Are You Using the Right Oil in Your Car?

It's easy to look for a 'one-size-fits-all' solution for things in life, and expect to find one for every situation. After all, it's so much easier just to apply the common wisdom to the situation at hand without really putting in too much though, right? Well, there are times when the simple, conventional wisdom is sufficient, but not when it comes to motor oil. Yes, you will get better results when you take the time to learn a bit more about the different types of oil and the situations where a particular type of oil is the best choice.

Can't Trust the Commercials
It's unfortunate that most people end up making their decisions based upon something as non-informative as a television commercial. Of course, when you watch a commercial for a motor oil brand, they are going to try to persuade you that their product is the best. They are doing what they are supposed to do – promote their product. You have to realize, though, that an oil may very well be the best for certain types of cars, under specific conditions, but that doesn't mean it would be the best for you.

Critical Thinking About Oil Choices
Consider the vast array of automobiles on the roads each day. Then think about the wide variety of drivers and the differences in how, where and when they drive. Now, with all of that variety, do you think that each of these automobiles could be best served by the use of identical motor oils? Of course not. Like anything else in life, there are going to be oils that are best for each unique situation.

The type of oil you choose to use can, and will, affect how well your engine is protected and how muchImage via Wikipedia money you spend on your car's maintenance for as long as you own it.

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What do you Know about Motor Oil?

If you're like most people, you probably assume that there's not a lot to know about motor oil. You may even think that taking the time to learn a bit more about oil would be a waste of your time. What if you found out that having a bit more knowledge about the oil you put in your car could save you thousands of dollars every year? Would that make learning some oil facts more appealing?

Whether you're a car buff or not, you still want to get the best performance out of your car and maintain top engine performance for years to come. The motor oil you choose could potentially add years to the life of your car and keeps it running great too. You could even save money on regular maintenance costs, simply by learning the best oil to use for your car.

Regular Oil Changes - Are They Enough
We're all told to change our car's oil on a regular basis. This is good advice, but it should not be the be-all-end-all of your oil knowledge. You will only get the most out of changing your oil when you know the exact type of oil that is best for your car and your driving habits. Of course, if you don't know that information just yet, you should still get your oil changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Synthetic or Petroleum?
When people think about the choices they have for oil, they often assume that synthetic oils are the better choice. While some cars will do best on synthetic oil, this should not be assumed as true for every situation. There is no cookie cutter formula for every car, some cars will thrive on synthetic oil, while others function best using petroleum based oils.

There are some valuable resources available to help you learn more about the oil you put in your car. The Motor Oil Bible is one such resource that is packed with amazing information about oil that most people have never heard or read about before. Taking the time to learn more about the oil you use could be one of the best decisions you make for your car.Image via Wikipedia

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Motor Oils: Decisions

When deciding between motor oils, picking one with proper viscosity is crucial.  What is viscosity?  It is an oil's relative resistance to flow at differing temperatures.  Phrased differently, an oil must be "thin" enough to flow at low temperatures and "thick" enough to provide engine protection at high temperatures.  Thus, an ideal oil will maintain its viscosity over a wide temperature range.  This, in fact, is an oil's viscosity index: the measure of its propensity to change viscosity with temperature changes.  The higher an oil's viscosity index, the more consistent its viscosity over a range of temperature changes.

How does all of this impact how we choose motor oil?  Naturally, it is best to choose an oil with a viscosity index best suited to your particular needs.   Monograde oils, such as an SAE 30 oil, are designed for use under consistent temperatures.  These are the oils often used in lawn mowers, as it is assumed that mowers will be used almost exclusively during the summer months.  They have a low viscosity index and will thicken quite a bit if used under cool conditions. Multi-viscosity motor oils, on the other hand, are designed for
use where temperatures vary greatly.  An example would be a 5w30 oil.  The first number indicates how easily it will allow the engine to turn over at low temperatures (the lower the number, the better the cold weather operation).  This number is determined through the use of two tests: the Cold Crank Simulator Test and the Mini-Rotary Viscometer test.  The better the startability at low temperatures, the lower the "w" classification of the oil.  As you can see, multi-viscosity oils are the better oils for most passenger car
automobiles, especially those used in climates with wide temperature ranges.

