Vehicle Maintenance: Choosing the Right Oil
High-performance cars require specialized engine oil. Specific engine oils are designed for different types of cars, as well as contrasting climates. The right oil will help to improve engine performance and will keep your car running for longer. Wondering how to choose the right oil for your vehicle maintenance? Here’s a look at the basics of engine oil.
Oil Viscosity
Think about honey and water for a second. Although they are both liquids, they have different consistencies and flow rates. This is viscosity. Viscosity regulates the speed that the oil flows. This is important to get right as it protects your engine. A higher viscosity results in oil being more resistant to flow. If an oil’s viscosity is too high, it may become unresponsive to your engine. Meaning, it won’t flow fast enough. The result is that your engine will consume more fuel to counteract the oil’s flow resistance. Choosing the right viscosity for your engine will help you save fuel.
If your car is new, you will most likely require a ‘light’ engine oil. Newer engines need ‘light’ engine oil. A suitable oil would be a Mobil 1 0W-40 or something similar. Consult with a trusted repair facility for the right oil viscosity advice for your car.
Types of Engine Oil
Choosing the right oil for your car will give it optimal performance. There are three main types of oil to consider
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil has a low resistance to heat. This means it doesn’t last as long as some other oils do. On average, you’re looking at 3,000 miles. This means you’ll need to change your oil more frequently, which adds up in cost. Mineral oil works best on older cars that don’t need specialized oils. The main benefit of mineral oil is its lower-cost factor.
Synthetic Oil
Synthetic oil has high heat and oil oxidation resistance. It generally lasts over 6,000 miles between oil changes. This means that your car will need less frequent oil changes. Synthetic oil is more ‘slippery’. This means it has excellent anti-friction properties. This also leads to improved fuel economy. Synthetic oils are great for stop-start traffic, as well as fast performance driving. Synthetic oils are the main go-to oil for performance repair facilities.
Semi-Synthetic Oils
These are simply a blend of mineral and synthetic oils. Semi-synthetic oils offer you certain benefits from both oil types.
Oil Certifications
Different quality engine oils have different grading levels or certifications. Our grading group in the US is called the American Petroleum Institute (API). Make sure you don’t settle for a rating below SM. Some recommended API oils are:
- Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
- Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30
- Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
It’s best to chat with an auto repair professional to advise you on the best oil certification for your car.
What About The Climate?
Believe it or not, climate can affect the composition and performance of your engine. Mineral oils are the main culprit, as they tend to thicken up in lower temperatures. In contrast, synthetic oils boast excellent versatility. They protect engines over a wide temperature range. It’s best to speak to a synthetic oil specialist for the best advice on choosing the right oil.
Vehicle Maintenance in Pompano Beach
If you need top advice on which engine oil to use for your car, give Foreign Affairs Motorwerks a call. Our master technicians specialize in all forms of vehicle maintenance. Whether it’s an oil change or a high-profile tune-up, don’t settle for any service facility. Our state-of-the-art facility in Pompano Beach uses only the best performance engine oils. Call us today at (954) 746 0488. Or keep up to date with Foreign Affairs Motorwerks on Facebook.