Finding the right motor oil for your car, truck, or utility vehicle is not as hard as it might seem. The first thing you should do is check your owner’s manual to see the oil type your vehicle manufacturer recommends. This is a starting point. Extenuating circumstances, such as freezing weather, can warrant a change in motor oil type on rare occasions. Journey Auto Repair is going to discuss the different types of motor oil available on the market for automobiles below.
Conventional
Unless you drive a turbo-charged automobile, there is a strong chance that your vehicle manufacturer recommends using conventional motor oil. This is the original motor oil that has been around for over a century. Conventional motor oil is extracted from crude in the ground and is the most popular oil type on the market. This oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles to ensure it remains viscous.
High-Mileage
An occasion in which you wouldn’t use conventional motor oil even though it is recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer is if your odometer has 75,000 miles or more on it. Now, it is time to switch to high-mileage motor oil. This motor oil is a conventional base with additives to help prevent your car’s engine from leaking oil. As an engine ages, oil leaks are more common. Switching to high-mileage motor oil gives you the protection of a conventional oil with the added benefit of a leak stopper.
Synthetic
If you drive a high-performance automobile, your vehicle manufacturer most likely recommends synthetic motor oil for the engine. This motor oil is created in a lab and contains additives to keep it viscous longer than conventional motor oil. It also contains additives that are designed to withstand heat and cold better. A high-performance automobile can generate more heat. As such, the synthetic motor oil does a better job of protecting the engine. It can also stand up to our freezing winters here in New Hope, Minnesota.
Synthetic Blend
Finally, you may opt for the best of both worlds and have a synthetic blend put in your engine. This motor oil is a combination of synthetic and conventional oils. As such, this oil protects your engine better than straight conventional oil does yet it doesn’t cost as much as straight synthetic motor oil.
Call Journey Auto Repair in New Hope, MN, today to schedule your next oil change. We will talk with you about the different oil types and determine the best motor oil for your automobile.