As a car owner, you need to be familiar with the type of oil that you are using. Hence, you should get accustomed to the common types of motor oils available today. These include the following:
Conventional Oil – Conventional oils are byproducts of refining crude oils. They are often mixed with petroleum hydrocarbon base, which explains why they are cheaper than the others. Due to their complex nature, there is an increased likeliness of engine wearing since their lubricating effect won’t last too long. Natural oils are more likely (than synthetics) to form an oily-sludge in the sump. The changing composition of the oil as different elements are boiled off causes this and the thickened oil is less efficient at penetrating all the moving surfaces of the engine.
Synthetic Oil – This type of oil is mainly produced from a chemical called PAO (polyalphaolefins). Synthetic oils are much more stable and can smoothly flow in any temperature conditions. In terms of costs, synthetic oils can be quite expensive but they offer more benefits such as reduced evaporation loss, improved viscosity, and greater resistance to oxidation, thermal breakdown as well as oil sludge.
Synthetic Blends – The third type is generally a combination of conventional and synthetic oils. They are basically developed as a cheaper alternative to completely synthetic oils. To produce them, additives are mixed with conventional oils to improve viscosity and to ensure cleaner fuel burning.
It is best not to mix engine oil types. If you’ve been running your car on synthetic oil stick with it. Why? The mixing of different additives in different oils can counteract each other when mixed in unexpected quantities.
It would be wise to find out from a competent mechanic which is the best type of motor oil for your vehicle and assess which one not only suits your car but also your budget.
Jamie Berg likes getting his hands dirty. If you want to know more about your engine’s
motor oil check out his blog, the Oil Pressure Gauge Guide.
Article Source: Does the type of motor oil in my car really make a difference?
