Generally, what is 5w30 oil used for? If my car's manufacturer suggest 10w30 and I added 5w30 accidentally, ok?

Wish you had listed the year make and model of your car. Right off the bat I'd like to clarify one thing. No American car manufacturer recommends 10W-40 for any gasoline car or truck. It's not energy conserving oil. At the present time Ford and Toyota specify using 5W-20. GM for the most part still hangs on to 5W-30.





Where specified, 5W-30 allows the oil pump to force a greater *volume of oil to frictional surfaces during start-up. This is very important as 80% of all engine wear occurs during hot and cold starts. Lower viscosity oil cools engines more efficiently than thick oil when the motor is up to temperature also. Conversely heat is *adsorbed from light oil faster by the water jackets and oil pan.





I'm personally use to changing oil viscosity's with the expected weather conditions. GM recommends 10W-30 in temperatures above 32 degrees and 5W-30 in the crankcase when the temp. is expected to be below 32 in my Pontiac.Generally, what is 5w30 oil used for? If my car's manufacturer suggest 10w30 and I added 5w30 accidentally, ok?
No problem however If you have 5W-30 in it and it needs additional oil - ONLY add 5W30. If it has 10W-30 then add ONLY 10W-30.





Incidentally, FYI - the W in 5W-30 means it is formulated for Winter use. Occasionally, (but very rare), you may come across an oil such as 5-30. It is O.K. but, ONLY - if you live in a warm Southern or Western State.Generally, what is 5w30 oil used for? If my car's manufacturer suggest 10w30 and I added 5w30 accidentally, ok?
It will be fine it will not hurt anything the only way it would mess something up is if you kept doing that then yes long term effects would occur but for this one time no it will not hurt anything go ahead and change your oil the same time you normally would probably in the next month or so.
sure really depends on where you live and how hot it is and how hard you drive your car i run 10w40 in everything ive always have no problems sure it would be better to have a heavier weight oil than lighter now if its cold where you live lighter doesnt hurt at all
5W30 is used for cooler climates and for improved fuel economy (it's a slightly thinner oil compared to 10W30).





Don't worry about mixing the 2. You won't harm the engine or anything like that.
If you added one quart to your car...one out of 5 quarts wouldn't effect anything, no matter what weight you added..





The difference between 5w30 and 10w30 is in winter starting ability, rest of the year it doesn't matter...
5w30 came into being when engine tolerances became tighter. It has a slightly thinner viscosity. Your mistake is minuscule and best forgotten. But do use the correct oil next time you change.
it won,t hurt nothing if you put 5w30 in it. a lot of cars takes the 5w30. but of course 10w30 would be better especially in the hot weather.
5w30 is for economy, mixing them is ok.