Oil is your engine’s lifeblood, minimizing friction and heat. But it breaks down with use, so you must change it regularly with the manufacturer’s recommended type.
However, mistakes happen. What if you accidentally put in the wrong oil? We’ll cover what using the incorrect oil does to your engine, how to fix the issue, and how to avoid it in the future.
Engine Oil Service Classifications
In the United States, the American Petroleum Institute (API) sets standards for measuring the characteristics of passenger car engine oil. Over time, the oil required by vehicles has changed.
Cars from the 1920s, 1950s, 1970s, and so on require a different formulation of motor oil. Therefore, different engine oil classifications exist and will likely continue to be created in the future.
Gasoline Engines
The current service classification for today’s gasoline powered cars is “SN PLUS” which was introduced in 2018.
For new cars (2019 and newer – depending on when you read this), you want to make sure the motor oil you purchase has this classification noted in the “API Donut” image (see examples below) which is visible on all bottles of motor oil.
For older cars (2018 and older), you can also use motor oil with the “SN PLUS” classification but you may be able to also use older classifications depending on when your car was built. The table below notes these classifications.
| Category | Model Years | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SN PLUS | Use in gasoline engines of today’s cars and older. | Current |
| SN | Use in gasoline engines for cars built in 2018 and older. | Current |
| SM | Use in gasoline engines for cars built in 2011 and older. | Current |
| SL | Use in gasoline engines for cars built in 2004 and older. | Current |
| SJ | Use in gasoline engines for cars built in 2001 and older. | Current |
| SH | Don’t use in cars built after 1996. | Obsolete |
| SG | Don’t use in cars built after 1993. | Obsolete |
| SF | Don’t use in cars built after 1988. | Obsolete |
| SE | Don’t use in cars built after 1979. | Obsolete |
| SD | Don’t use in cars built after 1971. | Obsolete |
| SC | Don’t use in cars built after 1967. | Obsolete |
| SB | Don’t use in cars built after 1951. | Obsolete |
| SA | Don’t use in cars built after 1930. | Obsolete |
Because of this, all the oil you buy in the present will have to be equal or better than the previous standards such as SG, SF, SJ, SL, and SM.
Check your owner’s manual to find the right oil for your car and at least 2 accurate multi-grade specifications that coincide with the engine of your vehicle.
Do not just look for a brand name when choosing oil. Your manual should recommend an oil that has a requirement such as “compliant with standard SN of API.”
Diesel Engines
Oil Viscosity
The motor oil in car engines has to function under various temperatures and pressures. For example, vehicles must endure cold weather during winter and hot weather during summer.
Oil has a harder time flowing in the cold and an easier time flowing in the summer. And if you’re towing a heavy load on top of that, it is even more work for the oil. This resistance to flow calculation is known as viscosity.
The numerical codes of these standards are defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Examples of engine oil viscosity include: 5W-20, 10W-30, and 20W-50.
Low Temperatures
The first number followed by the letter “W” in oil viscosity indicates how thick the oil is at low temperatures. The “W” stands for winter. The lower the number, the thinner the oil.
Since thinner oil flows better than thicker oil at low temperatures, running a 5W-20 oil would be much better in a Michigan winter than something like a 20W-50.
High Temperatures
The second number in oil viscosity indicates how thick the oil is at normal operating temperature. The higher the number, the thicker the oil.
Thicker oil protects engine parts better than thinner oil under tough conditions. For instance, if you’re driving in Arizona in the middle of summer, a 20W-50 motor oil would protect your engine better than a 5w-20 viscosity.
Of course, you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation of what oil viscosity weight you should use in your vehicle. Too thin of an oil can result in not enough protection. Too thick of an oil can clog passageways (as is the case of DTC P0014).
Now that you should have a decent understanding about the basics of engine oil, here are some symptoms you may see if you accidentally put the wrong oil in your car.
Wrong Oil in Car Symptoms
#1. Hard to Start in Cold Weather.
If the cold viscosity of your oil is too high (the oil is too thick), then you may not be able to start your car in very cold temperatures. In this case, the oil is too thick to properly lubricate all moving parts and this causes excess resistance during car starts.
#2. Oil Leaks.
If you use a synthetic oil on an older or high mileage car, you may start to develop small oil leaks you would not get had you used a conventional motor oil.
This is simply due to the different flow characteristics that synthetic oils have which conventional oils don’t. It allows the oil to squeeze through tighter areas than regular oil.
Synthetics also typically have additional detergents that will often clean out gunk that may have been plugging a small oil leak. In this case, the extra cleaning ability may cause an existing leak that was temporarily plugged to be uncovered.
While using a synthetic oil in these cases won’t necessarily cause any damage, you may notice drops of oil on your garage floor or a burning smell while driving. Because this oil is slowly leaking, you want to pay extra attention to your oil level and top off when needed.
Switching back to a conventional oil on your next oil change is recommended. Some vehicles simply don’t do well with synthetic oils.
#3. Smell of Burning Oil.
If the hot viscosity of the motor oil is not high enough, the oil may start to break down under extreme (hot) conditions and it won’t lubricate the components of the engine properly.
