What Every Vehicle Owner Should Know about Motor Oil

There’s an old saying – “knowledge is power.”  This famous quotation holds true for many aspects of life, including our vehicles. Knowing about your vehicle’s motor oil does not have to be complicated. By learning a few simple things about motor oil and your vehicle, this knowledge will help you sustain a healthy and smooth-running engine.

The Function of Motor Oil

Like other chemical additives that play a role with your vehicle’s engine, motor oil is specifically-designed for three tasks, which include:

1. Cleaning your engine
2. Managing temperature with protective insulation, and,
3. Keeping engine parts lubricated.

Without oil, your engine would cease to operate.  All of the gears and mechanisms would come to a screeching halt from friction, heat, and competing motion.

Now that we have established the importance of oil and your vehicle’s engine, let’s review how critical it is to maintain the oil in your vehicle.

Two Steps to Maintaining Motor Oil

As oil flows through your vehicle’s engine, over time it can become dirty and less effective. It is not a permanent substance that never requires replacement. Oil not only gets dirtier with each use, it also can also burn off or leak when engine parts are not properly sealed.

There are two steps you can take to make sure your oil is performing its function.

Step 1:  Checking Oil

Vehicles are designed to make it easy for drivers to monitor the level and quality of oil in their engine.  Do you know where the dip stick is for your vehicle?  If not, make sure to acquaint yourself the next time you have your hood up. Our automotive technicians can also show you the next time you bring your vehicle into our shop in Staten Island, NY.

The rule of thumb is to check your oil at least every other month.  Of course, it never hurts to check it more often.

What do you check?

• Dip sticks indicate the level where your oil should be in your engine. It does not matter if you check oil when the engine is warmed up or cold, but the preference is to check it after the engine has slightly warmed up.  Make sure to clean the dip stick and put it back all the way before you measure the oil level.  Look to make sure the oil mark is right on the line indicated on the dip stick.  If it is below, then you may need to add some oil.  If it is above, this could mean there’s some excess oil in your engine.
• While checking the level, it’s a good idea to also examine the color of the oil. If the oil is clear and amber it means your oil is newer. It also means that your engine is clean. If the oil is dark and sludgy, this means that the oil is past its prime and should be replaced as soon as possible.
• While under the hood, make sure to check under the vehicle as well. Leaking oil tends to find its way beneath your engine where you regularly park.

Step 2:  Oil Changes

If you notice that your oil needs to be changed, then a full oil change is the recommended approach.  Simply adding fresh oil to existing dirty oil does not help the engine.  A full oil change includes draining all of the existing oil from your engine, adding all new oil, and replacing the oil filter.

Depending on the type of oil you use in your vehicle, you may need to have it replaced every 3,000 (conventional) or up to 7,500 (synthetic) miles.  Consult with your auto service professional at Colonial Service Station to find out how often you should have it changed.

How do you know what kind of oil to use?

There are many options for choosing oil.  Always make sure to consult with your owner’s manual for the recommended oil from your vehicle’s manufacturer.  Or, you can ask your auto service professional at Colonial Service Station. Either way, here are some important details about the type and grade of oil:

• Type of oil: For a long time, oil was oil. It is referred to as “conventional oil.”  But with the advances of petroleum sciences, there are now “synthetic” and “semi-synthetic” oils from which to choose as well.  One advantage of synthetic oil over conventional is that it lasts longer in your engine because it is specifically-engineered to perform better. However, it can be more expensive.
• Grade of oil: If you ever wondered why oil is labeled with letters and numbers, these indicate the grade of oil.  All oil is designated with a SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) grade that helps to identify each oil and its ability to function under different conditions. For example, 10W 30 Oil.  The important considerations for the SAE rating are based on Winter vs. Summer (temperature) and Viscosity Rating. Viscosity is the thickness of the liquid. In warmer temperatures, a higher viscosity means the oil is thicker and performs better. On the flip side, a lower viscosity works best for colder temperatures.  The oil is thinner and able to circulate through cold engine parts more easily. The next time you look at oil, we hope you will see the numbers and letter differently.

Here’s a short summary of some key points:

• Check your oil at least once every two months
• Check for level and color of oil
• Schedule regular full-service oil changes
• Choose the right type and grade of oil that best matches your budget and your vehicle needs

Remember, knowledge is power.  Use your knowledge to keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently.

Contact the auto repair and maintenance specialists in Staten Island, New York, today to schedule your next oil and filter change.