What Makes an Engine Oil, Good Engine Oil?

Engine oil is very important to the health of a car. It has often been compared to being the blood of the engine and the engine to being the heart. Some people regard it as so important, that they will faithfully change their engine oil every 3,000 miles and nothing can stop them from doing it. Some people have a favorite brand of oil that they swear does wonders for their cars. What is the best oil for your car? What makes oil, good oil, and why do we need it? Is it that important?

What is Engine Oil and Why Do We Need It?

Engine oil is the substance that lubricates your engine and keeps it running. It also protects the engine from rust, gunk, and corrosion. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts. This decreases the friction, which results in a reduction in heat produced by that friction. Engine oil has additives included, which are chemical agents that serve as detergents to clean the engine. The molecules of the additives keep the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving parts. The oil also helps to provide a proper seal for the gaskets to prevent leaks.

Types of Oil

One type of oil is conventional oil. This type is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, which is crude oil. This crude oil would be the same oil that is spouting through pipes at oil-rigs. This oil is good for the newer model cars because it is lighter oil. Most newer cars have parts that are too snug against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Therefore, the newer cars benefit the most from conventional oil. The second type of oil is the synthetic blend oil. This oil is a mixture of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for older cars, high-mileage cars, and performance cars. The third type of oil is the synthetic oil, which is made of laboratory-created materials. These are the most expensive oils on the market. You should consult your owner’s manual to determine which one you can use in your car. All of these types have either a single or multi-viscosity rating. The single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, such as SAE then a single digit number. This rating denotes the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings, represented as 10W-30 or 5W-20, with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold. 

How Do You Choose?

You should first determine the type of oil that is already in your car. Then you need to check the owner’s manual to determine if it is the correct one that you should be using for the winter. You need to choose low-viscosity oil in the winter because it will flow easier when it is cold. You also need to consider the age of your car. If you have an older car or a performance car, you may fare well with either a synthetic or a synthetic-blend oil. Consult with your mechanic to determine which would be the best choice for you.