First Things First. Plan on Oil Changes.
If you want your vehicle to run well and last a long time, you'll want to make sure you have a solid plan of preventive maintenance services. One of the most important of those is regular oil change because it helps ensure that your car has a sufficient amount of clean motor oil. Whether you change the oil yourself or take your vehicle to a professional, it's helpful to understand the various options available in engine lubricant. If you're in the Miramar, California, area, your easiest option is to schedule an appointment with the ASE and ATRA certified technicians at West Automotive Group. We can help you out with all the services you need to keep your auto in great repair.
A Review of Your Choices
When you were first learning to drive, you likely knew your vehicle would need engine lubricant, but you may not have known there were so many choices in motor oil. While the most important step is to change the oil regularly, it's helpful to better grasp the options to determine what's best for your car. When you're ready to make your purchase, you'll notice four broad oil categories. These are conventional, full synthetic, synthetic blend, and high mileage. As you might guess, conventional oil is a natural crude derivative. This works well for most engines--those driven a reasonable number of miles under normal conditions and/or are newer year models. Full synthetic is engineered to have the same size molecules (homogeneous composition), and it also contains chemical additives to combat wear and rust. (FYI: Conventional oil's molecules are heterogeneous. They are of varying sizes.) Also, synthetic oil provides higher viscosity. This tells you how well it pours at room temperature.
Higher viscosity oil protects the moving parts better than its lower viscosity counterpart because it can more effectively coat all of the components. Further, a premature breakdown is less likely. That will reduce the risk of engine sludge forming. Due to hauling and long-distance operation, synthetic oil is often the top choice of commercial drivers. The drawback, however, is the cost. A synthetic blend is a good option for some drivers. While it offers many similar benefits, it's less expensive than full synthetic lubricant because it's a mix of the two (synthetic and conventional) plus some additives. Finally, classic car connoisseurs and drivers of older models tend to like high mileage oil because it helps protect dried or leaky seals.
Understanding The Labels
Oil labels contain other information such as SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) ratings and viscosity ratings (indicated near the W). For additional information and for reliable oil changes, just visit West Automotive Group in Miramar, CA.
