There are many various types of engine oils on the market, and selecting one for your vehicle can be quite stressful and difficult due to the numerous brands and oils available.
Furthermore, if you do not use the appropriate engine oil, you will most certainly cause long-term damage to your engine.
The 5w40 and 10w40 engine oils are two of the most common synthetic engine oils.
These engine oils are excellent for a wide range of vehicles, and if you have come across these two engine oils, then you can find a comparison of 5w40 Vs 10w40 below to determine which is better for your vehicle.
What is 5w40 Engine Oil?
5w40 engine oil is a synthetic blend of mineral and synthetic base oils that are blended together to form a semi-synthetic blend. It has a low pour point and a high viscosity index, making it perfect for cold-weather applications. It does not, however, provide the same amount of protection as standard motor oils.5w40 engine oil can be used in almost any car or truck, but it’s best suited for lower-end models or older vehicles that aren’t driven often or far from home.
If you’re going on long trips or will be driving your car for miles at a time, you should consider using a different type of oil like 10W40 that offers better protection against wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine parts.
What is 10w40 Engine Oil?
10w40 Engine Oil is petroleum-based engine oil. It is a general-purpose oil designed to lubricate internal moving parts of engines and other mechanical equipment. It has good low operating temperatures performance, excellent protection against oxidation and rusting, and good resistance to shock, vibration, and heat.
This oil is thicker than 5W-40 but thinner than 30W-50. 10W-40 is recommended for use in older vehicles, especially those that have been sitting for several years without being driven or maintained.
Moreover, this oil has a higher viscosity than other oils, which means it will not flow as easily through an engine’s components. This high viscosity makes it more durable and more resistant to wear and tear.
5w40 Vs 10w40 Comparison
| Name | 5w40 Engine Oil | 10w40 Engine Oil |
| Lower Viscosity | 5 | 10 |
| Higher Viscosity | 40 | 40 |
| Oil Thickness | Thin | Thick |
| Fuel Economy | Good | Average |
| Engine Wear | Less | Less |
| Suitable Weather | Cold (Winter) | Cold (Winter) and Hot (Summer) |
| Ideal Temperature | -30 to 40-degree celsius | -25 to 40-degree celsius |
| Oil Type | Synthetic | Synthetic |
| Life Expectancy | 8000 Miles | 10,000 miles |
| Replacement Required | 6 to 7 thousand miles | 8 to 9 thousand miles |
| Anti-Corrosion | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-foam | Yes | Yes |
| Anti-Wear | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle Compatibility | Petrol, Diesel, and CNG | Petrol, Diesel, and CNG |
| Ideal Engine | High-Performance Engine | Engine and vehicles except for hydraulic tappets |
| Friction | Less | Moderate |
| Thermal Stability | Good | Better |
| Oxidation Stability | Good | Good |
Similarities Between 5w40 Vs 10w40
Higher Viscosity
The 10w40 and 5w40 come with a almost same viscosity of grade of 40. This means that both engine oils are thick enough to be used in high-performance engines. Both of these engine oils can even be used in trucks along with cars.
Engine Wear
Both the 5w40 and 10w40 engine oils have a high-quality synthetic base that protects your engine and other components. Your engine stays safe and protected when you use these 2 engine oils despite of some average oil, and there is very less, or no engine wear.
Oil Type
Both 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil are synthetic-type lubricants with a high API GL-5 rating. They perform similarly, but their manufacturing procedures and intended applications differ. Both are made to last long when used in different engines such as Petrol, Diesel, and CNG.
Read: 5w30 vs 10w40
Anti-Corrosive Properties
The 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil have anti-corrosion properties which help in protecting your car engine against rust and corrosion. The 5w40 and 10w40 engine oil have solvents and rust preventatives which are specifically used to protect the engine and its components from rust which is absent in average oil.
Anti-Foam Properties
Apart from anti-corrosion properties, both engine oil also has anti-form properties. The anti-foaming agents in these 2 engine oils help reduce the foaming and air, which protects the components in various conditions.
Anti-Wear and Tear
The 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil have a blend of oils along with the synthetic base, which helps against the wear and tear of components.
Both of these engine oils are rebuilt and added to the engine for better protection against wear and tear, whether you are using them at hot temperatures or even when there is sludge buildup.
Vehicle Compatibility
When it comes to vehicle compatibility, then both engine oils have support for almost all vehicles, whether you have a car or truck.
Both 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil support petrol, diesel, and gasoline, vehicles. Not just that, but both of these engine oils can be used in bio-diesel engines that are not supported by other regular engine oils.
