How to Choose Your Motor Oil
Dirty oil can really wreak havoc on your engine – causing an unnecessary and costly engine replacement (or repair) down the road. Proper oil changes, with the right grades, prevent dirt and sludge from building up in your engine and give your vehicle the vitality necessary for long performance.
Make sure you only choose motor oils that meet the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. Synthetic oil, synthetic blends, high-mileage oil, and conventional oil are the main classifications.
To help make it easier to choose the right motor oil, here’s an explanation of the designations you’ll see on the label.
Synthetic Motor Oil
Synthetic motor oil performs well in extreme low and extreme high temperatures. It contains better properties and fewer impurities than conventional oil because it’s formulated with higher performing additives.
Synthetic Blend Motor Oil
Synthetic blend motor oil provides superior low-temperature properties and withstands oxidation because it combines a mixture of conventional and synthetic based oils.
High-Mileage Motor Oil
High-mileage motor oil is formulated specifically for high-mileage usage and prevents oil leaks in older engines. It’s ideal for newer vehicles with over 75,000 miles and late model vehicles.
Conventional Motor Oil
Conventional motor oils work best for vehicles designed with simple engines intended for normal driving speeds. The oil can be formulated with various quality levels and grades of density.
Motor Oil Grade Designations
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) developed a rating system to classify oil by viscosity. The higher the viscosity rating, the thicker the motor oil fluid. Viscosity simply means thickness; honey has a higher viscosity than water. Multi-grade viscosity motor oils are designed to perform for a range of temperatures. For SAE 5W-30 oil, the “W” stands for “winter,” the 5 is the cold-temperature viscosity rating, and the 30 is the high temperature viscosity rating. For a comparison, SAE 5W-30 oil flows better during colder temperatures than SAE 10W-30 oil, and still provides protection during hotter temperatures. The API/ILSAC “Starburst”
American Petroleum Institute (API) establishes a standard for motor oil to meet minimum industry requirements. The International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) combines a joint effort from Japanese and U.S. vehicle manufacturers to establish motor oil requirements to recommend the motor oil for certain vehicle applications. The API/ILSAC Starburst identifies the motor oil as meeting the recommendations from both organizations.
The API “donut”
The API “donut” identifies the API rating to determine performance level and the SAE viscosity, and also indicates the oil’s energy-conserving properties. It’s important to keep your engine clean. Engines are built tighter than ever to handle the tolerances. Keeping your engine clean with frequently changed oil will allow your vehicle to give you optimal performance.
Be aware of the older types of motor oil available on the market, as there are several types that are obsolete. For example: SA oils can lead to engine damage in most vehicles built from 1931 and on as they lack additives. Anything below the grade of SJ lacks the additives to protect gas engines for vehicles before 2001. In fact, motor oils rated below the grade of SJ are considered obsolete. Conclusion
To help keep your vehicle running optimally, you may want to research the additives in your oil. If you have additional questions on the best oil for your vehicle, Bauer Built has you covered.
To help you get higher overall engine performance, follow car manufacturer’s recommended interval schedule and see your local Bauer Built location for oil change services. For more tips or insights on choosing the right oil, additives, tire maintenance, services, and brands, visit us online.
Categories: Bauer Built Blog, Car Care Tips
