Improving Your Automobile

Choosing The Right Engine Oil For Your Car

4 March 2015

Addison Morris

If you really love your vehicle, you need to know how to get the best oil for it. There are so many factors to put into account, what viscosity levels do you need? Should you use synthetic or convectional oils? So if you don't want to be baffled by those confusing specifications and newfangled certifications on those oils you see in auto part stores, then consider some of these tips. A quick start would be to consult your owner's manual.

Viscosity and weight

Oil is identified by its viscosity ratings. Depending on the atmospheric conditions, oils tend to flow differently. In cold areas, the oil may get really thick, and in hot weather, it thins out like syrup. 10W-40 for instance, shows how this oil behaves. The W represents 'Winter' and the number before it shows how well it flows in the cold. The number past the hyphen shows how it'll flow in warm temperatures. Most oils are multi-viscosity oils, which means that they can operate in every season. Fortunately, the exact requirements of your vehicle are in the owner's manual. You should know that selecting heavier than required oils won't give your vehicle any better protection.

Synthetic or convectional

The fact is, synthetic oils offer much more protection than natural oils. They are able to handle extreme temperatures and don't break down as easily as the convectional ones during high heat operations. As you can predict, these oils are much more expensive. So do you need synthetic oil? Well, that depends. If you subject your car to extreme conditions like sport racing, long distance towing or heavy loads, then synthetic oils are for you. However, if you're the average Joe that only goes to work and back every day, you don't need to burden your pockets.

Oil additives

Additives are the manufacturer's way of setting the bar high for their oils. There are a wide array of additives used, and these can heighten the cost of the oil by a significant percentage. These additives minimise sludge, varnish and assist in maintaining proper lubrication. You want to pick oils with detergents because they prevent formation of deposits. If you're in a high temperature zone, then viscosity-index improvers would help prevent the oil from excessively thinning out. Other additives include anti-wear agents, form inhibitors and dispersants.

Remember, if your vehicle's current oil has not shamed you in any way, then you would rather stick with that. You don't want any trouble a different oil can bring. For more information, contact a business such as Lubes Direct.

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