You Could Have The Wrong Oil In Your Car!

It’s no exaggeration to say that without oil the world would come to a halt. Motor oil is essential for almost any engine. You have a big investment in your vehicle, so it is important to understand the terminology and what oil to use in your engine. 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30 and 10W-40 etc. are all multi-grade motor oils. The first part (5W-) indicates the viscosity (thickness) when cold. The last number indicates the viscosity when hot. SA# 30 is single grade motor oil, which is fine for hot weather, but would be too thick and impede proper lubrication in the cold winter temperatures as well the increased friction would make your engine harder to start.

Here are a few misunderstood facts about motor oil:

Statement: Heavier thicker grades are better for my engine.

Fact: There are two main reasons why vehicle manufactures recommend thinner or lighter viscosity grades of motor oil. First, a gain in fuel economy can be achieved with a lower viscosity oil. At cold temperatures and at start up, lower viscosity oil will reduce internal engine friction. About 10% of the engines horsepower is lost to internal engine friction, resulting in a drop in fuel economy.

Second, thinner motor oil is essential for easy starting, particularly in cold weather, and for proper lubrication once the engine starts. Today’s smaller engines have tighter tolerances between moving parts. There have been some instances where serious engine damage has occurred because of inadequate lubrication with higher viscosity grades in colder weather.

Thinner oils, such as 5W-20 flow faster than heavier grade motor oils during start-up and initial engine operation and will help protect the engine from excessive wear. It is a proven fact that most wear in an engine occurs on cold startup. Multi-grade oil will provide better protection than a single grade motor oil. Engine manufactures have spent considerable time and expense experimenting with different viscosity grades and have indicated which grade will best protect your engine at specific temperatures. While one manufacturer’s engine may require a 10W-30, another manufacturer’s engine may require a 5W-20 viscosity grade. This is due to different tolerances within the engine or other engine design factors. Always check your vehicle owner’s manual to select the proper viscosity grade for your vehicle.