Understanding Motor Oil for Optimal Vehicle Performance
You know that you need to change your vehicle’s oil regularly, but do you know what type of motor oil you should be using? Motor oil is the lifeblood of your car, so it’s important to understand the different types and how they can affect your vehicle’s performance. At Sartorial Auto Repairs in Santa Rosa, CA (serving all of Sonoma County including Cloverdale and Sebastopol), our certified technicians are experts in helping you choose the right motor oil for optimal performance.
What Is Motor Oil?
Motor oil is a lubricant made up of a combination of base oils and additives. It is used to lubricate, clean, seal, and cool the internal parts of an engine. A vehicle’s engine has many moving parts that rub together as it runs — without proper lubrication from motor oil these parts would grind against each other causing excessive wear leading to costly repairs or even replacement.
Types of Motor Oil: Conventional vs Synthetic
Conventional motor oil is made from refining crude petroleum derived from crude oil pumped out of the ground. It has been around for over 100 years and is still widely used in most vehicles today due to its low cost. Synthetic motor oils are artificially produced using man-made chemicals instead of crude oil as their base stock. They offer superior protection over conventional oils due to their improved heat resistance and more consistent viscosity (thickness) at different temperatures which helps reduce friction on internal engine components resulting in increased power output and improved fuel economy. They also tend to last longer than conventional motor oils since they don’t break down as easily due to their synthetic base stock being more durable than its conventional counterpart.
Weight Grades & Viscosity Ratings
Motor oils are assigned weight grades such as 5W-30 or 10W-40 based on two numbers separated by a “W” (for winter). The first number indicates how well the oil will flow at lower temperatures while the second number indicates how well it will flow at higher temperatures when the engine is running at normal operating temperature range (roughly 200°F). A 5W-30 grade will flow better at lower temperatures than a 10W-40 grade but not quite as well when operating at normal temperatures since it’s less viscous when hot; this makes it ideal for cold climates where temperatures fluctuate drastically throughout the year but may not be optimal for hotter climates where engines typically run hotter year round.
Choosing The Right Type Of Motor Oil
For optimal performance, it’s important to choose the right type and weight grade of motor oil for your vehicle based on its age, make/model, driving conditions (city vs highway), climate where you live/travel often ,and manufacturer’s recommendations if available . Generally speaking, newer cars with high efficiency engines tend to perform best with full synthetic or synthetic blend oils while older vehicles may do fine with regular conventional motor oils depending on their condition/mileage . Be sure to consult with experienced technicians like those at Sartorial Auto Repairs who can help advise what type/weight grade would provide best protection under various conditions specific to your car .
Conclusion: Get The Best Performance From Your Vehicle With The Right Type Of Motor Oil
When it comes down to getting optimal performance from your car or truck regardless if it’s new or old , understanding which type/weight grade of motor oil works best under different circumstances can make all difference . For expert advice tailored specifically for your vehicle , visit Sartorial Auto Repairs in Santa Rosa , CA – serving all Sonoma County – including Cloverdale & Sebastopol . Our certified technicians have years experience helping customers like you get maximum value from their vehicles by selecting just right type/weight grade that provides dependable protection under typical driving conditions in Sonoma County – so schedule an appointment today!