What are the common mistakes made when choosing oil viscosity?

There are several common mistakes that can negatively affect engine performance.:

1. Ignoring the manufacturer’s recommendations. The use of oil with a viscosity other than the recommended one, without taking into account climatic or operational characteristics. For example, pouring 10W-40 oil into an engine rated at 0W-20 can lead to increased fuel consumption and reduced power.
2. Excessive fascination with “thick” oils. In pursuit of “protection”, car owners often pour more viscous oil than recommended. This can lead to difficult start-up in winter, increased fuel consumption and overload of the oil pump. Modern low viscosity oils (e.g. 0W-20, 5W-30) are specially designed to provide maximum protection even at high temperatures thanks to their unique additive packages.
3. The wrong choice for the climate. Using oil with a high low-temperature viscosity (for example, 15W-40) in harsh winter conditions can cause the engine to simply not start or run out of oil in the first minutes after starting.

The viscosity of the engine oil is a fundamental parameter that directly affects the performance and durability of the engine. The correct choice of viscosity, based on the recommendations of the car manufacturer and taking into account the