I just swapped out my car’s oil, but I made a mistake. I bought 4 quarts of 5W-30 oil and 2 quarts of 5W-20 by accident. I noticed this when I was updating my maintenance log and saw the receipt. Will it be okay if I drive 900 miles tomorrow with this mix-up? I feel pretty silly for messing up.
Yes, you can mix 5W-30 and 5W-20 oils without causing harm to your engine.
Both oils have similar cold-weather viscosity and will flow evenly in low temperatures.
However, it’s not recommended to make a habit of mixing oils with different weight ratings, as they may have different additives.
If you’re in a pinch and need to top off your oil, mixing them temporarily won’t cause immediate damage, but you should aim to use the oil type specified by your vehicle’s manufacturer for optimal performance
Oil viscosity mixing can lead to problems with engine lubrication and performance. To guarantee ideal engine performance, it is important to empty and refuel with the appropriate oil. Even though 900 miles on mixed oil may not result in harm right away, it’s wise to fix the error as soon as you can to prevent any long-term problems.
Why kill yourself for a small mistake when you may even find that you ain’t the one who did it may be the dealer?
The good news is that mixing 5W-30 and 5W-20 motor oils is generally not harmful to your car’s engine. Both oils have similar characteristics, especially since they share the same winter rating. The difference in their viscosity at operating temperature is relatively small, and mixing them won’t result in any significant change that would harm the engine
Blending a little bit of 5W-20 with 5W-30 oil typically won’t result in immediate damage to your engine. Mixing these oils in small quantities should not cause significant issues due to their similar properties.