Tips for Picking the Right Engine Oil

Maybe a lot of car owners are familiar with the basic stuff about engine oil, why it's so important and how often they need to change it, but not too many people can make a distinction between different types of oil and what type or brand would fit their engines the best. There are a lot of oil types out there, and it's quite easy to get confused and make the mistake of buying the wrong one. Each oil type has different attributes, regarding viscosity, different additives, and so on, so it's important to inform yourselves about these things before you decide which type to buy, as putting the wrong oil can affect fuel efficiency and can do some damage the engine.

The first thing you should pay attention to when buying oil are the numbers on the labels. There are different designations on the labels, indicating the oil's viscosity levels. The most common numbers you can see include 5W-30, 0W-30 10W-30, 10-40, and so on. Oil viscosity refers to the oil thickness, which is important to know because it determines how well an oil works in cold and hot temperatures. So, if you get a 10W-30, for example, it means that the oil is going to be better for use during the winter months, when the temperature is pretty low. This oil is thinner than, let's say, the 20W-50, and thin oil is good for winter because it has better chances to move effortlessly inside the engine than the thicker oils. All this can be very confusing, and it's not easy to understand, and that's why car makers provide information about what type of oil to use for a specific car, but having some basic knowledge about oil viscosity wouldn't hurt.

Another question you should ask yourself when buying oil is if it's a conventional engine oil, synthetic or high-mileage oil. The recommended oil change used to at every 3,000 miles, but now car manufacturers say that you can do it every 5,000 miles. High-mileage oils are relatively new to the market, and they are designed to last for over 60,000 miles. High-mileage oils are relatively new to the market, and they are designed to last for over 60,000 miles. But, what lifespan the oil has depends on the engine, as well. Another choice would be getting synthetic oil, which is more expensive than other types, but offer better performances and last a lot longer than conventional ones. They are recommended for fast, high-performance vehicles, and work well in both cold and hot temperatures. Apart from this, owners have to know that there are oil additives that improve oil's performances, and the most common additives include: dispersants, detergents, antioxidants, and friction modifiers.