Your car is one of your most important assets. There is a lot of pressure on your vehicle to transport you everywhere you need to go, no matter what. One of the most important working elements of your car is often overlooked—the engine oil. Knowing what engine oil is, what it does for your car, and how to maintain it will give you the important knowledge that will prolong the life of your car.

WHAT IS CAR ENGINE OIL AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Car engine oil is a lubricant that lessens friction between parts in motion. The oil for your car creates a film that separates adjacent moving parts to minimize the heat caused by contact between them. This improves sealing and cools the engine. Some oils also clean and reduce corrosion.

WHAT TYPES OF ENGINE OIL ARE THERE?

Engine oil is obtained from crude oil and blended chemical compounds. One of the greatest features of oil is its viscosity or resistance to flow. This is essential for proper lubrication. Since viscosity changes with temperature, engine oils are measured on an index. A higher index value means the viscosity or flow resistance changes less with temperature variations. Engine oils are graded by viscosity index ranging from 0 to 60 and these values are referred to as the oil “weight.” In all cases, the resistance to flow must be high enough to provide adequate lubrication but low enough to allow the oil to stream everywhere around the engine. The numbers 0 to 25 on the index may be followed by the letter ‘W’ indicating a winter oil. This helps designate the best oil for winter since oil will thicken when left overnight in cold temperatures. Multi-grade or all-season oil for your car (e.g. 10W-30) will start and operate in large temperature ranges from icy weather to warmer temperatures. As it is used, oil breaks down, burns and becomes contaminated with microscopic metallic particles making lubrication and heat dispersion harder. The oil and the filter need to be regularly replaced. Long intervals between oil changes allow sludge and soot to accumulate. This is why the oil and filter need to be regularly replaced.

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