Exploring 3 Myths About Motor Oil

From you have to change your oil every 3,000 miles to synthetic oil will destroy your engine, there are tons of myths regarding motor oil. As the owner of a vehicle, it is extremely beneficial for you to know more about engine oil myths and whether or not there is any truth to any of them. In fact, here are three myths every vehicle owner should know about.

Myth #1: Change Oil Every 3,000 Miles or Three Months

Experts in the oil industry agree that one of two things should happen when it comes to changing the motor oil in your vehicle. It should be changed at designated intervals stated in the vehicles' owner's manual or it should be changed when the check oil light displays on the vehicle's dashboard. Advancements in chemistry and engine technology have made it possible to extend the life of motor oil. For example, the average interval of vehicles manufactured in 2010 is 7,800 miles.

Myth #2: The "W" in 10W-30 is Short for "Weight"

When shopping for motor oil, it is vital to know the proper viscosity for your vehicle. Viscosity being the overall thickness of the oil. Oils of lower viscosity are able to move through an engine more smoothly because of their lightweight. The best engine oils for a vehicle should fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum as is it not good for the oil to be too thick or too thin. The numbers 10 and 30 in 10W-30 are both the viscosity of the oil. The number with the "W" after it is what the viscosity of the oil is when it is cold outside and the number without the "W" is what the viscosity is when it is warm outside. The "W" actually stands for "winter" not "weight".

Myth #3: Synthetic Oil is a Bad Choice as it Will Cause Leaks

As long as the seals and gaskets on your vehicle are in good condition, you do not have to worry about the synthetic oil causing your engine to leak. In fact, synthetic oils are not known to deteriorate either seals or gaskets in the vehicle's engine. Synthetic oil, however, is more likely to find a leak that already exists as the smaller molecules of this type of oil can pass through small cracks and crevices that regular petroleum-based engine oil cannot. It is important to keep in mind the cracks and crevices the synthetic oil is able to find will lead to larger problems regardless of whether or not you used synthetic oil. One could argue using synthetic oil in this way is beneficial as it enables you to find leaks you would not be able to find otherwise until they caused.

When in doubt consult the owner's manual of your vehicle or talk to a mechanic regarding what is or is not true about motor oil. This way you do not end up spending more money than you need to on engine oil or putting the wrong oil in your vehicle.

For more information, talk to a professional like Wolfe's Foreign Auto.

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