Viscosity grade
any of a number of systems which characterize lubricants according to viscosity for particular applications, such as industrial oils, gear oils, automotive engine oils, automotive gear oils, and aircraft piston engine oils. ISO and SAE are the two systems most often encountered in oil analysis applications.
| SAE Viscosity Grade |
“LOW” TEMPERATURE | “HIGH” TEMPERATURE | |||
| Cranking (cP) max (°C) |
Pumping (cP) max (°C) |
Low Shear Rate (cSt) 100°C |
High Shear Rate (cP) 150°C minimum |
||
| min | max | ||||
| 0W | 3250 (-30º) | 60,000 (-40º) | 3.8 | N/A | N/A |
| 5W | 3500 (-25º) | 60,000 (-35º) | 3.8 | N/A | N/A |
| 10W | 3500 (-20º) | 60,000 (-30º) | 4.1 | N/A | N/A |
| 15W | 3500 (-15º) | 60,000 (-25º) | 5.6 | N/A | N/A |
| 20W | 4500 (-10º) | 60,000 (-20º) | 5.6 | N/A | N/A |
| 25W | 6000 (-5º) | 60,000 (-15º) | 9.3 | N/A | N/A |
| 20 | N/A | N/A | 5.6 | <9.3 | 2.6 |
| 30 | N/A | N/A | 9.3 | <12.5 | 2.9 |
| 40 | N/A | N/A | 12.5 | <16.3 | 2.9 (0W-40, 5W-40, 10W-40 grades) |
| 40 | N/A | N/A | 12.5 | <16.3 | 3.7 (15W-40, 20W-40, 25W-40, 40 grades) |
| 50 | N/A | N/A | 16.3 | <21.9 | 3.7 |
| 60 | N/A | N/A | 21.9 | <26.1 | 3.7 |