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Facts About Motor Oil

We all know that using quality motor oil and changing it regularly is necessary to keep one's car running smoothly.  But did you know the air filter you choose is just as important?  There are 4 different options to choose from when selecting an air filter.
First, there is what is known as "cellulose media air filters."  These are the conventional paper filters that everyone has used for years.  The interesting thing about these filters is that the efficiency with which they filter out contaminants increases as a "dust cake" orms on them.  However, as this "dust cake" forms, the efficiency with which they allow air to flow through the engine decreases.  So with cellulose filters, the key is to leave them in place long enough for contaminant filtration to increase (usually at least 10,000 miles) to a satisfactory level, while air flow is still at an acceptable level. Image by Ollie Crafoord via Flickr
Next are "foam media air filters" and "cotton gauze media air filters."  Foam media filters are like a sponge and use tack oil to grab debris.  The twisting channels of a foam filter, which are larger than cellulose filters, ensure that debris can be caught at numerous locations, while air flow is superior to cellulose filters because of the larger channels.  Cotton gauze filters also offer superior air flow characteristics.  These filters are preferable for applications such as racing engines where air flow is more important than contaminant filtration.
Finally, there are filters made from nanofibers.  These are sold by AMSOIL and utilize the same technology used by the military in its Abrams tanks.  These filter smaller particles than the other types of filters and typically last as long as 100,000 miles.  While these filters are obviously preferable to the others, they are surprisingly inexpensive, costing about the same as comparable foam or cotton gauze filters (although certainly more expensive than conventional cellulose media air filters).  If you want to avoid the expense, cellulose filters have been shown to be more efficient than foam and cotton gauze filters, which are perhaps better for racing applications.  As with motor oil, it is best to choose an air filter which best suits your particular needs.

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All About the Motor Oil Bible

When beginning to  research the topic of motor oil, there is no better place to start than the book out there known as The Motor Oil Bible.  It is full of useful information regarding motor oil.  It offers the reader a chance to be educated regarding motor oil and the filtration of motor oil.  The author is a veteran in the business and has spent countless hours poring over journals and technical data on the subject.  His book offers a clear and concise account of the issues surrounding motor oil use and is an excellent guide for those looking to become better informed about this topic.
Image via WikipediaWhat has his research revealed?  Primarily, he has found that, although synthetics are not a good fit for everyone, overall synthetic motor oils offer benefits that petroleum-based motor oils do not.  Because synthetics are engineered in a lab specifically for lubrication, as opposed to being refined from crude oil, they do not have the impurities that petroleum-based oils have.  They are more pure and stable and as a result many benefits accrue.  They need fewer additives to fight negative characteristics, such as contaminants.  The additives they do have are used up more slowly.  This means they more strongly retain the qualities needed in a motor oil for longer periods - qualities such as heat control, friction reduction and engine deposit reduction.
What does this mean for you, the consumer?  If you are willing to use synthetic motor oil, it means a couple of things.  First, it means longer intervals between oil drains-which means you will save money on oil and oil changes.   It also means extended engine life, and therefore extended vehicle life-longer, higher-quality  lubrication of your engine means your car will last longer.
With the price of cars where it is today, The Motor Oil Bible is an invaluable resource for the consumer looking to learn about motor oil and its use-find it today if you want to learn more about this topic.
The Motor Oil Guy

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Info Regarding Performance Motor Oil