This will result in the oil being burnt. Over time, this can lead to long-term damage in your engine due to excess friction between metal components.
You may also experience the burning oil smell due to using synthetic oil and it leaking as mentioned above.
#4. Poor Fuel Economy.
If you use too thick of a motor oil for the conditions, your fuel mileage will likely suffer. This is because the thicker oil increases resistance on moving parts such as pistons. While your engine will be protected, it will be at the expense of more frequent trips to the gas station.
Switching to a slightly thinner oil (example: 20w-50 to 10w-30) should help the situation.
#5. Engine Ticking in Cold Weather.
If you use too thin of a motor oil for the conditions, you may hear your engine making a ticking noise. This will usually be the loudest right after starting up and gradually decreasing after driving around for a bit.
This happens because the wrong weight of engine oil can do a poor job of coating and lubricating all engine components.
What you are hearing is metal components such as valves and valve lifters hitting against other metal. Temporarily switching to a different oil viscosity may cure the problem.
Mixing Synthetic Oil with Conventional Motor Oil
If you accidentally add conventional motor oil to synthetic motor oil (or vice versa) to your engine, you have nothing to worry about.
The only reason why you wouldn’t want to do this is that synthetic motor oil is expensive and by mixing the two types, you’re simply not getting the benefits of the synthetic properties since the conventional oil is compromising those benefits.
At the next oil change, simply choose one type of oil over the other. Do not mix them.
Mixing Different Oil Weights
Should you worry if you accidentally add a thicker oil (ie: 20w-50) to a thinner oil (ie: 10w-30) that’s already in the engine? In most cases you’ll be fine.
Mixing the oil viscosities simply blends the two weights together. You simply don’t want to stray too far away from what oil viscosity the car manufacturer recommends to use. Using too thick of an oil can result in high oil pressure in some cases.
Mixing Different Oil Brands
While it’s not recommended to mix various brands (example: Valvoline, Castrol, Mobil 1, Amsoil, etc.) of oil, it won’t cause damage to your engine. What matters more is sticking with the same oil viscosity.
Since different motor oil brands have slightly different additives, you may be negating the benefits of one additive because you’re diluting it with a brand that doesn’t have that additive. It’s not a big deal but when you need your next oil change, stick to a single oil brand.
How Temperatures Affect Engine Oil
What Happens in Hot Weather
During hot weather, the engine of your car naturally tends to heat up faster, which in turn can affect the performance of the motor oil.
If the oil viscosity is too low, it might cause the oil to burn because it’s too thin for the hot environment around it.
This can lead to increased friction within the engine and eventually wear down its components. To avoid this issue, it’s often necessary to use thicker engine oil in hotter climates.
Another aspect you need to consider is the reduced mileage. Using the wrong motor oil viscosity, especially if thicker than recommended, will directly affect your car’s mileage.
The critical moving parts, like pistons, have to work harder to move with the additional resistance that thicker oil gives.
What Happens in Cold Weather
In cold weather, oil has a harder time flowing, making it important to use thinner engine oil. Using oil with a higher viscosity than recommended can result in increased resistance inside the engine, leading to difficulties when starting the car.
On top of that, the poor flow of oil might not provide adequate lubrication for the engine’s components, resulting in higher friction and wear.
Keep in mind that temperatures also play a significant role in the illumination of the oil light or check engine light.
These lights are connected to sensors that monitor the oil pressure and engine temperature, and if either of these measures is out of the normal range due to the wrong oil type, the lights might turn on.
How Using the Wrong Oil Impacts Engine Components
Oil Filter
When you use the wrong type of engine oil, it can affect your oil filter’s ability to catch debris and contaminants.
Since the engine oil is not the correct viscosity, your filter might become clogged, leading to a decrease in oil flow and potentially damaging your engine components.
Oil Pump
Your oil pump is responsible for circulating oil throughout your engine. If you have the wrong engine oil, it can put extra strain on your oil pump. This is because the pump has to work harder to move the oil through the engine, which could result in premature wear.
Oil Pan
The oil pan is the reservoir that holds your engine oil. When you use the incorrect oil, it can cause issues with the oil pan, such as increased sludge buildup and worn seals. This may result in oil leaks and decreased engine performance.
PCV Valve
The positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve helps maintain proper pressure within your engine’s crankcase.
Not using the correct engine oil can create an imbalance in the PCV system, allowing contaminants and debris to build up. This can affect the overall performance of your engine, as well as increase emissions.
Piston Rings
Piston rings play a vital role in sealing the combustion chamber and ensuring proper lubrication within the engine. When the wrong oil is used, it can lead to decreased lubrication, causing excessive wear on the piston rings.
Additionally, inappropriate additives in the oil may further degrade the piston rings, resulting in a loss of compression and decreased engine efficiency.
To Avoid Any Issues
If you’re still confused as to what oil type, viscosity, or weight you should be using, consult your owner’s manual. Your car manufacturer is by far the best resource for determining the best motor oil for your vehicle.
If you live in extremely hot or cold climates, you may need to use a slightly thicker or thinner oil but for the majority of owners, stick to what’s recommended.