Motor oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle, and using the wrong type can result in costly repairs or even engine damage. With so many options on the market, choosing the right type of motor oil for your vehicle can get confusing. Here’s everything you need to know before you change your oil.
Just in case you didn’t know already, motor oil works by pumping throughout your vehicle’s engine. It travels through small passages called galleries, cleaning, lubricating, cooling, and cushioning moving engine parts while holding sludge, abrasive particles and harsh chemical contaminants in suspension. Older oil must be changed periodically to keep your engine running smoothly.
Know Your Labels
You always want to choose an oil with the vehicle’s manufacturer’s recommended viscosity rating. This can be checked in the owner’s manual. Viscosity is the ability of oil to flow through your vehicle at different temperatures. A good rule of thumb is that the lower the number on the container, the thinner the oil. Also, it’s important to note that the “W” stands for winter and not weight. This is because motor oil must perform in various temperatures, reducing surface wear between engine parts. Keep this in mind when shopping for oil!
Different Types of Motor Oil
Conventional Motor Oil is the least expensive type of oil. It begins in the ground as a crude base, and it is then refined in order to remove impurities and is blended with different chemical additives. These additives neutralize sludge antioxidants and prevent air bubbles.
High-Mileage Motor Oil is known for vehicles with 75,000 miles or more. Since it is formulated from conventional, synthetic or full-synthetic it will be priced similarly. This oil contains additives and chemical enhancers that can cause internal and external O-rings and gaskets to swell, reducing oil leaks. While high-milage motor oil is great it will not fix mechanical failures or excess wear! It is a great choice if your vehicle has been properly maintained and still performs well. The composition may keep your vehicle running longer than planned due to the way it extends the life of critical engine parts.
Synthetic Blend Motor Oil is known as the best of both worlds and usually has a middle-range price! It is a mixture of conventional and synthetic based oils. Synthetic has excellent engine protection properties due to its additives! This oil is designed to deliver peak performance in extreme temperatures because the molecules have a more uniform shape and fewer impurities.
Full Synthetic Motor Oil is the most expensive type of motor oil. It isn’t recommended for all vehicles because it is highly refined and older vehicles are mostly designed to use conventional oil.
Should You Mix One Type of Motor Oil with ANother?
You can, but it is NOT recommended.
Overall, it’s a waste of money. You can mix synthetic in with conventional, but that won’t improve the quality of the oil, and you will still only end up with the properties of conventional oil. Always refer to your owner’s manual, online, or a professional mechanic when determining which oil is best for your car.
What’s the Right Type of motor oil for your car?
When deciding on a type of motor oil, consider the way you drive. Harsh driving conditions, such as city vs. highway, off-roading or along dusty, dirty roads, require motor oil to work harder and be changed more frequently.
You may not know this, but short trips of less than 15 minutes can be harsher on your vehicle. If the engine doesn’t reach top operating temperature consistently, it can’t burn off water condensation, allowing sludge build-up to form.
Still need to figure out what kind of oil your vehicle needs, refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual. The manual will shed light on which oil type is the best match for your vehicle.
What if you don’t have the manual handy? Look up the recommended type of motor oil for your vehicle online! Thanks to new-age technology, a simple online search can help you find out the best type of oil for your car by entering the vehicle’s year, make, and model information.
Doug Yates Auto Repair Services
The “Auto Repair” Division of Doug Yates Towing & Recovery, LLC is fully equipped to service all vehicles that need repair. With the latest technology in computer diagnostics and the right tools for the job, our Auto Repair division can handle anything your vehicle may need. If you are looking for a reliable auto repair service, you have come to the right place.
- Computer Diagnostics
- Oil Changes
- Tune-Ups
- Filter Replacements
- Windshield Wiper Blades
- Fluid Services
- Trip Inspections
- Maintenance Inspections
- Check Engine Light Diagnostics & Repair
- and much more!
At Doug Yates Towing & Recovery, we understand the frustration that comes with having car trouble that needs repairs. Call us today and talk with one of our trained and experienced technicians so that we can quickly assess and create a plan of action for your vehicle needs. Utilizing the skills of our auto service technicians and our state-of-the-art auto shop, we guarantee to get you and your vehicle back on the road in no time. We are here to help near any of our locations in Chattanooga, Cleveland, Jasper, Ringgold, Trenton and more.
Need Roadside Assistance? Call Us Today!
At Doug Yates Towing & Recovery, we take great pride in investing in cutting-edge equipment to offer our customers top-quality service. Our fleet of tow trucks is kept well maintained and equipped with cutting-edge technology for safe and efficient towing of vehicles of any kind – flatbeds to heavy-duty tow trucks are always at our fingertips to handle the task at hand.
Customer satisfaction is always our number one goal. We take great pride in our work and aim to offer customers exceptional services from start to finish – from calling us right up until your vehicle is safely transported back home, we are dedicated to creating a stress-free and hassle-free experience from start to finish. We stand behind our work with a satisfaction guarantee for all our services!