Have you heard about high or extended performance motor oil?  How does it work?  Is it right for you?
Today's car engines need high performance lubricants, and synthetic oils are really the only ones that will do.  Why?  First, because of their purity and stability, synthetic motor oils do a better job of lubricating and protecting your engine, thereby improving its performance.  This in turn extends the life of your engine and your vehicle.  While petroleum-based oils have served us well for years, today's high performance engines are better served by synthetic oils.
Image via WikipediaIn addition to being better for your engine, today's high performance motor oils such as Mobil 1 Extended Performance, Castrol Edge, AMSOIL and others offer extended drains.  This means oil changes at durations as long as 15,000 miles or one  year.  Some oils have offered even longer drain intervals, for example, 25,000 miles.  For years such practices were avoided because it seemed as though no one was doing it.  But the fact is extended oil drains have been used with corporate fleets for years with excellent results.  The advantages are twofold - less money spent and less harm to the environment.
Nevertheless, even the manufacturers of synthetic, high performance motor oils are reluctant to recommend very extended drain intervals.  Why you might ask?  Because they still make most of their money selling petroleum-based oils.  Imagine if everyone switched over to synthetic oils and started changing their oil at intervals between 10,000 and 25,000 miles (depending on the oil).  With recommended drain intervals for petroleum-based oils at 3000 miles, many people are changing their oil 5-8 times a year.  This would all change - a frightening thought for oil companies and quick lube outlets. The fact is, however, extended or high performance motor oil is here to stay, and it offers distinct advantages over petroleum-based oils, advantages one would be a fool not to take heed of.
The Motor Oil Guy

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About Motor Oil Reviews

How does one make sense of all the motor oil reviews that are out there?  Are consumer reviews reliable?  What about reviews in magazines?  Are there websites that are worth looking at?  Which ones?

It pays to be careful.  There are many misconceptions surrounding motor oil and reviews from consumers are often based on subjective opinions.  Also be careful  about the origin of the reviews.  Are they written by someone from the motor oil company being reviewed?  Or someone being paid by that company?  Are they written by someone trying to sell you a certain brand or type of oil? 

While it may be helpful to listen to the thoughts and opinions of those in the business (mechanics) or those who have extensive experience using particular oils, it is best to rely on technical data generated during the testing of motor oils. Reviewing the technical specifications can help you determine which motor oil has the qualities which will best serve your purposes.  Most companies make this information available via their website.

There is also a  website called TheMotorOilEvaluator.com, which is an interactive, sortable database of motor oil technical specifications.  It has this information for over 650 different motor oils from over 30 manufacturers.  The site allows you to view technical specifications for motor oils side by side and also contains links to manufacturer's websites (so you can check to see that the data is correct-if you so desire).  In addition the creator is constantly updating the database with specifications for new oils as he finds out about them.

Remember to be careful when reading motor oil reviews-and do your research using a tool you can trust-the website known  as TheMotorOilEvaluator.com.

The Motor Oil Guy

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Consider a Motor Oil Comparison

How does one go about making a motor oil comparison?  Which qualities are most important?  How do I choose between two different oils which cost the same amount and appear, on the surface, to be of similar quality?
When comparing motor oils, the most important thing to do is compare the technical specifications.  These can generally be found on the company's website, although sometimes it may be necessary to contact the company to ask that they provide them.  Each specification is found using a standardized testing method (ASTM-American Society of Testing and Materials) and is assigned a certain test number.
Different companies provide different test results.  Some will leave out certain tests.  They may feel they are unimportant.  They may not want you to know a particular test specification. Image via Wikipedia
There are around 16 specifications you might see on the data sheet for any given oil, although it's more likely you will find around 8 or 9.  Which are most important?  There are three that you should focus on: the NOACK volatility test, the Four Ball Wear Test and the HT/HS test.  These three are designed to simulate conditions you might actually find in your engine.  If any of them are missing or left out, it could mean you are looking at an inferior oil.  Also, if you find entries that read "Meets or Exceeds All Requirements", you should be skeptical.  Look for oils from companies that are willing to publish the results of standardized testing.  Also beware of companies that list results of non-standard testing in an effort to look impressive.
Another option is to use the website, TheMotorOilEvaluator.com.  There are technical specifications for over 650 motor oils from over 30 companies.  It is a searchable database which has an application which makes comparing particular oils easy.  This website allows you to make just about any motor oil comparison as you try to decide which brand to use in your vehicle.
The Motor Oil Guy

