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What Oil Should I Use In My Car

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Know Your Vehicles Function

Should You Use Synthetic Oil in Your Older Car?

If your vehicle is malfunctioning, you should examine your cars oil levels and composition. Because of the friction and resistance that oil avoids in your vehicles engine, it will run more efficiently. If your cars engine isnt running smoothly or produces unusual sounds, the oil in critical details may have dried up.

What Should I Do If I Have To Mix Different Motor Oils

There may be times when you simply cant find the exact engine oil you need.

Heres what you can do:

First, choose an oil from the same manufacturer as your current cars oil. If not possible, then pick one with the same API Donut certification.

Secondly, select a product with similar chemical and performance characteristics to whats in your vehicles engine.

Heres an example:

Say your current cars oil is a regular oil with viscosity 20W-50, API SM, and you need to top up the oil level. Adding a 10W-40 oil to the 20W-50 in the cars engine would reduce the overall viscosity.

Its not recommended unless in an emergency after which, youd need a full oil change service.

The Oil Change Clockwork

According to industry standards, you should change a vehicles oil about every 3,000 miles or six months. If you have a newer automobile, you may be able to go a little longer between oil changes. Even though it is not a precise science, this strategy may assist you in keeping track of when your following oil change is necessary.

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What Type Of Oil Does My Car Take

Determining the best motor oil for your vehicle whether synthetic, synthetic blend, high-mileage or conventional oil, depends on several factors. Some are external factors, such as the climate you live in, your driving habits, or even the age of your engine. Other factors are fixed based on your vehicle’s engine type and the manufacturer’s specifications. This may be more than you wanted to know about the types of oil used in cars, but leave it to Firestone Complete Auto Care to give you complete information about your car. You don’t have to be an expert on motor oil. that’s why we’re here. Visit or make an appointment at your neighborhood Firestone Complete Auto Care store today. Our tire and auto service professionals are always ready to serve you!

Oil Changing For Extreme Condition

What Kind of Oil Should I Use in My Car?

If you routinely travel in the city or rush-hour traffic or frequently tow or haul big things, you should change your oil every 1,000 to 3,000 miles, depending on your driving habits. Without often driving at highway speeds, your engine will seldom grow hot enough to evaporate the water in the crankcase, resulting in a deposit of muck in the engine compartment.

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Should You Use Synthetic Oil In Your Car

Synthetics cost more, but they last longer and may offer more engine protection

Synthetic oil, once found mostly in high-performance cars, is being used in more mainstream vehicles.

Take, for example, the popular Honda Civic. A Honda spokeswoman said the automaker uses a synthetic oil in the Civic for its low viscositymeaning it flows more easily than oils with higher viscositywhich helps to improve the engine’s fuel efficiency. The faster the oil flows, the quicker the engine parts can turn.

Honda is not alone, says Mel Yu, auto analyst at Consumer Reports. In the 2019 model year, about 70 percent of new cars get either fully synthetic or blended oil.

Several brands, including Honda, don’t specifically require synthetics for their engines, but the low-viscosity oils that those engines need are offered only in a synthetic format, Yu says. Some brands use synthetic blend oil, which is a combination of conventional and synthetic oils. Blends dont deliver the full benefits of synthetic, but theyre considerably cheaper, he adds.

On top of that, many oil-change outlets also offer synthetic oil as an alternative to conventional engine oil.

According to Will Hixson, spokesman for the Automotive Oil Change Association, the 2018 National Oil and Lube News annual survey shows that more than half of car owners are choosing synthetics or synthetic blends when they get their oil changed.

Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports

Patrick Olsen

Signs Of Problems With Synthetic Oil In Older Cars

If you decide to switch to synthetic oil for your older car, talk to a professional technician first. They may want to check over your vehicle and make any necessary repairs or replacements before making the switch. This will help protect your older model vehicle and ensure its long life and continued performance.

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Your Guide To Different Types Of Motor Oil For Cars

July 13th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA

What type of engine oil to use that is a very common question! With a dizzying amount of motor oil options on the market, having to choose the right oil for your car might seem overwhelming.

Were going to use this space to cut through the technical jargon and highlight the key points you need to know. By the end of this blog-post, you will have a much clearer idea of what is the best motor oil for your car.

The main function of motor oil is to lubricate your engine. The oil protects the moving parts of your engine by reducing friction, cooling and cleaning the engine, and also preventing corrosion.

W20 Vs 5w30 High Mileage

What Oil Should I Use For My European Car?

Now that you know what types of oil are available, lets talk about the differences between 5W20 and 5W30. This will help you remember not to confuse these two very different oil types.

First, lets break down what each number and letter means in an oils description. In 5W20, for example, the W stands for winter, while the 5 is the classification of the oil.

