A reader asks: Will AMSOIL be coming out with a Signature Series 0W-16 oil anytime soon?
Our answer: It will almost certainly happen, but we wouldn’t expect it in the immediate future. For now, just the Honda Fit and certain Toyota Camry models take 0W-16 motor oil. So it goes without saying that the market for 0W-16 motor is currently very tiny. As of now, AMSOIL offers the value-packed OE 0W-16 Synthetic Motor Oil.
We expect that many more automakers will start to suggest 0W-16 for some models in the next few years. This would likely prompt AMSOIL to expand the 0W-16 offerings to the higher-end Signature Series and XL Series.
If auto manufacturers make a significant move to 0W-16 motor oil in 2021-22 (and that is plausible), it would expand the 0W-16 market overnight. But again, until more engines are designed for 0W-16 motor oil, we would expect that AMSOIL will offer only the OE Series version.
The 0W-16 motor oil viscosity is now on the market and will be the factory-fill in a growing number of popular car engines.
The immediate question for many might be “Is 0W-16 Too Thin?”. We cover that question in a post here.
Let’s look at 0W-16 motor oil by the numbers. Below are common motor oil metrics comparing 0W-16 with 0W-20, 5W-20 and 5W-30 engine oils.
What Is A 0W-16 Motor Oil?
The 0W-16 motor oil viscosity is now suggested for the 2018 (and newer) Honda Fit and Toyota Camry (2.5L engines). This motor oil grade meets the criteria of “0W” winter weight and “16” high-temperature viscosity.
0W-16 Motor Oil By The Numbers
The 0W-16 motor oil example we will be using is AMSOIL OE 0W-16 Synthetic Motor Oil. To compare apples to apples, we will use the AMSOIL OE Series 0W-20, 5W-20 and 5W-30.
Kinematic Viscosity at 40°C
Kinematic viscosity measures a motor oil’s resistance to flow under gravity. This viscosity test is measured in “centistokes” (or “cSt”).
Below are the kinematic viscosity numbers for AMSOIL OE Series Synthetic 0W-16, 0W-20, 5W-20 and 5W-30 measured at 40°C. Note that the 0W-16 viscosity at 40°C (104°F) is about 57.6% of the viscosity of 5W-30.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
36.5 cSt
46.0 cSt
48.5 cSt
63.4 cSt
Kinematic Viscosity at 100°C
At 100°C (212°F), 0W-16 is 65% of the viscosity of 5W-30. Note that 0W-20 and 5W-20 have the exact same viscosity at this temperature. Keep in mind that they both measure as 20-weight oils at hot temperatures.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
7.2 cSt
8.6 cSt
8.6 cSt
11.0 cSt
Cold Cranking Simulator Viscosity
This industry standard test simulates how well an engine oil will crank during cold temperatures. The motor oil test sample is cooled to a specific temperature. A motor stator is then spun in the cold oil. The resistance created by the cold oil is measured and converted to “centipoise” (or “cP”). Centipoise is a viscosity measurement unit. Higher centipoise values mean that a greater amount of energy is required to crank over the oil in cold temps.
“0W” motor oils are measured at -35°C, while “5W” motor oils are measured at -30°C.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
4781 cP @-35°C
5859 cP @-35°C
4310 cP @-30°C
4555 cP @-30°C
Cold Pour Point
The cold-pour-point is simply determined at the temperature where a motor oil stops flowing. Note that as both the 0W-16 and 0W-20 have a “0W” winter viscosity, they end up with identical cold-pour-points.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
-48°C (-54°F)
-48°C (-54°F)
-44°C (-47°F)
-44°C (-47°F)
Noack Volatility
The Noack Volatility test procedure heats a motor oil to 250°C and exposes it to moving air for one hour. The amount of oil lost to evaporation during this test is shown by percentage. Lighter viscosity motor oils will tend to have higher volatility losses.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
12.4%
12.0%
8.6%
9.4%
High Temperature/High Shear
The high temperature/high shear (HTHS) test replicates a motor oil’s ability to flow through tight tolerances of an engine and protect fast moving engine parts. First, a motor oil sample is heated to 150°C and exposed to steady shearing. The viscosity of the oil is measured in “centipoise” (cP). A 5W-30 (being thicker) will naturally achieve a higher HTHS value than a 0W-20 or a 0W-16.
A higher HTHS result presumably offers better wear control. A lower HTTS value generally offers better fuel economy.
Today’s engines and low HTHS motor oils are designed to achieve dependable wear control and long engine life.
If high HTHS oils were the be all/end all, we would be using 15W-40 in our passenger car/light truck engines. That simply isn’t necessary or feasible. The HTTS number should be considered as another viscosity indicator rather than a determining factor in wear control.
