Category Archives: Oil

The term ‘synthetic oil’ sounds like something you wouldn’t want in your car. After all, we’ve been taught that synthetic and artificial are words to avoid in our food, so why not the care of our automobiles, too? The truth is that synthetic oil can be better for your vehicle when compared to non-synthetic oil, simply because of the additives it contains to provide better lubrication and longer lasting performance.

So what is synthetic oil? It is a mixture of oil and additional chemicals that are not traditionally found in crude oil. Synthesized oil is produced as a way to meet certain needs in lubrication, where processed crude oil would not be enough, or the performance factor would be too low. In fact,… Continue Reading…

Your engine’s oil is one of the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance. Even the most powerful, high-end engine can be brought low by a lack of oil. Motor oil keeps the hardest working parts of your engine lubricated, so they can continue working without cracking, melting down or overheating. It’s essential; without oil you wouldn’t make it ten miles.

How Do I Check My Engine Oil?

Checking your car’s oil level is surprisingly easy to do. Make sure your car is parked on level ground and in a spot with enough light to allow you to see clearly. Turn off the engine. For the best, most accurate reading, allow a few minutes for the oil to settle in the oil pan reservoir.

First, you have to find the dipstick. This is a long, skinny rod that you can pull out of the engine. You can refer to the car’s… Continue Reading…

How can I tell if an oil is right for my engine?

With so many people trying to sell specialty oils and additives most advice on oil is not very useful. When buying oil your main concern should certifications used by both petroleum and engine manufacturers.

If you have a gasoline engine, the easiest way is to match up the weight of the oil you need and check the back for the American Petroleum Institute’s “starburst” mark. This is a circle that says “FOR GASOLINE ENGINES” on the inside with “American Petroleum Institute Certified” around the edge. Oils that carry this meet the latest standards for wear and fuel economy. These should be safe to use in any gas engine except for one notable exception: see below.

If you have a diesel engine or you need to know more about the oil, look on the back of the bottle and you’ll… Continue Reading…

Checking the oil on a regular basis is an essential component of any vehicle maintenance program. Low or dirty oil can not only cause damage to your engine but it can also reduce your fuel economy and result in poor exhaust emissions. It is also something that is very easy to do and can be accomplished with only a few minutes of your time. For most vehicles it is recommended that you check your oil at least twice a month to ensure that the oil levels are correct. If you do a lot of driving, especially stop and go driving, then you may have to check your oil more often. Here is the basic step-by-step procedure for checking your oil.

Step One: Park Your Vehicle on a Level Surface

You want to get the most accurate reading when checking your oil, so make sure that your car is on a… Continue Reading…

When it comes to taking care of your car, it’s important to know what type of oil to put in your car’s engine. Simply put, your engine needs lubrication in order to keep working. After all, it contains thousands of moving parts, including cams, valves, pistons and bearings – parts that rely on an adequate amount of lubrication to ward off unnecessary wear. Failure to put the right type of oil in your car’s engine – or any oil at all – can spell disaster, especially since engine repairs can end up costing you thousands of dollars.

So what kind of oil should you put in your car? Most people wish that question was easy, but the answer is actually a bit more complicated. It actually depends on not only what your car’s manufacturer calls for, but also the tasks and conditions your car’s engine are subjected to. The vast… Continue Reading…

It might seem easy to pick the right oil for your car. After all, without oil to both lubricate and cool the engine’s moving parts as well as keep the engine clean and assist in sealing the pistons inside the cylinders, the engine will run for only a few seconds, then seize up.

Oil is so important to the engine of your car that you will want nothing less than the best your engine can possibly get–for the lowest price possible, of course. If you look around in auto parts stores you will see all sorts of oils for all sorts of purposes. There are oils made for high-tech engines, as well as new cars,and even SUVs. Additionally, you’ll see a wide variety of oil viscosity in the brands of oil that are available. You will know what type of oil your vehicle manufacturer recommends for best… Continue Reading…