These days, more people are learning about changing their own engine oil. Whether it’s to be more involved in the maintenance of their car or just to save money, changing your oil is a critical task that is required for keeping your car’s engine running at its best.
The right type of oil to use in your car depends on what the manufacturer of your vehicle calls for. To find out what your car needs in regards to motor oil, always check your car’s operating manual. Information about the type of oil to be used with your car’s engine can be found within. For the majority of passenger car and light truck engines, any oil that meets the American Petroleum Institute’s “SH” rating is acceptable.
Finding the right viscosity of oil for your vehicle’s engine is another aspect of finding the right type of oil. Viscosity, or oil weight as it is sometimes referred to, represents the thickness or thinness of oil at a specified temperature. Thinner oils such as 5W have a more watery consistency, therefore pouring more easily at low temperatures. Thin oils have the advantage of easier cold weather starting and friction reduction. Heavier oils like 10W or 15W have a more honey-like consistency, making them ideal for applications that require stronger performance at high temperatures and heavy loads.
Viscosity ratings are used to identify these specific oil consistencies. These ratings are determined by laboratory tests performed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The viscosity of the oil is measured and then given a number identifying its thickness. This number is also referred to as “weight”. The lower the number, the thinner the viscosity of the oil. Most oils have a “W” designation after the viscosity number, identifying it as “winter” grade oil that is capable of handling cold weather conditions. Oils that simply meet the high temperature requirements are usually marked as SAE, followed by the weight number.
The vast majority of newer vehicles call for 5W-30 oil. This multiviscosity oil usually contains friction reducing additives that not only help improve fuel economy, but also improve cold start performance by reaching critical upper valvetrain components. Older engines, as well as engines that are subjected to sustained highway cruising during hot weather require 10W-30 or 10W-40.
Some newer vehicles use synthetic oils in their engines. Full synthetic and semi-synthetic blends have the advantage of lasting longer than conventional oils. This means that your car can possibly go more miles before it is due for an oil change. The average interval between oil changes for synthetic is between 5000 to 7000 miles, compared to 3000 miles for conventional oil. The downside is that not only does synthetic oil costs twice as much as conventional oil, it is also much thinner than conventional oil, leading in some cases to greater oil consumption and leakage in some vehicles. It is not recommended for higher mileage vehicles use full synthetic oil, due to excessive mechanical wear and the possibility of oil leakage.
The best way to insure that you are using the correct oil for your car’s engine is to follow the operating manual for your vehicle. If you need more specific advice, it is best to talk to an experienced auto technician or mechanic.
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