0W-16
0W-20
5W-20
5W-30
2.3 cP
2.74 cP
2.8 cP
3.3 cP
Do you have questions about 0W-16 motor oil? Feel free to contact us using the form on this page or call us at 1-800-748-5781.
AMSOIL’s new OE 0W-16 Synthetic Motor Oil is now available for sale. This brand-new viscosity is offered in the value-priced OE Series to start. We suspect that as the 0W-16 grade becomes more prevalent, it will eventually be offered in AMSOIL’s premium XL and Signature Series lines.
Where Can I Buy 0W-16 Engine Oil?
Oildepot can ship this AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-16 to your door from warehouses in Canada and the United States. We have wholesale programs for personal-use as well as for dealers and shops. Contact us for a wholesale price list using the form on this page.
Why Did AMSOIL Come Out With A 0W-16?
Some Honda, Toyota and Lexus models recommend the use of 0W-16 motor oil. Automakers are scrounging for every conceivable way to improve fuel economy. Make no mistake, that is why this new ultra-thin motor oil viscosity is on the market. Expect automakers to spec 0W-16 for more models in the very near future.
Will 0W-16 Be Too Thin?
We discuss this question in our post “Is 0W-16 Motor Oil Too Thin?“. We believe that engine design and motor oil chemistry have reached the point where 0W-16 is very viable. Extensive testing goes into industry motor oil specifications and engine technology. We are confident that the homework on 0W-16 is complete. You can bet your last dollar that AMSOIL OE 0W-16 was rigorously tested. It will provide the heavy-duty synthetic wear protection that AMSOIL is famous for.
Remember that many motorists had grave concerns when the 5W-20 motor oil grade was introduced almost two decades ago. Now, the majority of modern passenger cars and light-trucks use 5W-20 or 0W-20. After hundreds of millions of miles of use, 20-weight motor oil has been proven to offer excellent wear protection.
We predict that the 0W-16 motor oil grade will eventually deliver the same successful track record.
Do you have questions about 0W-16 motor oil? Contact us using the form on this page or call us at 1-800-748-5781.
A small motor oil revolution started in 2018 of which few people are aware. The introduction of the brand new 0W-16 motor oil viscosity.
Cars That Take 0W-16
Currently, the 2018 Honda Fit (with the 1.5L engine) and the 2018 Toyota Camry (with the 2.5L engine option) are the only two cars that use 0W-16.
In the case of the Fit, Honda is suggesting either 0W-20 or 0W-16. The 0W-20 viscosity is relatively common, so this was a consumer-friendly choice.
0W-16 is the only recommended viscosity for the latest Camry 2.5L engine. There are two versions of the Toyota 2.5 litre “Dynamic Force Engine”. The A25AFKS conventional engine and the A25AFXS hybrid engine. Toyota is claiming that these two engines are among the most thermally efficient motors on the market. The addition of friction-reducing 0W-16 would certainly optimize this efficiency.
Why Was 0W-16 Introduced?
Quite simply to maximize fuel economy. Car makers have been moving toward thinner engines oils and transmission fluids for the last couple of decades. Thinner oils reduce friction and deliver a relatively small fuel mileage boost. Auto makers have to meet corporate average fuel economy (also known as CAFE) targets set by the US government. If they miss these targets, the penalties can run into the tens of millions of dollars. Going with thinner motor oils may deliver just a small fuel economy improvement per car. But every little bit counts as auto makers strive for mileage gains.
Will Using 0W-16 Engine Oil Cause Premature Wear?
Obviously, it’s too early to tell. But we strongly doubt that this will be a problem. Today’s engines are made with very precise tolerances along with high-tech materials and manufacturing processes. Motor oil technology has also kept pace with cutting-edge synthetic base oils and ever-advancing additive chemistry. As soon as wear protection test data becomes available, we will post it. We would not be at all concerned with using this new viscosity where it is recommended.
For now, 0W-16 is suggested for smaller displacement 4-cylinder engines. It will be interesting to see if 0W-16 is soon suggested for turbo-charged, V-6 or even V-8 applications.
Back in the early 2000’s, 5W-20 motor oil was introduced. Honda and Ford were early adopters of this grade with Ford even making 5W-20 the factory fill in their V-8 and V-10 pick-up engines. There were concerns that 5W-20 was too thin to protect engines and that it was simply a fuel economy improvement scheme. Early on, many believed that auto makers were willing to sacrifice engine life in order to meet their government-mandated fuel economy targets. But that concern never became a reality.
Today, 0W-20 is routinely used in 400 horsepower V-8 pickup truck engines with stellar wear protection.
Going forward, we fully expect that 0W-16 motor oil will be viewed as an integral part of overall automotive efficiency improvements with no discernible engine wear consequences.
A reader asks: Will AMSOIL be coming out with a Signature Series 0W-16 oil anytime soon?
