Which Engine Oil Should You Use?

Engine oil is so important to the health of a car that it has often been compared to being the
blood and the engine to being the heart. The analogy has some people regarding it as so
important, that they will change their oil every 3,000 miles but only do other maintenance
tasks sparingly. With all of the many different brands, weights, and types of oils on the
market, you may be confused about which oil to pick for your next oil change. Keeping
some simple things in mind may help you make the best decision for your needs.

Engine Oil: What is it Good For?

Engine oil is the product that lubricates your engine and keeps it running. It protects the
engine from rust, gunk, and corrosion. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts
by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts to decrease the friction. The
reduction in friction means that less heat is produced. Engine oil has additives in the
mixture, which are chemical agents that serve as detergents to clean the engine. The
molecules of the additives keep the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving
parts. Technology has produced engine oils that do not need to be changed as frequently,
enabling you to save money on car maintenance and repairs.

You Mean There’s More Than One?

The three main types of oil are conventional, synthetic blend, and synthetic. One type of oil
is conventional oil. This type is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, which is crude oil. This
crude oil would be the same oil that is spouting through pipes at oilrigs. This oil is good for
the newer model cars because it is lighter oil. Most newer cars have parts that are too snug
against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Therefore, the newer cars benefit the most
from conventional oil. The second type of oil is the synthetic blend oil. This oil is a mixture
of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for performance cars and cars that
are older or have high miles. The third type of oil is the synthetic oil, which is laboratory-
created and is the most expensive oils on the market. Check your owner’s manual to
determine which one you can use in your car. Make sure you understand the viscosity rating,
or weight of the oil. Single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, such as
SAE n. This rating denotes the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from
one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings, represented as
nW n, with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the
second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold.

Which One to Get?

You should first determine the type of oil that is already in your car and check the owner’s
manual to determine if it is the right one for the winter. Choose low-viscosity oil in the
winter because it will flow easier when it is cold. Consult with your mechanic to determine
which would be the best choice for you.