Engine Compatibility
Similar to vehicle compatibility, the 5w40 and 10w40 engine oil support most engine types. Whether you have a high-performance engine or you are looking for engine oil that is supported by non-hydraulic tappet engines, the 5w40 and 10w40 are compatible with both.
Oxidation Stability
The Oxidation stability of both 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil is examined at different temperatures. Different brands perform different tests like IP 48, which concludes that both engine oils are highly stable when it comes to oxidation.
Difference Between 5w40 Vs 10w40 motor oil
Lower Viscosity
The difference between 5w40 and 10w40 lies in their viscosity grade. The 5w40 has a viscosity grade of 5, whereas the 10w40 motor oil has a viscosity grade of 10. This means that 5w40 engine oil will flow more freely between engine components than 10w40 engine oil.
Oil Thickness
When it comes to oil thickness, then the 10w40 motor oil is slightly thicker in comparison to 5w40. This is due to the fact that the 10w40 motor oil is specially designed for high-performance and non-hydraulic tappet engines and vehicles. However, the 5w40 motor oil can even be used in lightweight vehicles.
Fuel Economy
If you’re looking for a way to improve your fuel economy and keep your engine running smoothly, it’s a good idea to use 5w40 motor oil in your vehicle.
The 5w40 average motor oil offers better fuel economy as it is thinner oil(it is a very thin engine oil) in comparison to 10w40, which allows the engine components to move freely. Hence, your engine can perform better and offer better fuel economies.
Weather Conditions
The 5w40 motor oil is compatible and suitable for regions that have a low temperatures or cold temperatures or winter climate(freezing temperatures).
On the other side, the 10w40 motor oil is suitable for hot as well as cold temperatures(freezing temperatures or low temperatures), making it an ideal option to use in more regions in comparison to 5w40 motor oil.
Life Expectancy and Replacement
The 5w40 thin oil comes with a life of 8000 miles, and the 10w40 engine oil offers a 10,000 miles life. When it comes to replacement, you would require to replace the 5w40 before you reach near 8000 miles, like 6 or 7 thousand miles.
Moreover, the 10w40 should be replaced when you have completed 8 or 9 thousand miles.
Friction
When it comes to friction, it is critical to select the oil with the least amount of friction. In this scenario, 5w40 motor oil is the superior choice. This is because it has the least amount of friction between engine components.
The less friction there is, the greater the performance. Because it is thinner than 10w40 engine oil, 5w40 (thin motor oil )has the least friction.
However, you should be aware that the less friction there is, the more the engine wears.
Thermal Stability
Another consideration while selecting the best engine oil is thermal stability. Both 5w40 and 10w40 motor oils function well at different operating temperatures.
However, the 10w40 motor oil is a superior and right motor oil choice because it has greater thermal stability than the 5w40 motor oil.
This is due to its high thermal dissipation. Furthermore, it is a better choice for warmer weather, as it is more thermally stable than the 5w40.
Pros and Cons of 5w40 Vs 10w40 motor oil
5w40 Motor Oil:
| Pros | Cons |
| Least amount of friction | More engine wear |
| Excellent fuel economy | Not ideal for summer season |
| Compatible with high performance vehilces | |
| Better for cold starts |
10w40 Motor Oil:
| Pros | Cons |
| Better thermal stability | Average fuel economy |
| Greater life and replacement time | |
| Suitable for most weather conditions | |
| Compatible with most vehicles |
Which is Best: 5w40 Vs 10w40 motor oil?
For a wide range of high-performance automobiles, 10w40 engine oil outperforms 5w40. The 10w40 engine oil has a longer replacement life, which means you won’t have to change the oil as frequently.
Furthermore, the oil is compatible with most engines, whether they are extremely old or newer and more powerful. Furthermore, it has superior thermal stability to 5w40 engine oil.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you use 5w40 motor oil for high-end cars?
Yes, 5w40 motor oil can be used with high-end cars like BMW and others.
Can you use these engine oils in a generator?
Yes, you can, but it is best to use semi-synthetic oil in a generator.
Can you use 10w40 motor oil in bikes?
Yes, the 10w40 motor oil can be used in bikes, cars, and other automobiles.
Conclusion on 5w40 vs 10w40 motor oils
So, this was all about the 5w40 and 10w40 motor oil comparison. Both of the motor oils are a superior choice for different engines and support high mileage engines.
But in the end, it all boils downs to your choice, whether you want to use the engine oil in a car, bike, or in truck(just don’t go with the wrong motor oil).
Moreover, you should choose the recommended motor oil based on the temperature range and climate conditions.