If you’re like us, you take your car’s health seriously. This includes regular detailing and having it serviced at the recommended intervals. But do you know what kind of engine oil your car needs? Finding the suitable motor oil grade for your vehicle can be tricky, but it’s worth it to keep your car running smoothly.
In this blog post, Vann York Toyota will explain how to find the right motor oil grade for your car and talk about some of the benefits of using high-quality motor oil. Stay tuned!
Let’s Understand the Oil Labels
Among the first things you must do is: understand motor oil labels. Motor oil labels include three main components:
- Viscosity,
- API Service,
- and ACEA fuel economy ratings
Viscosity is a measure of an oil’s thickness. Lower numbers mean lower viscosity, and higher numbers mean greater thickness or viscosity. Motor oil typically ranges from 0W (thinnest) to 50W (thickest). The number before the W refers to how cold it will be outside when you use that grade of motor oil. For example, 5W means the oil thins out as the temperature drops below zero. In contrast, 10W means it’ll remain thick even at extremely low temperatures. Different engines require different levels of viscosity depending on how they are designed.
Why Viscosity Matters
The most suitable oil grade for your vehicle is determined by both your car manufacturer recommendations and the climate you drive in. For example, suppose you live in a cold place like Alaska, where temperatures can go below 0 Fahrenheit. In that case, these lower temperatures will affect how thick motor oil gets. Motor oils that are thin (0W) at colder temperatures will not protect your engine as well as motor oils that are thicker (30 or 40W).
Motor oil designed to be thin (5W-20) will flow more easily during cold temperatures than motor oil made to be used in all weather conditions (5W-30).
How to Choose Between Synthetic and Conventional Motor Oil
The decision of whether or not your engine needs a synthetic or conventional motor oil grade can be more complicated than you might think.
While both synthetic and conventional motor oils are formulated to provide lubrication to the engine as well as clean out carbon deposits and other harmful particles from the engine block, there are differences between the two that make choosing one over the other a bit complicated.
Some people prefer synthetic because it tends to last longer in an engine. In new cars, the motor oil grade is printed on a sticker on your car’s doorjamb. Seeing this motor oil grade often makes people believe that it’s the only motor oil their engine needs. In fact, it may require another motor oil or a blend to keep all critical engine parts lubricated.
Ending Note
So, what’s the answer? What motor oil grade should you be using in your vehicle? The best way to find out is to schedule an appointment with our service department at Vann York Toyota serving High Point, NC, and have one of our experts take a look. We can inspect your current oil and help you find the perfect grade for your driving needs. In the meantime, keep this information in mind, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!
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