This lets you know well the oil will fare in colder temperatures. The larger number, in this case, 20, refers to how well the oil performs in hot temperatures.

You can tell the thickness of oil at any given temperature by examining these numbers. For thicker oil, youll want one with higher numbers.

With this information, we can determine that 5W30 is thicker compared to 5W20. When the oil has a thicker viscosity, it doesnt flow as smoothly as thinner oil.

For cold-weather performance, you are better off using a thinner oil, whereas a thicker oil is recommended for warmer weather.

If your vehicles manufacturer recommends that you use 5W20, you should stick with that oil type. While both 5W20 and 5W30 motor oils are suitable for high mileage engines, the best viscosity type for your vehicle depends on how the manufacturer designed the engine.

Using 5W30 when it is advised that you use 5W20 can result in your vehicle not getting good fuel economy. Therefore, to ensure the best performance from your vehicle, continue using the same oil type as directed.

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What Are The Risks Of Switching To Synthetic Oil In Older Cars

Tim Charlet

The automotive community continues to debate whether switching to synthetic oil in older cars is beneficial or risky. In general, synthetic motor oil offers owners of newer cars, trucks, and SUVs multiple benefits, from extending component life to reducing cost of routine maintenance. If you have heard about the benefits of synthetic motor oil in vehicles, you may be inclined to switch. However, there are some risks you should be aware of if you own an older vehicle.

How To Choose The Right Oil For Your Classic Car

Whether you take your classic car to shows or you just love tooling around town with the top down, you want to take care of the your investment and make it last as long as possible. After all, your classic car has already been around for decades, and making it last decades longer is your job.

Oil is the lifeblood of any engine, so choosing the right oil for your classic car is essential. Here are three tips to help you make an informed decision.

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Should You Put Synthetic Oil In A High Mileage Engine

Generally speaking, its safe to run synthetic oil in an older or high milage engine. Thats not what you might read online though. And theres a reason for that.

It used to be true that synthetic oil wasnt good for older engines, namely because the additives in synthetic oils can damage the seals and gaskets. While that is true for some vehicles, it really only applies to what are essentially now classified as classic cars, or cars build before the 1990s. And the reason for that is that those older vehicles simply werent built to the tolerances of modern engines. As a result, the gunk and grime that might be whats helping your seals stay sealed, could get cleaned away with a synthetic oil.

Numerous modern synthetic oils are actually designed specifically for high milage vehicles, like Castrol EDGE High Mileage.

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Can You Just Add Oil Instead Of Changing

What kind of oil should I use in my Kia car/crossover SUV?

Dark colored, cloudy or gritty textured oil is a sign the lubricating components of the oil have been exposed to heat for too long and needs to be changed. Adding oil instead of an oil change at this point could cause engine issues. This used oil needs to be removed to allow new oil to lubricate your engines parts.

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Whats Synthetic All About

Among all oil brands, exactly what synthetic oil is can be confusing. It sounds like its made entirely in a lab, but much of it if not most contains some dinosaur juice, whether as its base, or extracted from natural gas. It can be difficult to know for sure, since the label doesnt have to specify exactly how synthetic an oil is, and most oil manufacturers dont divulge exactly how they create their products, since they use proprietary processes.

What Is The Best Hydraulic Oil For My Lift

When considering hydraulic oil, a question we often receive is which is better, AW32 or AW46? The short answer is that neither is better or worse. Ultimately, there are several factors that must be considered to determine which is the better option for your lift and your shop.

An oils rating refers to its viscosity, which determines its ability to flow at different temperatures. Lower numbers indicate thinner, more easily flowing oils. As such oil rated as AW-32 is neither better or worse than one rated as AW-46. The numbers refer only to the viscosity AW means Anti-Wear not to the quality oil quality is dependent upon the manufacturer.

For Atlas above ground lifts, AW-32 will flow better in colder weather than AW-46. Customers in colder climates may want to use AW-32. Above ground lifts located in heated garages may use either AW-32 or AW-46. If your lift is located in a region that has a colder climate and you intend on using your lift when the temperature is below 32 degrees, then you may want to consider automatic transmission fluid rather than hydraulic oil. We do not recommend the use of transmission fluid because its thinner viscosity can allow the oil to weep and transmission fluid may also reduce the life expectancy of the pump seals.

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What’s Engine Oil Viscosity

Oils are graded according to their viscosity basically how thick or thin they are.

Viscosity changes with temperature. Engine oils are ‘multi-grade’ to cope with a wide range of operating temperatures. Additives give the oil one viscosity when it’s cold and another when it’s hot.

How can I check the viscosity?

