The wintertime, particularly in the northern half of the country, is a time for colder temperatures and snow. One of the best ways to protect your engine is to change the oil. An oil change offers protection for your car and if you properly maintain your car by getting regular oil changes, you will ensure that your car will around to provide years of service. The cold weather damages a car more than most people think, and you should make the effort to protect your engine and its moving parts.
Types of Oil
There are three main types of engine oil: conventional, synthetic, and synthetic blend. Conventional oil is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, or crude oil. This oil is good for the newer model cars because it is lighter in texture and most new cars have parts that are too snug against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Synthetic blend oil is a mixture of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for older cars, high-mileage cars, and performance cars. Synthetic oil is made of laboratory-created materials and is the most expensive oils on the market. You should consult your owner’s manual to determine which one you can use in your car. All of these types have either a single or multi-viscosity rating. The single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, which is the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold.
Why is an Oil Change Important?
Engine oil is the fluid that lubricates your engine and protects it from rust, gunk, and corrosion that can accumulate. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts, which decreases the coefficient of friction. Engine oil also contains additives that serve as detergents to clean the engine by keeping the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving parts. The oil also helps to provide a proper seal for the gaskets to prevent leaks.
Remember the Oil Filters
After you change the oil, you should make sure that you change the oil and air filters. The oil filters are important because they can filter out minute debris between oil changes and you will keep your oil cleaner for a longer period. The air filter should be changed if is dirty because it filters dirt and debris from the air that is entering the engine. Most mechanics recommend that you change the air filter every time you change the oil and oil filter. Your mechanic can help you determine the frequency at which you should change them. Your owner’s manual will often list a general car maintenance schedule that is recommended for make and model of car and it would be wise to follow the advice that they provide. Your mechanic can help you develop a schedule using your manual that you can put on your calendar so that you will remember to have your oil change and any other maintenance tasks that need to be done.