4 Things You Should Know About Engine Oil

by Richard J. Know more through my article

If you own or operate a vehicle of some sort, you already know that it needs gasoline and engine oil to operate efficiently. But do you know why? Obviously, gasoline is needed to get the vehicle moving in the first place, but what about engine oil?

Perhaps you already even know that motor oil is needed to lubricate the engine. But there are many other things about engine oil that many drivers might not necessarily be familiar with. The thing is, it is important to have an in-depth understanding of engine oil and its importance in order to ensure that your engine is kept in good shape, and to keep your vehicle operating at its optimal level.

Without engine oil, the components of your engine would simply dry up and require more frequent and expensive repairs or replacements. How often your engine oil should be changed or topped up should also be revealed, as should the exact type to be used. Having a more thorough understanding of engine oil and its importance to the operation of your vehicle is important.

Here are 4 things you should know about engine oil.

1. What is Engine Oil?

There are a number of reasons why you need to make sure that your vehicle is always adequately topped up with high quality engine oil. For starters, engine oil is key to lubricating all the metal parts that are always in motion to make sure that they don’t hit against each other and create too much friction.

Engine oil is also responsible for holding onto all combustion by-products. Not only will engine oil help to prevent the engine from having to work too hard, it will also improve your fuel economy and save you money on overly frequent repairs.

How often your specific vehicle should have its oil changed will vary from one model to the next, so it’s important to refer to your vehicle’s manual. Generally speaking, the frequency at which your engine oil should be changed will range somewhere within the 10,000-mile mark for more modern vehicles.

One of the most widely circulated myths about oil changes is that they should be done every 3,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes first. This is not true. Engines are able to go much longer without undergoing an oil change. Thanks to the advances in engine performance and design these days, as well as the advances in engine oil technology, the majority of vehicles can go a lot farther between oil changes.

2. What Does the Alpha-Numerical Rating on the Bottle Mean?

Motor oils are rated by cold and hot viscosity, which will be specified on the bottle. That’s the alpha-numerical future that will be displayed, which will tell you exactly how well the engine oil will respond to colder startups and its thickness levels at high temperatures.

The first number that’s attached to the letter ‘W’ (for ‘Winter’) is the cold rating. The lower this number is, the lower the temperature the oil will be able to work in. Higher numbers in colder climates mean a higher chance of the oil possibly being too thick to get flowing, thereby not allowing the engine to start.

The second number refers to the viscosity of the engine oil when it is tested at temperatures, suggestive of an engine that’s running. A higher number means the oil will be thicker. You will want a higher number of you run your engine at higher speeds.

It is important to make sure the right type of engine oil is used in your vehicle depending on the climate in your area, how far your vehicle travels, and how much load it will have to undergo during operation.

3. What is the Difference Between Synthetic and Mineral Engine Oils?

Synthetic oils are distilled and broken down to their base molecules, while mineral engine oils are basically the same as it was when it was extracted from the ground. Synthetic engine oils can be rebuilt for their broken-down molecules to customize them to offer better protection to the engine. Mineral oils are cheaper, but they also feature more impurities compared to synthetic oils, and will not provide as much smooth lubrication.

4. Adding Metal to Engine Oil Cuts Down on Friction

Some oil companies have realized some degree of success when adding titanium to their engine oil. When the engine is turned off, the oil drains from the engine to the pan. Adding titanium will allow it to bond to the metal components and ensure that a small layer of protection is provided when the engine is turned on prior to the oil flowing through it and heating up to full operating temperature.

About the Author: Fred Janz is a mechanic who frequently relies on the professional-grade engine oil and other products from Peak Auto. When you’re in the market for any fluids and oils for your vehicle, be sure to visit PeakAuto.com!