The viscosity for hot and cold will both be marked on the oil’s container as a code e.g. 5W30. The first part of the code is the cold temperature grade, and the second part is the high temperature grade.

Your car handbook will tell you the grade and therefore the viscosity that you should use.

Consider Changing Every 1000 Miles

What oil should I use in my E46 BMW

Experts differ on how often you should change your oil. Some say every 3,000 miles , while others say every 1,000. Even if you dont drive your vehicle as much as the manufacturer recommends, you should get your oil changed twice a year regardless of how little you go.

Starting your automobile is when you put the most strain on the engine and do the most damage. Even if you dont drive far, most of your trips are likely to be of the rough on the engine kind.

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Short Answer: Possibly But Consider Your Specific Vehicles Specs

Both Mike and John agree that following conventional wisdom is unlikely to harm your vehicle. That said, many modern vehicles simply dont need to have their oil changed that regularly. Things like the vehicles age, make and model all play a role in the way it consumes motor oil, which means the answer to How often should you change your oil? might be different for you and your 2009 Chevy than it is for your neighbor and her 2021 Ford.

According to Mike, some states may even have stricter regulations when it comes to this kind of routine maintenance, where its absolutely crucial that technicians follow original equipment manufacturer standards and guidelines.

Can I Mix Different Motor Oil Types

Yes, you can, but its not advisable.

All API oil types are required to be compatible with one another.

Adding a regular oil to a synthetic oil wont harm either. However, mixing will reduce the benefits of additives in the synthetic oil.

Its best to avoid mixing car oil types to maintain the maximum benefits of the better oil formulation.

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What Is Synthetic Oil

Before you consider making changing oil from conventional to synthetic, you should understand the differences between them. Regular or conventional oil such as Mobil 1 is made from crude oil and refined through a process that thins the viscosity of the oil to desired levels. Conventional oils may contain additives including zinc or ZDDP that help reduce cylinder wash problems common with conventional oils.

Synthetic oil like Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil is created through a man-made process. It often starts as an extract or byproduct of crude oil, but then goes through much more refinement. Each manufacturer has their own method to combine it with other materials, chemicals, and additives to achieve the desired results.

Synthetic oil offers several advantages of conventional oil. It copes better with temperature changes and does a better job of effectively lubricating various components in the engine. It also provides more stability in cold temperatures and is more effective at cleaning out dust and debris from the engine. Synthetic oils can also be better formulated for specific uses, such as in high performance or high mileage engines. What’s more, some manufacturers claim that using synthetic oil increases the intervals between oil changes.

What Do Motor Oil Labels Mean

What is 5w30 motor oil and should I use it for my car?

Reputable engine oils will usually have the API donut and the API starburst symbol on their bottles.

The API donut should display:

  • The SAE viscosity rating
  • A service designation on the container
  • Indication if the oil has passed the Resource Conserving test

APIs latest service standards are SP for gasoline engines and CK-4 for the diesel engine. An older engine might be perfectly content with motor oil with an API service rating of SG, but newer cars may need SP.

The API starburst symbol indicates the engine oil has passed the service tests listed in the API donut. An oil stating that it meets an API service standard isnt the same as one thats actually registered and tested to ensure compliance.

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Short Answer: To Prevent Serious Damage

All vehicles at some point in time during the course between oil changes . . . burn through or will use oil, so it will gradually go through the emissions of the vehicle, says Mike. That means the oil gets used up and needs to be replaced, but what doesnt get used up gets very, uh, gross, for lack of a better word.

Basically what will do with time, it will sludge up, and it will not allow cylinders and pistons to operate properly in the engine, and you run the risk of the vehicle locking up, adds Mike, expressing how an engine that locks up can be really dangerous for drivers.

What Oil Does My Car Take

When picking an oil for your engine parts, the most important thing to consider is the oils viscosity .

And your best guide to selecting an engine oil is the vehicle owners manual.

Remember, the owners manual:

  • Will define the engine oil viscosity and type that the car manufacturer recommends
  • May include details for cold or hot climate and seasonal use
  • May include alternative-weight oils if you cant get hold of the exact product needed

But what can you do if the manual is missing?

Dont panic.

There are still answers to be found:

  • The oil-filler cap on top of your engine may list the viscosity rating.
  • The car manufacturer may apply a small decal under the hood, noting the viscosity grade needed.
  • You can check with your vehicle dealership for its engine oil recommendation.
  • The oil section in a parts store sometimes has a chart listing vehicle makes and models and the right oil for them.
  • Some oil companies offer online databases to search for the right oil for your vehicles make and model.

And if all these dont yield any answers, you can still consult a professional mechanic for help.

Next, lets get into some detail regarding motor oil selection.

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