The engine in your vehicle needs to be conditioned regularly to continue performing at its best. Since motor oil is the engine’s source of power, it’s best to use the synthetic kind to achieve maximum results.
Synthetic oil helps shield all the parts found in your car’s engine. It must do it for several months or even a few years no matter how hot the oil gets or how often you use your vehicle. But how do you choose the right one? The following are the features you should consider when looking for synthetic motor oil.
Thickness
The thickness of the synthetic motor oil is the most crucial factor that you need to consider when buying one for your car. If you’re using the vehicle in a hot climate or ringing your car’s engine out often, then it’s best to use a motor oil that has a viscosity of 10W-40.
Meanwhile, car owners should use a 5W-30 synthetic oil for warm or cold climates. On the other hand, if you’re driving conditions are like the ones in the Arctic region, then use a 0W-20 or 5W-20 synthetic oil.
Application
You need to read the label to know the oil’s list of specifications to see if it’s an excellent choice for your vehicle. There are a few general artificial oil applications meant for extended performance, higher mileage and diesel engines. It’s best to do your research thoroughly to know which one best suit your needs.
Adaptability
Another factor that you need to take into account is the compatibility of the motor oil with other types of fuel. You need to make sure that the synthetic engine oil is compatible with the existing oil that you have in your car.
If it isn’t, then you’ll have to drain the current oil entirely before you use the synthetic one. To get the most compatible one for your vehicle, make sure to read the owner’s manual to verify the type of oil that your car can use.
Additive
Remember that every brand of synthetic motor oil has its own mixture of additives that give it its unique properties. Some additives are excellent for cleaning the engine while others are highly tolerable to higher temperatures. You need to determine which additives would suit your needs before buying synthetic motor oil.
When to change the synthetic oil
Aside from taking your car to a transmission rebuild shop in Salt Lake City, you need to know the right time to do an oil change for your vehicle. There are many misconceptions surrounding the correct change interval for a car’s synthetic oil. Most modern car engines have change intervals between the 7,500 to the 10,000-mile range. You can read the manual to learn about the change intervals set by every manufacturer for their vehicles.
Meanwhile, if you’re using an older vehicle, consider using synthetics labeled as “high mileage.” This type of engine fuel has a different set of additives designed to suit engines that have been on the road for quite a long time.
Lastly, consider the oil that has the same viscosity as the one that came with your car. Doing so will ensure that your vehicle will run properly and will keep the engine from breaking down any time soon.
