SAE Viscosity Grades
For engine and gear oils ccording to the SAE standards J 300 and J 306
Description
The viscosity grade of a lube oil is determined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Oils can be separated into multigrade oils and monograde oils. Multigrade oils must fulfill two viscosity specifications, their viscosity grade consists of two numbers, e.g. 10W-40: 10W refers to the low-temperature viscosity ("Winter"), 40 refers to the high-temperature viscosity ("Summer"). Currently, most automotive engine oils are multigrade oils, while oils for restricted usage, e.g. for seasonally used engines like lawn mowers, are often monograde oils. While the two numbers specify the SAE viscosity grade, the viscosity index shows the temperature related change of viscosity.
This page gives an overview of the oil specifications, see also the measurement data of engine oils and gear oils over a wide temperature range.
Viscosity Tables – Measurement data
Automotive Lubricant Viscosity Grades: Engine Oils – SAE J 300, Dec. 1999
High-Temperature Viscosities
- Kinematic viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C - low-shear viscosity - determined according to ASTM D445, where the alternative method according to ASTM D7042 delivers comparable results.
- High-shear viscosity (10/s) at high temperature of 150 °C - HSHT viscosity - determined according to ASTM D4683, CEC L-36-A-90 (ASTM D 4741) or ASTM DS481.
| SAE Viscosity Grade[°C] | Min. Viscosity [mm²/s] at 100 °C | Max. Viscosity [mm²/s] at 100 °C | High Shear Rate Viscosity [mPa.s] at 150 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0W | 3.8 | -- | -- |
| 5W | 3.8 | -- | -- |
| 10W | 4.1 | -- | -- |
| 15W | 5.6 | -- | -- |
| 20W | 5.6 | -- | -- |
| 25W | 9.3 | -- | -- |
| 20 | 5.6 | <9.3 | 2.6 |
| 30 | 9.3 | <12.5 | 2.9 |
| 40 | 12.5 | <16.3 | 2.9 * |
| 40 | 12.5 | <16.3 | 3.7 ** |
| 50 | 16.3 | <21.9 | 3.7 |
| 60 | 21.9 | <26.1 | 3.7 |
* 0W-40, 5W-40 & 10W-40 grades
** 15W-40, 20W-40, 25W-40 & 40 grades
Low-Temperature Viscosities
- Cold-cranking viscosity at defined temperatures depending on the viscosity grade of the oil - determined according to ASTM D5293 (cold cranking simulator). The procedure simulates the cold start of an internal combustion engine.
- Borderline pumping temperature of max. 60 000 mPa.s at defined temperatures depending on the viscosity grade of the oil according to SAE J300. Determination of apparent viscosity and yield stress according to ASTM D4684, ASTM D3829, ASTM D6821 or ASTM D6896 (mini rotary viscometer).
| SAE Viscosity Grade[°C] | Cranking Viscosity [mPa.s] max. at Temp. [°C] | Pumping Viscosity [mPa.s] max. at Temp. [°C] |
|---|---|---|
| 0W | 6200 at -35 | 60 000 at -40 |
| 5W | 6600 at -30 | 60 000 at -35 |
| 10W | 7000 at -25 | 60 000 at -30 |
| 15W | 7000 at -20 | 60 000 at -25 |
| 20W | 9500 at -15 | 60 000 at -20 |
| 25W | 13 000 at -10 | 60 000 at -15 |
| 20 | -- | -- |
| 30 | -- | -- |
| 40 | -- | -- |
| 40 | -- | -- |
| 50 | -- | -- |
| 60 | -- | -- |
Automotive Lubricant Viscosity Grades: Gear Oils – Excerpt SAE J 306, 1998
| SAE Viscosity Grade | Max. Temperature for 150 000 cP [°C] (ASTM D 2983) | Min. Viscosity [mm²/s] at 100 °C (ASTM D445) | Max. Viscosity [mm²/s] at 100 °C (ASTM D445) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70W | -55 | 3.72 | -- |
| 75W | -40 | 4.4 | -- |
| 80W | -26 | 5.29 | -- |
| 85W | -12 | 6.46 | -- |
| 80 | -- | 8.02 | <11.0 |
| 85 | -- | 10.15 | <13.5 |
| 90 | -- | 13.13 | <18.5 |
| 110 | -- | 17.4 | <24.0 |
| 140 | -- | 23.74 | <32.5 |
| 190 | -- | 33.33 | <41.0 |
| 250 | -- | 48.49 | -- |
Reference
SAE J 300, SAE J 306
Metainformation
| Reference | SAE J 300, SAE J 306 |
|---|---|
| Kin. vis. | yes |
| Dyn. vis. | no |
| Density | no |
| Multiple temperatures | no |
| Related | kinematic viscosity, viscosity, engine oil, gear oil, lubricant, lube oil, SAE J 300, SAE J 306, viscosity grade |