well
2nd place – Hi-Gear 0W-40 SN/CF 4 l
Features:
- Synthetic motor oil.
- The average price is 1692 rubles.
- API class SN, ACEA A3/B4.
- Pour point -40 °C.
- Specifications and approvals: API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B4, MB 229.5, VW 502 00/505 00, RN 0710, BMW LL-01.
Advantages:
- Infineum special additive set
- One of the best solidification rates among winter oils, in the SAE J300 classification.
- Availability polyalphaolefins (PAO), as well as esters (esters).
- Using HR synthesis technology, hydrocracking.
- Compatible with the entire line Hi-Gear.
- Suitable for gasoline, diesel (with and without turbocharging) engines.
Recommended:
- Switching from 0w-30 or 5w30 to eliminate knocking in the hydraulic compressor helps reduce waste.
- Changing from 10w-40 and 15w-40 to 0w-40 to improve engine starting at low temperatures (down to -40°C), helps reduce wear
- For high mileage (more than 100 thousand km) replace 0w-30 and 5w-30. At 100 °C, the viscosity will be higher, successfully closing the gaps and increasing the lubricant pressure in the system.
3 место – MOBIL 1 FS 0W-40 4 л
- Synthetic motor oil.
- The average price is 2100 rubles.
- Classes: API SN, SM, SL, SJ X, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 X.
- Manufacturer approvals: MB-Approval 229.3, PORSCHE A40, VW 502 00/505 00, MB-Approval 229.5
- Viscosity index – 186.
- Pour point -49°C.
Advantages:
- Tri-synthetic technology for the production of base oils. Manufacturers claim that their technology is market leading, but experts say this is just a publicity stunt. In fact, we are looking at ordinary NS synthetics, but cheaper than their PAO or GTL counterparts.
- The presence of cleaning additives that do their job perfectly.
- Wide temperature range from -35° to 140°C (and higher).
- MoDTC – dinuclear organic molybdenum.
Lack of only one - cannot be used in diesel engines with particulate filters.
4th place – SHELL Helix Ultra 0W-40 4 l
- Synthetic motor oil.
- The average price is 1909 rubles.
- API class SN, ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4.
- Approvals: MB 229.5, VW 502.00/505.00, Renault RN0700, RN0710, Porsche A40
- Viscosity index – 185.
- Pour point -42°C.
Advantages:
- The quality has been tested in combat conditions, in Ferrari cars.
- PurePlusTechnology is the main production technology. Its essence lies in the fact that base oils are produced from natural gas. Shell has issued a patent and is the only manufacturer using this method. All other advantages come from this technology.
- Lowest waste consumption - you need to add less.
- Low temperature properties down to -40°C, although based on SAE the maximum range is up to -30°C.
- Does not oxidize. Neutralizes harm from low-quality fuel. Active cleaning technology.
- An additional engine warranty from Shell confirms the quality of the products.
5th place – Castrol Edge 0W-40 A3/B4 4 l
- Synthetic motor oil.
- The average price is 2050 rubles.
- API class SN, ACEA A3/B4.
- Допуски: BMW Longlife-01, MB-Approval 229.3/ 229.5, Porsche A40, VW 502 00/ 505 00, Meets Ford WSS-M2C937-A.
- Viscosity index – 168.
- Pour point -52°C.
Advantages:
- TITANIUM FST™ technology adds titanium compounds to the composition, which make the film up to two times thicker, thereby protecting the engine from wear.
- Removes excess heat and prevents overheating.
- The presence of cleaning additives prevents the formation of deposits.
