Glossary / General

oil viscosity

11 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

Oil viscosity is how thick or thin the oil in your engine is. When it's cold, the oil gets thicker, which can make it harder for the engine to start.

Technical Definition

Oil viscosity refers to the thickness of the engine oil, which can change with temperature. In colder weather, oil becomes thicker, making it harder for the engine components to move smoothly, which can affect starting.

Hear It Discussed

"on a On a modern car, you know, you use the correct oil or the incorrect oil, the incorrect oil viscosity."
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - May 30, 2026 - Hour 2 Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 02:37

"...people are talking about, no, no, no, you need thicker oil and higher viscosity or higher quality oil. ... we're going to talk about oil viscosity, oil quality..."
S3, E91 - All About Oil The Truck Show Podcast 01:25

"bearing clearance versus oil viscosity [2002.9s] is a pretty hot one. I've probably gone the opposite way in terms of building slightly [2009.5s] looser than a stock clearance and then moving up in..."
162: The Real Science Behind Engine Airflow & Performance Tuned In 33:18