When choosing the right oil for your car, you should take note of some considerations, including the type of vehicle you have, how old it is, and what kind of oil it’s been running on, among other things. We’ve listed here some of the most important things you should consider when you’re thinking of switching the kind of oil you use for your vehicle.
Keep viscosity in mind
Viscosity refers to the resistance of a certain type of oil to flow. It depends on the thickness and thinness of the oil, and when choosing the type of oil you should bear in mind that the good ones don’t get too thin at very high temperatures or too thick at very low temperatures. To know more about this, refer to the common notation XW-XX. The number denoted by X before the W refers to the oil’s flow during very cold temperatures, or 0 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact. The number denoted by XX after the dash, on the other hand, refers to the oil’s viscosity at boiling point, or 100 degrees Celsius. When comparing oils, make sure that the number before W is low and the number after the dash is high.
Don’t switch oils too much
If you’ve been using conventional oil since you bought your car, there’s no need to switch to synthetic oil just because you think it will improve your car’s performance. Besides, synthetic oils are only ever needed for German cars like Mercedez-Benz or BMW. Remember to stick to one type of oil, and have it regularly changed (this depends on the mileage of your vehicle).
If your mileage is more than 75,000 miles, consider shifting to high-mileage oil
This, we know for sure, can benefit an engine that’s been on the road for a long time.
Consider the weather in the city you live in
If your place gets really bitter winters in December, make sure to find oil that doesn’t thick too quickly. Don’t pay too much attention to the number after the dash if you don’t get extreme heat in the summer. Likewise, if you live somewhere really hot, make sure the oil you get doesn’t thin too quickly.
San Jose gets fairly warm and fairly cold temperatures but doesn’t snow, so don’t stress too much about oil getting thick in December.
