An Oil for All Seasons (Engine Oil Selection)
December 12, 2021
You swap your winter boots for flip-flops in the summer. Why not change your winter engine oil for summer, hot-weather oil? While it may seem like it makes sense, there's some good news. Most drivers don't have to, and here's why.
Engine oil can be made in different thicknesses. That thickness is called viscosity, how easily it flows. Now, it makes sense that the hotter it gets, oil gets a little thinner and doesn't lubricate as well. So if you used a thicker oil in the summer, it's logical that it would protect better in the hotter weather.
While there was a time when oils could be only made in one viscosity, times have changed. Using an ingenious formula, oil can now be created that changes its viscosity (called "multi-viscosity") as the temperature rises and falls. It self-adjusts to match the conditions. Now that's what I call a great invention.
In most temperate climates, you don't have to swap out the type of oil you use in your vehicle each season. There are exceptions in extreme climates, but your service advisor can advise you on that. Your vehicle's owner's manual recommends the proper viscosity oil to use.
Remember that even though you may not have to switch to a different type of oil, you DO have to CHANGE the oil at certain intervals. That's because oil eventually breaks down and picks up contaminants, and if you have old, dirty oil in your engine, it can cause damaging friction and heat. Regular maintenance at your vehicle service facility will ensure that your vehicle is running like a well-oiled machine.
Courtesy Auto Repair Plus
967 Bon Air Ave
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
419-443-0797
http://www.courtesyautorepairplus.com
More articles from Courtesy Auto Repair Plus
Wired! (Battery Cable Service)
November 17, 2024
Colder weather brings out the worst in a vehicle's battery. On a very cold day, you may have experienced that your engine cranks slowly when starting. But while it may be the battery itself, it may also be the parts that transfer the power to other the other electrical components, the battery c... More
Road Trip? Check! (Trip Inspection)
November 10, 2024
After months of postponing travel far away from home, a lot of us can't wait to hit the road and scream "Road Trip!" again. But how long has it been since the vehicle you're planning on taking has had a thorough inspection? And is it roadworthy for several days on the highway? Time to schedule a... More
Let?s Shift Gears (Transmission Fluid Replacement)
November 3, 2024
If you have a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you probably never think about gear shifting. When motor vehicles were invented, all of them had to be shifted manually. But that wonderful self-shifting transmission, referred to these days as simply an automatic, changed everything. Automa... More