How to Select the Best Oil for My Car?
The engine under the hood of your car is incredibly complex. Unless you are an automotive engineer with years of experience, it is nearly impossible to understand how all of the moving pieces work together to create the power used to propel you down the road. While most of us don't have the technical knowledge to decipher how an engine works, we can know one thing - engine oil is crucial for consistent, reliable performance.
An internal combustion engine relies on oil for proper operation, which is why car dealers make such a big deal of having your oil changed regularly. Maintaining the condition of the oil in your engine by replacing it regularly, and by replacing the oil filter, is likely the most important thing you can do to support your car's health.
With that said, how do you know which oil is going to be best for your needs? If you aren't an automotive expert, you might feel a little overwhelmed when you get ready to have an oil change completed. The combination of letters and numbers which denote different oils may seem like a foreign language, and many car owners just wind up picking the cheapest option. Considering how important this decision is for the care of your car, we think it's better that you don't leave it to chance.
Start by Going to the Source
The first thing you should do when trying to figure out which oil to put in your car is to check your owner's manual. As is the case with just about everything else that has to do with your vehicle, the answer should be in this book. The owner's manual is sure to recommend an oil, or at least a range of oils, that will work properly in your engine. You would be wise to take this advice to heart, as no one is going to know better than the car's maker in terms of what oil should be used.
While it is smart to follow the recommendation of the owner's manual, you can also make your decision in part on the weather in your area. Here in North Idaho, it is sure to get cold during the winter months - meaning you will want an oil that is able to perform well at low temperatures. An oil which flows more easily in cold weather is going to allow your engine to perform properly even on those cold December mornings.
Why Are There Two Numbers?
If you are shopping for motor oil, you may find that many of the bottles have two numbers of them. For example, you might find an oil which is rated as 5W-30, and another that is rated at 10W-30. What does this mean? It's actually quite simple. These numbers are evaluations of the oil's viscosity, or its ability to flow. The lower the number, the easier the oil will flow in the engine.
So, why are there two? The first number is a rating of the oil's viscosity when the engine is cold. From the example above, the 5W-30 oil is going to flow easier at cold temperatures than the 10W-30. However, these oils should flow similarly at high temperatures, since they both have a rating of 30 when the engine is warm. Drivers hitting the roads around Ponderay in the winter months will likely want to have an oil with a low first number, to promote good performance in cold temperatures. Of course, even when trying to match up your oil selection to the weather conditions, you still need to make sure you are picking an oil which is okay to use in your engine.
An Aging Problem
As the miles add up on your vehicle, you might want to think about using a 'high-mileage oil'. This type of motor oil is designed specifically to work well in older engines. There are usually some seal conditioners added to these oils, meaning the oil can attempt to eliminate - or, at least, reduce - some of the oil that may be leaking from your engine during operation. As is always the case, you need to make sure that the high-mileage oil you pick is going to be a good match for your engine by checking the owner's manual.
With regard to high-mileage oil, it should be noted that you shouldn't automatically make the switch just because your odometer clicks past a specific number. If you don't seem to be using an unusual amount of oil, and if you aren't seeing oil stains under your car in the driveway or the garage, you are probably fine to continue with standard oil. Considering the fact that high-mileage oil tends to be more expensive than other options, there is no point in making a change unless it will actually benefit your engine.
The Best Choice of All
After all of this discussion, we are going to point out that the best option is simply to bring your vehicle to Taylor & Sons Chevrolet so our team can work with you on selecting the right oil. Our service department is filled with Certified Technicians who are well-versed in the various oils on the market today. We'll advise you on which oils will work in your engine, what you stand to gain by picking certain options, and how much each will cost. The choice is always going to be yours in the end, of course, but our expertise can help simplify what can be a complicated decision.
The team at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet is friendly, experienced, and here to help. Whether you need an oil change or some other kind of service completed, you can bet that we are up to the task. Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog, and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the oil that should be used in your vehicle. We look forward to serving you!