The Importance of Engine Oil
There are many reasons why you should care about the type of motor oil that you put into your vehicle. Here are some of the more common reasons why engine oil is important.
Oil Prevents Friction
An engine is made of moving parts, and they can easily heat up because of friction. The motor oil lubricates those parts, preventing friction and the heat that can arise as a result and damage to the components.
Oil Channels Heat Away
Heat will always be generated because of those moving parts, but motor oil insulates those parts so that any heat generated won’t affect the combustion cycle.
Oil Minimizes Oxidation
Fuel has to be mixed with air to produce combustion. Air contains oxygen, and too much oxygen can mean oxidation and engine corrosion. Good motor oil can help minimize the oxidation effects.
How Cheap Oil Can Hurt Your Car
Given that we already know how valuable a good motor oil is to the lifeblood of your vehicle, it makes sense that using a cheaper version will cause damage to your car.
But what are the specific risks?
A cheap motor oil can:
- Gum up compression and oil rings so that oil passes into the combustion chamber and starts burning
- Induce wear and tear, and additional friction due to lack of lubrication
- Reduce lubricant flow
- Accumulate and leak into pistons
- Form a tar-like sludge that causes numerous problems
- Increase fuel consumption
- Lead to expensive engine repairs
Any of these problems can lead to significant damage and might even necessitate an engine rebuild, which can cost thousands of dollars! What’s more, if the issue is due to using inferior quality oil that doesn’t meet the manufacturer’s specifications, your vehicle’s warranty may end up null and void. That will end up costing much more money than trying to save a few bucks by using a cheaper motor oil.
Why More Expensive Motor Oil Is Worth the Cost
Synthetic oil is considered the more “expensive” type of motor oil, but it’s worth the additional cost in the long run. It provides more effective protection for your car, may even prolong the life of your engine. It costs the average driver just $65 more each year.
Choosing synthetic oil helps ensure a longer lifespan for your engine and prevents engine malfunctions more often. Also, since it doesn’t break down as quickly, it can provide better support when hauling or towing anything heavy in exceedingly warm or cold climates. In fact, it could possibly even prevent a severe engine breakdown.
Finally, synthetic oil has a longer lifespan, meaning you don’t have to change the oil quite as often. While it is safe to extend oil change intervals when using synthetic oil, we still recommend coming into Milito’s Auto Repair for regular oil changes, guaranteeing that your engine is kept in working order.
Best Motor Oil Brands For Your Car
At Milito’s Auto Repair, we do a lot of oil changes, which means we go through a lot of motor oil. Our preference is either Castrol motor oil or Mobil 1, as both provide the highest level of protection for critical engine parts and help your car to perform at the highest level possible.
Castrol offers a range of advanced motor oil for your car, including synthetic, synthetic blend, high mileage, conventional and diesel oils.
With Mobil 1 Oil, the performance is very robust, especially in terms of low temperature pumpability and high temperature stability and protection against deposits. In both cases, this directly translates into less engine wear, increased fuel economy, and longer engine life. Learn more about why we use Castrol.
Get Your Oil Changed at Milito’s Auto Repair
When you’re ready to get your oil changed and for any other service repairs, you can depend on the professionalism and expertise of the crew at Milito’s Auto Repair in Chicago for all your car care needs. Contact us today!