[net.auto] Oily Question

gmv@petfe.UUCP (George Verbosh) (09/27/84)

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Here's one for all you auto-netters that have been playing
with oily questions for the past few weeks:

What does the 'W' stand for in 5W40, 10W30 etc.? (Maybe Weight?)

If this looks like a stupid question, then it is. (Wouldn't
be the first time I did one of those....)

--------
George M. Verbosh, Perkin-Elmer, 106 Apple St., Tinton Falls NJ, 07724
 ....{vax135, pesnta}!petsd!petfe!gmv

gvcormack@watdaisy.UUCP (Gordon V. Cormack) (10/05/84)

The W in 10W-30 stans for "winter"; they run 2 viscosity tests:
the 10 indicates that the oil behaves like 10 in winter and like
30 in summer.

While I am at it, the following point has not been made succinctly
enough:

   ALL oils get thinner when hot and thicker when cold.  Multigrade
oils just do it less so.

I will also put in my two-bits' worth on Mobil 1:

   In about 1977 I put Mobil 1 in a 76 Honda Civic and got atrocious
oil mileage (< 100 miles/quart).  The consumption went back to 
normal (>2000 miles/quart) with real oil.