Engine Oil – The Lifeblood of Your Vehicle

Did you know that a critical component of your vehicle’s engine is not even a mechanical part?

In fact, this component is an additive that works with your vehicle’s engine to keep it running smoothly and performing in top shape.  You guessed it – your engine’s oil!

In this article, we explain the role of oil to your engine, how to choose the right oil for your vehicle, and finally the importance of maintaining oil to keep your engine working properly and efficiently.

The Role of Oil and Your Engine

Sometimes oil has been described as the “lifeblood” of your vehicle’s engine and this is not an exaggeration.  Without oil, your engine would quickly cease to operate and result in costly damage.

There are four ways that oil plays a role with your vehicle’s engine:

1. Lubrication: Oil lubricates the constantly moving parts of your engine, reducing the wear that comes with friction and heat.
2. Insulation: Oil provides an insulation barrier for your engine’s parts to help maintain temperature along with other additives in your vehicle’s cooling system.
3. Cleaner: Oil helps to reduce the build-up of dirt and sludge that accumulate in your engine and cause corrosion.
4. Fuel Efficiency and Longevity: Oil increases your overall fuel efficiency because a well-oiled machine will not have to work as hard, and will in turn, extend the longevity of your vehicle’s engine.

Having regularly-changed oil in your engine is not the only important factor in keeping your engine running smoothly; it’s also the grade and type of oil that is used.

Grade and Type of Oil

If you have ever seen an oil can, you probably have wondered about the meaning of the numbers on the label.  For example, a can of 10W 30 Oil.  These numbers are called the SAE rating, or Society of Automotive Engineers.  The SAE ratings represent the function and the viscosity of the oil.  Viscosity is simply the thickness of a fluid.  Think of water vs. oil.  Water has a much lower viscosity and is thinner than oil due to its unique properties.

Oil viscosity is important because of different weather conditions when operating a vehicle.  In colder temperatures, oil must have a lower viscosity, or be thinner, in order to move through engine parts quicker.  On the other hand, in warmer conditions, oil’s viscosity must be higher to provide that insulation for increased heat and friction.  This is how the numbers are derived for each SAE rating of oil.  A 10W 30 oil has a viscosity rating of 10 in winter “W” and the 30 represents the viscosity rating when the engine is at 212° Fahrenheit.

Another consideration for oil is the type of oil that you use in your vehicle:

• Conventional Oil: Typically has a higher viscosity rating and is used in older vehicles.  Conventional oil is lower cost but requires more frequent oil changes.
• Semi and Fully Synthetic Oil: Synthetic oils are laboratory developed and designed to have a greater range of viscosity.  Synthetics, while more expensive than conventional oil, do not require frequent oil changes as conventional oil.

Maintaining Your Oil

One of the most important things that you can do to maintain your oil and engine, is to have your oil changed on a regular basis.  Over time with heat and friction, oil breaks down and becomes contaminated with sludge and engine particles.  That’s why a regular schedule of oil checks and changes is recommended for any vehicle owner.

So, what is the recommended oil change schedule?

Auto specialists used to suggest that oil be changed every 3000 miles. That recommendation has changed with the improvement of lubricants. In our experience for new oils in late model engines, have it changed every 3k and never exceed 5k on conventional or mineral oil. Similarly, for synthetics the recommended interval is 6k, and you should never exceed 10k. Some manufacturers of both the oil and cars say longer works, but I disagree if you plan on keeping the vehicle long term. 15k miles between oil changes is too long, unless you’re dumping the car at 60k.

Three reasons why the car companies recommend longer intervals:

1. Consumer reports looks at cost of ownership (which is projected from maintenance schedules). The car companies like lots of stars for low cost of ownership.
2. If there is included maintenance they want to do the minimum and don’t care if it blows up a week after the agreed time or mileage is up.
3. Make the EPA happy which is worried about oil in the waste stream. That’s an odd reason because it all gets recycled.

In addition to regularly scheduled oil changes, it never hurts to periodically check your oil level and color.  Simply checking the oil dipstick to ensure the oil is at the proper level and the color is an easy task, especially when you are planning a long road trip.  Remember, oil can be checked when the engine is cold or hot, and the color should always be a clear amber.  The cleaner the oil, the clearer it will be when you look on the dipstick.  And finally, always address any warnings that may display on your dashboard regarding your oil.

If you have more questions about your specific vehicle and oil, consult with your vehicle owner’s manual or your service professional.  Your certified technician at Shade Tree Garage is also happy to answer any questions you may have about your vehicle and its components. Contact us today to schedule your next oil change at our shop located in Morristown, NJ.