Facts to Consider the Next Time You Buy Motor Oil

How often do you think about motor oil? The average person probably thinks about their car’s oil only a few times a year, when the “change oil” light lights up on their dashboard. Even in these cases when it is thought about, and the decision is made to buy motor oil, most of us ask one question: “Where can I get motor oil cheap?” We hardly think about the different motor oil types, let alone American Petroleum Institute (API) standards, motor oil manufacturers, or the best motor oil for your car. So it should not be surprising that there are many common misconceptions that we all fall into when we buy motor oil. So the next time you decide it is time to buy motor oil and are attempting to figure out what motor oil to use, consider these motor oil facts.

When you buy motor oil for your car or search where to get an oil change, it helps to understand how too much or too little oil can affect your vehicle. If you get a bit overzealous when adding oil to your engine and add too much, it may cause certain parts of the crankshaft to dip into the oil. This results in air being churned into the oil and causes foaming and fluctuations in oil pressure. On the other hand, if you do not add enough oil to your engine it can lead to excessively high oil temperatures, because the heat from the engine becomes more concentrated. So if you would like your vehicle to operate at peak efficiency and eliminate concerns about engine problems, it is very important to ensure that you are adding the right amount the next time you buy motor oil.

Staring down the options for the best oil change at your local oil change places when you have decided to buy motor oil can be a little intimidating. What is the best motor oil for your car would be a difficult thing to determine if not for the Society of Automotive Engineers and their standardized numerical grading system for classifying engine oil based on the characteristics of its viscosity. Numbers like 5W30 and 10W30 are common examples of this standardized classification, and are extremely helpful when you buy motor oil. Using the correct motor oil is vital to your vehicle’s health, and the best motor oil will live up to the strict Api standards.

Given the age we live in, knowledge about the reusability of motor oil is extremely important. When you buy motor oil, it is important to keep in mind that recycling can greatly extend its life. So it’s important to realize that motor oil does not wear out, it simply gets dirty, and can be recycled. It takes 42 gallons of crude oil to create the comparatively tiny 2.5 quart bottle you get in the store when you buy motor oil, but recycling only one gallon of used oil can give you the same 2.5 quarts.

So the next time your car needs an oil change and you need to buy motor oil, remember that you should take into account much more than just what is cheapest. Using the right kind and amount of oil can have a significant impact on the operation of your vehicle, and you should always recycle used oil whenever possible for the sake of the environment.