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Motor Oil Differences

Ever wondered how to decide between all the different types of motor oils on the market?  What's the difference between petroleum-based motor oils and synthetic motor oils?  Which is best for your particular vehicle?
First, petroleum-based oils are made from crude oil.  It is purified through a refining process that includes desalting, partial vaporization, vacuum distillation, solvent extraction, dewaxing and sometimes hydrofinishing (this process is used with more premium petroleum basestocks).  These processes are done to remove contaminants and purify the oil.  The important thing to remember is that companies must spend money on this process.  They must attempt to find quality crude oil basestocks and then they must also spend on the refining process.  This is reflected in the prices you will pay - higher quality, better-refined, brand name motor oils will cost more.
There are also petroleum-based motor oils that are so pure and refined that they can be sold as synthetic.  These oils are put through a process called "hydrocracking," which actually changes the molecular structure of the oil.  These oils have much better performance characteristics and can legally be labeled as synthetic.  In fact, most of the oils you will find at your local auto parts store that are labeled "synthetic" are of this variety.
"True" synthetic motor oils have been designed specifically for the purpose of lubrication.  As such, they are an improvement in all ways over petroleum-based motor oils.  They have improved low and high temperature performance, better friction reduction and a longer life span.  Simply put, synthetics  protect, lubricate and cool better than petroleum-based oils.
Image via WikipediaDoes this mean you should use synthetic motor oils in your car?  Not necessarily.  If you have an older vehicle, switching to synthetics may expose leaking gaskets and seals in your engine.  In addition, if you are a low mileage driver, synthetic oils may not be worth the expense involved.  It is important when trying to decide between petroleum-based and synthetic motor oils to do your research and make sure to choose what's best for your needs.
The Motor Oil Guy

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The Role of Motor Oil

Image via WikipediaEver wondered about the role of motor oil in your car's functioning?  What it does and why it's important?  Motor oil plays a crucial role in the life of your car and it's important to get the facts so you can make a good decision about which type of oil to use.

Motor oil has four main functions.  First, it lubricates so that engine components will pass by one another without friction, which can cause loss of power.  A second closely related function is protection against wear and corrosion.  A motor oil must combat the acids which are a byproduct of the combustion process to prevent corrosion of engine parts.  Third, a motor oil must clean by keeping deposits from forming and holding contaminants in suspension until they are removed by the oil filter.  Finally, motor oil must cool your engine.  As it passes through your system, it is directed onto the hot surfaces within your engine in order to carry the heat away to the oil pan.

How does it do this? Your oil pump draws oil from the oil pan and forces it through the oil filter.  It is then pushed throughout the engine to lubricate the components.  One cannot underestimate the importance of this process.  Engine (and car) life can be extended as long as 200,000 to 300,000 miles when proper motor oil use is combined with sensible oil drains.  A smart car owner would be foolish not to research this topic and take steps to get the best possible motor oil for their vehicle and their needs.  As well as extending your engine's lifespan,  a good motor oil can prevent costly repairs, improve fuel mileage and also improve performance.


The Motor Oil Guy

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Do You Still Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

You have probably heard that you need to change your motor oil every 3,000 miles. In fact, your mechanic has probably told you so, and it may even say so in your car owner's manual (depending upon your vehicle's age), but do you really need to change your oil that often?  Over the last decade or so, many people have begun to wonder if this recommendation is nothing more than certain industries trying to bilk you out of more money. So, let's explore the question a bit.

There is no doubt that changing your oil regularly is important to the continued maintenance of your vehicle. However, with the today's automotive and motor oil technology, there may no longer be a need to change it as often as in the past.

One of the main reasons that it was originally recommended to change your oil so frequently was because of the dirt and grime that your engine oil accumulated. Once "gunk" starts to build up in the oil, it makes it less effective as a lubricant, as well as reducing its ability to move throughout the engine with ease. However, the combination of greater automotive engine efficiency and cleaner running and more robust oils has lead to the possibility of steadily increasing oil drain intervals (even if many oil companies and quick lubes don't wish to acknowledge that fact).

"The Motor Oil Bible" offers a MUCH more thorough discussion of this question, giving you a much more informed position from which to evaluate your own situation and the oil drain intervals you SHOULD be using or might LIKE to use, if you chose a better oil and/or filter.

If you are still using the guideline of changing your oil every 3,000 miles, you may want to reconsider that strategy. Under OPTIMAL conditions, newer vehicles could possibly travel up to 10,000 miles without an oil change, even without a premium oil. Technology has brought us a long way, and by taking advantage of it, you can save money and time on your oil changes.



The Motor Oil Guy