# Oil... how does it work? \[split\]

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/oil-how-does-it-work-split/262189>\
**Category:** Shift518 Off Topic\
**Created:** [January 6, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/oil-how-does-it-work-split/262189 "2012-01-06T23:40:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 42

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**Author:** ![TurboTravis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbotravis/32/6406_2.png) [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/oil-how-does-it-work-split/262189/42 "2012-01-08T10:56:51Z")

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> [@I have a slight conflict with the financial office at UB](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/i-have-a-slight-conflict-with-the-financial-office-at-ub/47756/6):
>
> Plus rep for actually putting your thinking cap on and actually having the discussion unlike the rest of the trolls.
> 
> However the part in bold is still an issue with me.
> 
> How does that work?
> 
> Common sense is oil thickens up when it drops in temperature, however SAE scale says the opposite when it says that a low number is thin but a high number is thick?

low number is indeed thin, and high number is indeed thick.

What you’re not grasping is that a 5W is PHYSICALLY THICKER in cold temps vs. an SAE 30 in high temps.

(not sure if this next statement will help or hurt)-a 5W30 at cold temps is THINNER than a straight SAE 30 in cold temps, and the same thickness at high temps.

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