Buy 10W-60 engine oil

10W-60 is a specialist oil: very high viscosity at operating temperature, made for high-revving performance engines, oil temperatures beyond the normal and racing use. It does not belong in an ordinary production engine - there it costs power and reaches tight lubrication points too slowly.

What this grade is built for

The 60 at the end is the whole point: at 100 °C an exceptionally thick oil film stays in place. That is the answer to engines whose oil gets far hotter in service than in an everyday car - high engine speeds, high bearing loads, little cooling air, long spells at full load.

Classic cases:

  • high-revving naturally aspirated performance engines, in particular older BMW M engines for which the manufacturer expressly specifies 10W-60
  • racing and track day use to the engine builder's specification
  • engines known for high oil temperatures, for which a corresponding approval exists

It is not a grade you pick "to be on the safe side". An engine designed for 5W-30 gets no better protection from 10W-60, just an oil circuit that is too stiff: chain tensioners, hydraulic lifters and camshaft adjusters end up working with a viscosity they were not built for.

What happens at the cold start

10W means an oil that gets going distinctly more slowly than a 0W or 5W. On a performance engine that is planned for - the specification exists because warm running is more critical than cold. In practice it means: drive for a minute or two without load after the start and only take the engine to the limiter once the oil is up to temperature. Oil temperature, not coolant temperature, is the yardstick here.

Oil consumption is normal here

Engines that call for 10W-60 use more oil by design than an everyday engine - on some M engines a litre every few thousand kilometres is the factory specification, not a fault. So keep a 1 litre bottle of the same product in the car and check the level before every long or fast journey.

Top up exclusively with the same oil, or at least with the same grade and approval: a 5W-30 in the top-up bottle waters down exactly the property this oil was chosen for.

In racing use, change by running hours rather than by mileage - and check the oil level again afterwards, because the new oil filter does not fill completely until the first drive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put 10W-60 into an ordinary engine?

No, not unless the manufacturer specifies it. The oil is considerably thicker at operating temperature than intended; hydraulic components such as chain tensioners and camshaft adjusters react to that, and consumption rises. The right grade is in the owner's manual.

Why do some performance engines call for 10W-60?

Because their oil gets very hot in service and the bearing loads are high. A 30 or 40 grade film would become too thin under those conditions. The specification comes from the engine manufacturer and is not a question of driving style.

Is 10W-60 suitable for winter?

It is not a winter oil in the narrow sense, but it works in a temperate climate if you give the engine time after the start. On vehicles that stand out in the cold in winter and do a lot of short journeys, ask the manufacturer - some release a second grade for winter.

Do I need 10W-60 for track days?

Only if your engine is specified for it. For a standard everyday engine on track the right oil is the approved one - combined with a change after the event and an eye on the oil temperature, not with a higher viscosity.