Getting Acquainted with Oil Types Before Your Oil Change

Oil in your vehicle occasionally gets dirty and has to be cleaned. It is usually recommended by manufacturers that you get an oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. How often you change your oil depends on how and where you drive your vehicle. If you do most of your driving on the highway and your oil remains fairly clean when it is checked, then you may able to go more miles between changes, but if your driving is mostly in the city, then you may want to have it changed more frequently.

When you are buying oil for your oil change, you usually see letters and numbers on the package, such as 10W-30 or 5W-30, these tell you what the viscosity number is and when it is best to use that particular motor oil. Because motor oil is a lubricant for an engine with moving parts, it is important to make sure that you have the oil with the proper viscosity for the temperature and usage of your vehicle. You can usually find out what kind of oil is best for your vehicle at that particular time by contacting your mechanic.

What exactly do the viscosity numbers mean? It is the measurement of how the oil resists the flow when measured through a viscometer. The numbers are given in both kinematic and absolute forms, then translated to the viscosity numbers so that it is easier to understand for the average person reading the bottle of motor oil when purchasing it at the store.

To understand a viscosity rating, you need to know the meaning of the letter and number combination on the bottle. When the number has a W on it, the oil has been tested at 100 degrees Celsius and 210 degrees Fahrenheit for all weather and extreme engine temperatures. By being tested in these conditions you are able to know which oil to put in your vehicle in different seasons. You want oil to get to the engine quickly so that it is lubricated properly when the engine starts so that it is not started dry. This makes for less wear and tear on your engine. Your mechanic should also know what to put in when you have your vehicle in for an oil change.

Most bottles of oil have a "W" in the numbering system, therefore, are considered to be winter grade. However, it all runs through the engine the same way. The only time that there is a difference between the 5W and the 10W viscosity numbers is when you are starting up your engine in extreme cold conditions, when you want it to be a little thinner.

If you live in or are visiting a part of the world with colder conditions, such as Alaska, Siberia, or other Arctic regions, then you may want to consider having your mechanic put in a motor oil with additives called Pour Point Depressants into your engine at your next oil change. These will help keep your oil in a fluid state so that you can still have use of your vehicle in extreme conditions.