Which Oil is the Best? The Answer Might Surprise You

If you're like most people, you probably have a favorite brand of motor oil that you use on a regular basis. You might be a regular user of one of the synthetic oils on the market, or maybe you stick to good, old fashioned petroleum based oil. Regardless of the type of oil that you use, have you ever stopped to think about why you came to use your favorite type of oil? Perhaps you've heard about how synthetic is better and decided you want nothing but the best for your car. Or, maybe you've heard that synthetic really won't give
your car any benefits, so you stick with petroleum based motor oils to save a few bucks.

To really find out the best oil for your car, there's a lot more to think about than “X is better than Y” or “Y costs less than X.” These are factors that you should consider, but maybe not in the way that you think. Yes, synthetic oil does provide many benefits to cars, but depending upon your goals and usage as a car owner, you may not benefit from paying for those benefits.

It's also true that you can save some money by choosing a cheaper brand of petroleum based oil. You may, however, only be saving money when you purchase the actual oil. Over time, depending upon your car and your goals as a car owner, you could be spending a lot more money over the long run, due to your choice in motor oils.

None of the automobile experts can tell you that one oil is best without knowing your unique needs as a car owner. For example, if you trade in your car every few years and purchase a new one, do you really need to purchase synthetic oil for your car, or are you wasting money by paying for engine protection benefits that will never make a difference to you? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself and ponder before you make any rash, sweeping decisions about the type of motor oil that's best for your car and your unique circumstances.

Image via Wikipedia

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Making Informed Motor Oil Decisions

Can you imagine being very ill and having a physician ordering blood for you? This is not an uncommon scenario, but how about putting a twist on it and hearing the doctor tell the nurse, "It really doesn't matter what type of blood, any human blood will do", this would probably get you more than a little concerned. We all know that you just can't do this.

What about your car's oil requirements? Are you of the mind that any kind of motor oil is acceptable? Many people are, and this nonchalant attitude about the life blood of their vehicles ends up being very costly.

Everyone knows that motor oils are available in a few different varieties, but the general attitude is that you can use pretty much any approved motor oil on any automobile. This, however, is not true. There are some very important considerations to think about. Like people, every car is different. Not only that, but every car is used in a different capacity too. The way one driver routinely drives her Lexus may vary greatly from another driver, who owns the same type of car. The bottom line is that the car type and how it is going to be driven greatly affect the types of motor oils that should be used.

The general belief that any oil will do causes thousands of dollars in damage to cars over time. Every car owner owes it to themselves to find out the exact kind of oil that they should use for their car and their unique driving needs. You wouldn't accept any blood in your body, don't accept just any oil for your car. Find out the facts that mechanics aren't telling you about picking the perfect oil for your situation at The Motor Oil Bible website.
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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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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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Get Rid Of Your Oil the Right Way

If you change your own oil, you likely do so for one of two reasons.  Either you enjoy it, or you are trying to save money.  No matter why you change your own oil, many people are left wondering what they should do with their old oil.  Most of us know that it is not a good idea to dump motor oils in the backyard or down a drain.  After all, doing either of those things will put it right into our drinking water.  So how do you get rid of it?

The easiest way to dispose of your used oil is to put it in a container and take it somewhere that accepts used oil.  Finding something to put your used oil in is simple.  Personally, I use an old milk jug or two.  Instead of throwing them out when the milk is gone, I always make sure to have a couple stored out in the garage for the oil I drain from my car.  If you do not have milk jugs readily available, any type of container that can be sealed will do the trick.

Now that the oil is in a container, where do you take it?  Many auto repair shops will accept used oil at no cost to you.  In fact, many encourage the practice.  They already have a process in place to dispose of oil, and are usually more than willing to take yours off your hands as well.  If your local repair shop does not provide that service, you can try gas stations or car dealerships.  It is unlikely that someone in your area will not have a program in place to dispose of used motor oils.



The Motor Oil Guy