What motor oil should I use? Whether your a DIY(Do-it-yourselfer) changing your oil or just picking up a quart because your running low this is a common question. You go down the aisle of your local autopart or department store chain you'll see a multitude of choices. It can confusing and overwhelming to many. Can you choose just any old one? I don't think you should though in a pinch you may get away with it but, over the long term you should use correct one for your application. Using the incorrect oil over a long period could damage your engine or at least make it work harder. If you use the correct one your engine will thank you by giving you less problems and perhaps better gas mileage(and who doesn't mind that these days).
Well first and probably obvious place to find the correct oil for your vehicle is your owners manual. If you don't have one you should get one. It provides a valuable resource in using and maintaining your vehicle. If you don't have one they are usually relatively inexpensive enough to pick one up. If your car is a recent model you may be able to get one from your dealer. If it's an older model I've found that you could probably pick one up for your vehicle fairly cheap on Ebay. Another good idea is to pick up a repair manual from Haynes or Chiltons specific for your vehicle. Also if you can ask your local mechanic or auto parts store to look it up for you.
What to look for when purchasing motor oil
When purchasing motor oil you should look for some basic items which can be found on most sold in stores. I'm not going to go too in depth as much of the info can be confusing(even to me). The most important as stated before is buying the correct type for your vehicle. Assuming you already know that here is what to look for.
Well first and probably obvious place to find the correct oil for your vehicle is your owners manual. If you don't have one you should get one. It provides a valuable resource in using and maintaining your vehicle. If you don't have one they are usually relatively inexpensive enough to pick one up. If your car is a recent model you may be able to get one from your dealer. If it's an older model I've found that you could probably pick one up for your vehicle fairly cheap on Ebay. Another good idea is to pick up a repair manual from Haynes or Chiltons specific for your vehicle. Also if you can ask your local mechanic or auto parts store to look it up for you.
What to look for when purchasing motor oil
When purchasing motor oil you should look for some basic items which can be found on most sold in stores. I'm not going to go too in depth as much of the info can be confusing(even to me). The most important as stated before is buying the correct type for your vehicle. Assuming you already know that here is what to look for.
Most likely you'll be shopping for the rating first(like above). This is the viscosity rating SAE 5W-30. This is what they refer to as a multi-viscosity motor oil. The SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers. This is the group that sets the the standard specifications for viscosity. The "5" is referred to as 5-weight which is the viscosity the oil will perform at when used in winter like conditions which brings us to the "W" . "W" is for winter. Does it mean it's only to be used in winter? No this is sold year round at least it is northeast where I am. Perhaps in milder climates they may change I'm not sure. The "30"(or 30-weight) is the viscosity that the oil will perform at in hotter temperatures.
Most likely you will also see this star symbol. This is means it has been certified by the API(American Petroleum Institute) . This group represents the marketers and creates and sets industry standards for equipment, products and practices. This has been around since 1924.
This symbol kind of combines everything in one. You get the viscosity rating of SAE 5W-30. The API service rating which does change over time. Currently "API Service SM" I believe is the latest one. They generally go in sequence as in "SH", "SJ", and so on. "Energy Conserving" means basically what it says. It's engineered to conserve energy(a big catch word these days).
Petroleum vs. Synthetic
More than likely you'll see a selection of synthetic oils too while shopping. I've not personally used these but I've heard good things about it. A word of caution though. If your not already using synthetic oils or are tempted to try them stick with the Petroleum based. From what I know you usually have to flush the engine out before switching over to synthetic. The SAE ratings are the same though once you've done the switch. Perhaps I'll go more in depth with this at another time.
Well thanks for coming by and I hope this was helpful. A short disclaimer though. I'm not an engineer nor do work on automobiles for a profession. If I made a mistake or you would like to comment on this please feel free to do so. I do welcome feedback and will update the info. Thank you and happy motoring!
Petroleum vs. Synthetic
More than likely you'll see a selection of synthetic oils too while shopping. I've not personally used these but I've heard good things about it. A word of caution though. If your not already using synthetic oils or are tempted to try them stick with the Petroleum based. From what I know you usually have to flush the engine out before switching over to synthetic. The SAE ratings are the same though once you've done the switch. Perhaps I'll go more in depth with this at another time.
Well thanks for coming by and I hope this was helpful. A short disclaimer though. I'm not an engineer nor do work on automobiles for a profession. If I made a mistake or you would like to comment on this please feel free to do so. I do welcome feedback and will update the info. Thank you and happy motoring!
Sources: Motoroilworld.com, The Engine Oil Bible, Motor Oil Myths and Facts,
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