What kind of motor oil?
To choose the proper type of oil for your vehicle, you need to understand the significance of oil composition, viscosity ratings, and approvals:
- Oil composition:
- Lubricants are either fully synthetic, with synthetic technology, semi-synthetic or mineral. The biggest part of a lubricant is composed of base oils while the remaining part are oil additives which help protect your engine against wear and corrosion and keep it clean.
- 70% of a lubricant is composed of base oils while the remaining 30% are oil additives, which help keep your engine cool, clean, and corrosion-free.
- Viscosity ratings: Oil is rated and identified by its viscosity, which determines its ability to flow. Two types of oil are on the market: single-viscosity oil and multi-viscosity oil. Almost every vehicle is designed to run on multi-viscosity oil. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the more easily it flows. In 10W-30 oil, for example, the two numbers mean that it’s multi-viscosity oil. The 10W is an index that refers to how the oil flows at low temperatures (in winter); 30 refers to how it flows at high temperatures.
To find out which viscosity to choose for your vehicle, look in your owner’s manual for an oil viscosity chart.
- Lubricants have to undergo many tests to be approved by international organizations.