What Kind of Oil Does My Car Take
Oil is a very vital component to your car engine. The sole purpose of oil is to keep the engine parts fully lubricated, thus slow down, and even better prevent wear and tear of the machinery parts. Personally, I had been using an engine oil that, after some time, left a lot of deposit and smudge to my engine. Not a good thing for a car that I had saved money for quite some time. I, later on, learned that there are varieties actually. Furthermore, car manuals do advice on the right oil to use for your vehicle. Moreover, to be able to know the kind of oil, you not only look through the varieties, but also the fluid velocity must come into consideration. There are different types of oils to serve the diverse car engine models. The varieties include synthetic oil, synthetic blends, high mileage oil and conventional oil.
Synthetic Oil
This is oil that has been distilled, purified, refined and broken down into its basic molecules. This whole process not only removes impurities but also uniforms the molecules to the demands of a modern car engine. This, in turn, provides optimum protection and performance. More additives are put into action for a perfect combination of synthetic oil.
More Benefits Include
Keeping the engine cleaner. The oil picks up deposits as it flows through the engine, and does not form sludge, therefore, prolonged life period for your engine.
Oil is the barrier between the engine parts. The oil provides smooth movement of parts that are in constant contact; preventing friction. In turn, your engine gets a longer life.
Synthetic oil starts working immediately you start your car. This is irrespective of how low the temperatures outside might fall, and how long the oil has settled.
When driving in hot climates, the oil gives an even better protection and does not evaporate.
Modern engines are being manufactured quite smaller for greater fuel efficiency. However, with this comes to the turbocharger used to boost power. The turbochargers have a shaft that spins upward with a speed of up to 200,000 spins per minute, therefore being in dire need of a good lubricant which this oil verily provides.
Synthetic Blend Oils
They are also called part-synthetic or semi-synthetic, they are a mixture of mineral oil and synthetic oil. The mixture is meant for added resistance to oxidation and provides low-temperature properties. This oil is highly recommended for vans, trucks, vehicles and SUVs that transport heavy loads, often.
This oil is designed to function as the full synthetic oil but at a half price. However, a disclaimer is that, most companies that manufacture the oil blends usually only put a fraction of the synthetic oil with most of the remaining contents being conventional oil.
See more about: Oil Filter
Conventional Oil
Most people do know that synthetic oil is better than conventional oil. It is also referred to as mineral oil. But what really is conventional oil? This is the kind of oil that includes crude oil, natural gasses, and its condensates. The oil is derived from petroleum. Back then, it used to be the only change oil for vehicles. Currently, it is recommended for brand new cars with less than 5,000 miles on the odometer. Best the thing is, it is less expensive than the other oils. This oil can be designed in a range of viscosity grades and quality levels.
High Mileage Oil
High mileage oil is meant for vehicles with an odometer of up to 75,000 miles. This oil is uninformed to extend the performance life of your vehicle and slow down the aging process of the engine parts. It also helps to condition engine seals, reduce leaks and deposits, and reduce oil usage in older vehicles. It does not matter whether your car is 6 years or 30 years. The more a car is used, the miles keep adding up. The need for engine maintenance and performance issues do pile up with rime too. The high maintenance oil ensures that even an old car engine runs healthier for a prolonged period of time.
OIL VISCOSITY
This is the measure of how easily the oil can flow.
How Is It Related To The Type Of Oil That I Will Use For My Car?
Engine oil bottles have cryptic letters and numbers on the front. Well, these letters and numbers tell you what the oil viscosity is. These numbers have already been tested by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE), at 210°F/ 98.9°C, which will further give it a rating that ranges from 20 to 60. Mostly, you will see SAE 20 or SAE 30.
In colder countries, however, labels will be a little bit different. Let's say 5W-30. This means that the oil has been tested in cold temperatures. This type of oil will be thinner when at the start of your car, but will operate at SAE 30 after a few minutes of driving and engine warming.
Conclusion
The manual guide should guide the vehicle owner on the right car oil to use. A trusted mechanic should also be able to help you choose a suitable type of oil for your car. To be able to direct you to the preferred oil to use, you should be able to understand the meaning of the abbreviations used and the use of other components that are present in the oils Apart from the SAE, other bodies to do come into play in ensuring that a right car uses the right oil. These companies do not work independently but are always in collaboration with the car production companies and the oil manufacturing companies.
One thing to remember, though, is that, in colder areas, a cold engine requires thinner oil at the ignition of a car. Warm engines, on the other hand, need a thicker oil to start, so that it does not evaporate when the engine becomes warmer. The more viscous the oil, the better compression of rings and maintenance of films for bearing and other moving parts
Ensure that your car stays in perfect condition. There are online applications that advice on the right oil to use, by providing your car model, manufacturing year and engine type. Also, seek expert advice from a qualified mechanic if need be.
