# W20/50 oil for my car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** oil-changes\ **Created:** [July 11, 2019, 9:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133 "2019-07-11T09:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![serge.goncalves\_154500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@serge.goncalves\_154500](https://community.cartalk.com/u/serge.goncalves_154500)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 9:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/1 "2019-07-11T09:25:09Z")
Hello, I now live in a tropical area. Temperatures here are around 30 - 35 C. (around 90F) all year round and rarely go below 15 C. (60 F). the W20 50 oil is twice cheaper than W5 40. Do you think the W20 50 will be OK ( Nissan Sentra 1.6L 2003, fuel is 95 Octane Rating ) ? ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 10:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/2 "2019-07-11T10:00:21Z")
Unless it is stated so in the manual, the answer is simple. NO. ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 10:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/3 "2019-07-11T10:05:10Z")
Check your owners manual. I am betting it says no. While your outside temps seem hot to a human,(we in North America will envy you in six months), engine temps are much higher. The lower number is the thickness at ambient temp. If the oil is thick (20) the engine does not get valuable lubrication at start up that lighter oil gives (5). I would not worry about the upper range, 40 vs 50. Pretty close enough. Compare the cost of an oil change against a new engine, much cheaper in the long run to change oil with the proper weight. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 12:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/4 "2019-07-11T12:33:49Z")
5-30 is correct. Why do you think you need heavier oil? Worn out? Low oil pressure? How do you know? Is it burning oil? Keep adding cheap 5-30. Throw in a qt of 10-30 or whatever you have laying around ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/5 "2019-07-11T17:02:17Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Why do you think you need heavier oil? He said because it’s half the price… ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/6 "2019-07-11T17:04:24Z")
> [@serge.goncalves\_154500](#): > > Do you think the W20 50 will be OK No, it’s too heavy at cold start even for your tropical environment. It’s half the price because no real demand except for people with worn out engines trying to eek out a few more miles. ---
**Author:** ![CapitalTruck](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capitaltruck/32/16592_2.png) [@CapitalTruck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapitalTruck)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/w20-50-oil-for-my-car/144133/7 "2019-07-11T17:33:13Z")
If your car is not burning major oil stick with what is recommended in the owners manual.