What Oil Does My Car Take and Recommended Use

If you own a car, you will always know never to overlook the type of oil you use in the car. We all know the importance of having enough oil in the engine. Without the right amount of oil, the chances are that you would end up with some issues such as more wear and tear on the engine. Right now, you might be thinking about what oil does my car take? Well, at the end of this guide, you can easily make that decision.

What Kind Of Oil Does My Car Need

Each time a person visits a garage, you would find them asking some questions such as what oil does my car take? The answer to that will always vary with the type of car, the mileage, the weather conditions in the area and many other things. It is only after checking out the multiple types of oil available that you can relate to what type of oil does my car need question. Below are some of the top types of car oils you could use for your car today.

–    Synthetic motor oil – this type of oil goes through a chemically engineered process to end up with a new type of oil that works great. It is able to deliver great performance even under low or high temperatures. Read more about 5w-20 synthetic oil reviews to choose the best one for your vihicle.

–    Conventional motor oil – the conventional motor oil is what we use commonly in our cars. It is formulated from products such as petroleum. It is always a cheap option as compared to the other types. It might, however, need regular changing at about 5000 miles.

–    High mileage motor oil – if you own an old car with the odometer reading over 75000 miles, it should be better if you opt for the high mileage oil. It is often made of unique additives that help keep the engine from further wear and also prevent oil leaks. Some of the common products: 5w30 high mileage oil, 5w20 synthetic oil high mileage …

–    Synthetic blend motor oil – this could easily be a hybrid type of oil if you consider the mixture of synthetic and conventional oils. What you get is a new type of oil that can deliver great performance at lower temperatures.

If you were still wondering why kind of oil does my car need, the types of oil mentioned above could offer you something to choose from. Always make sure you get to learn more about the oil type before making a choice.

Viscosity of Motor Oil

As part of learning about what oil does my car take, it is always crucial to know more about the viscosity of motor oil. It is only then that you can easily know what motor oil to use in your car. The viscosity rating would normally show at what temperatures that oil would perform optimally. So, when you live in a certain area, it would be best to watch out for the weather conditions before making a choice of which oil will work the best.

The ideal oil type you choose if supposed to remain fluid mostly at the low temperatures so that you have an easier time with the cold starts. It should still be viscous during the high temperatures so that it helps with the engine protection and sealing to keep it running smoothly.

To help make sure that motorists always choose the right oil type, the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) has developed a few ways of classifying the oil types. They would offer figures of a viscosity of when the oil is hot or cold. The “W” you see on the oil containers simply means winter. There will be two other values accompanying the letter. The one on the left means that the oil’s cold grade and the one on the right mean the oil’s hot grade.

Oil Viscosity Chart 

via elf.com

What oil does my car take should not be the only thing that worries you, it is still crucial to learn more about the viscosity levels first. You can get to know about all such information by checking out the oil viscosity chart. The viscosity of motor oil will always tell you more information about the top rated motor oil. Check out the following chart to learn more about oil viscosity.

Oil Weight Chart

via elf.com

Before you can decide what oil do I need for my car, you should also consider learning about the oil weight first. The oil weight is simply the measured viscosity you get with the oil at a given temperature. At certain temperatures, the oil can easily become thinner and less viscous whenever it is heated. Check out the following chart to understand more.

The API/ILSAC “Starburst”

via pennzoil.com

It is common that you would find such type of symbol shown on most oil types. The symbol is not just given to any type of oil; it has to meet some minimum industry requirements. The API part means the American Petroleum Institute. The work of the organization is to help consumers identify the right type of engine oil that would work best for their cars.

The Starbust part also helps with identifying the best application for the oil type. You could get some are great for gasoline engines while others are recommended otherwise. With such rating, you can now easily know about what oil does my car take from the recommendations.

The API “Donut” 

A SAE 10-30 is not the same as an SAE 10W30               via pqiamerica.com

This is another important symbol that you can get on the oil containers. It is normally divided into three main parts. The top part shows you the API service rating, which is basically the performance level. The center of the label shows you the SAE viscosity rating and finally the lower half gives you the energy conserving properties of the oil type.

Best Oil for Old Cars

You may be owning a classic car or any other old car that you are not willing to just give up on it right away. You will have to consider choosing the best oil that can work for the old cars. The best option you can opt for would be the high mileage oil type. The manufacturers of such oil type make sure they give it enough additives, which are all important for handling the wear and tear of an oil engine. The high mileage oil is still important if you want to keep the leaking to a minimum.   

The motor oil reviews could be a great place to learn more about what is the best engine oil. The reviews would always give you more description of what to expect when choosing such an oil type. With this guide, it is possible that your question about what oil does my car take has already been answered. You can now choose an oil type knowing that it would be perfect for your car.