What Oil Does My Car Need in Winter?

When mechanics say it’s time to winterize your car, one thing they’re talking about is changing out your car oil for a formulation with a lower viscosity. Your car’s engine needs to stay lubricated, cushioned and cleaned as much in the winter as it does in the summer, but oil doesn’t flow as easily in the cold months as it does in when temperatures are higher. Winter car oil should have a lower viscosity than the formulation that’s appropriate for summer, and because it isn’t as thick, it flows faster.

Whether you change your own oil or take your car to the shop to do it, you have to make the decision about which grade to use. Here we’ll tell you about the different types of motor oil to help you make an informed choice and take care of your car throughout the year.

How Cold Weather Affects Motor Oil

Colder temperatures thicken up and slow down motor oil. If the oil can’t move easily through the engine, it puts a strain on your car battery (which is already working harder in the winter) and your starter.

Different Types of Motor Oils

When it comes to oil viscosity, there are straight-weight oils and multi-weight oils. Straight-weight oils are also called single-grade oils. They have one weight (or grade) and are labeled SAE##. The “SAE” stands for Society of Automotive Engineers, the association that created the weight scale for motor oil, and the number is the weight. The oil stays that weight year-round.

Multi-weight oils are one weight when it’s cold outside and a different weight when it’s hot outside. They’re labeled #W-##. The first number refers to the oil’s cold temperature weight, and the “W” stands for “winter.” The second number is the hot temperature weight. Multi-weight oil is actually the first weight and has additives that make it perform like the second weight when it’s hot.

What’s the Best Winter Car Oil?

Always refer to your car’s user manual for the recommended type of oil for your car. Generally, 5W-30 is widely recommended because it’s actually good to use year-round. If you’re using a higher viscosity oil than that, your user manual may recommend a lower viscosity winter car oil. Just be sure not to go lower than the recommended viscosity because if the oil is too thin, it won’t provide enough lubrication for the engine.

Should You Use Synthetic Motor Oil?

It depends. Older cars are thought to be better off with conventional oil. Synthetic oils are petroleum-based like conventional oils, but they have been refined even further and have more artificial compounds and performance additives. Synthetic oil is typically recommended for newer cars but is more expensive than conventional oil.

How to Check and Change Your Car Oil

When your engine is cold (it’s been off for at least three hours), remove the dipstick, wipe it clean and then reinsert it. Pull it out slowly and smoothly and see if the oil level is within the indicator markers. If it is, it’s time to add more oil. To change your oil, you’ll need to jack up your car to drain the oil pan and pop the hood to change the oil filter.