Eli5 what does the wrong car oil do to an engine?

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If I put in the wrong oil in my car short term, what does it do? Say 4 days before I’m paid and can get an oil change…

In: Engineering

Anonymous 0 Comments

Different blends of oil offer viscosity (friction) protection at different temperatures. Let’s say your car requires 10w-30 and you use 10w-20 instead. The oil will lose its protective qualities much sooner because it’s not made to handle the heat caused by more powerful engines. The biggest no-no when it comes to oil would be switching back and forth between synthetic and standard which negatively affects your seals and gaskets. You shouldn’t have a problem in a short amount of time unless you run your car at high revs or for extreme periods of time. Be gentle.

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