If you have ever bought motor oil, it may have been apparent that there are seemingly endless varieties to choose from. The shelves of auto part stores have jug after jug of oil lined up, all with slightly different labels, for different uses. The climate, the type of driving and mileage are all factors that impact which motor oil would be beneficial for your vehicle. A jug of oil can range from around $25, all the way up to $70, depending on a few qualities discussed below.
While buying motor oil can seem daunting at first, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you decide on the best purchase to meet the needs of your vehicle and help the engine continue running smoothly! Grab a seat, your favourite beverage, and enjoy our quick guide to motor oil!
Types of Motor Oil
Choosing the best motor oil will clean, cool, and lubricate your engine in the most efficient way possible and maximize the life of the engine. For this reason, it is very important to be well educated on the differences between motor oils. Our goal is to simplify the differences for you so your vehicle can remain on the road for a very long time.
The main differentiators in motor oil come from additives, detergents, and the amount of crude oil. Additives can prolong or support the health of your vehicle and detergents can clean out debris from your engine and oil sump. Determining which group of characteristics best meet your goal can ease the decision of which motor oil to buy, and even which brand.
Conventional Motor Oil
Conventional oil is significantly cheaper than either of its motor oil counterparts, however, this comes at a cost. Conventional oil is a refined version of natural, crude oil. While it still has many of the additives and detergents that increase performance, it is less manufactured and engineered than synthetic oil. For this reason, it generally breaks down quicker than synthetic oil, however it still adequately lubricates the engine. Conventional oil is a cheaper option and is sufficient for people who have normal driving patterns. One thing to note is that conventional oil doesn’t perform as well in extreme cold, and thus this may be a concern for people living in cold climates.
Full Synthetic Motor Oil
Contrary to conventional oil, synthetic oil is highly engineered. Synthetic oil is engineered to have improved performance in most areas compared to conventional oil. The oil is heavily refined to increase cleaning, cooling and lubricating properties. Synthetic oil breaks down significantly slower than conventional and handle a heavy strain better than conventional oil does. If you are towing a load, driving in extreme cold, or frequent heavy traffic, then full synthetic is what you need. Preventative maintenance on your vehicle ensures a long life for your engine. While full synthetic oil comes with a higher price tag compared to conventional oil, a breakdown is significantly more costly.
Semi-Synthetic or Synthetic Blend Motor Oil
Semi-synthetic or synthetic blend oil is a mixture of synthetic and conventional motor oil. Therefore, it has many of the qualities of full synthetic oil, but retains a lower price tag, landing somewhere between the cost of conventional and full synthetic. Semi-synthetic oil generally maxes out at around 30% synthetic oil; however, it still includes more additives than conventional oil does. The biggest draw for this oil is the retention of the many improved characteristics found in synthetic oils, while still remaining cheaper than full synthetic.
High Mileage Motor Oil
Some manufacturers engineer certain oils to be high-mileage motor oils. Essentially, they are designed for vehicles over 75,000 miles (or 120,000 kilometres). Over time, these oils cause the rubber O-rings and gaskets to swell, which helps with sealing in your engine. Because of this, the better sealing helps to reduce oil leaks. Conventional, synthetic blend, and full synthetic oils can all be engineered for high-mileage purposes.
How Do I Know Which Oil I Should Use for My Car?
- Check your owner’s manual! – Manufacturers are required to include the recommended oil for your vehicle in the owner’s manual. Some car makers also include it on the oil cap (although nowadays, not everyone does this). Some manufacturers even suggest which brand of oil you should use.
- Check if it has been tested! – API certification is very important with oil. API (American Petroleum Institute) tests the oil against varying conditions for wear, resilience, lubrication, cleaning, etc. If it has been API tested, there will be a star somewhere on the oil container with the certification marking.
- What’s your mileage? – If your mileage is over 75,000 miles (120,000kms) then you should get a high mileage engineered oil! Engines rotate at extreme speeds millions of times in their life, and over time this causes wear. This wear can cause leaking, which can reduce oil level, oil pressure, and general performance of the engine. These oils are specifically designed to aid in stopping minor leaks and their aim is to keep your vehicle running as long as possible.
- What is the climate where you live? – If you live in a cold climate, then you should use a thinner (or less viscous) oil. Cold weather causes liquids to move slower, and thinner oils are less affected, allowing them to continue moving freely. When reading the oil viscosity, the smaller number in front of the W signifies the temperature in which it is designed to operate. (Ex: 0W20 is designed to operate at or under 0°C). The W stands for winter, signifying the oil is designed to work in both summer and winter.
- How do you drive on a regular basis? – If you frequently tow a load, or are constantly stopping and starting your vehicle, then a synthetic oil will suit your needs better than a conventional oil. If you drive primarily on paved roads, for long periods of time, then conventional oil may suit your needs, and you can save some money.
In addition to all of this, consider where you get your oil changed, or if you do it yourself. Some dealerships don’t carry conventional oil and you will be forced to pay for full synthetic.
If you are doing your own oil change, your options for oil are increased. Ensure you know the tools you’ll need for the oil change, and where to correctly recycle the used oil.
Whatever you need for your vehicle, Parts Matrix will have what you need. Feel free to browse our inventory and don’t hesitate to contact if you have any questions.
FAQs
- Are there different types of motor oil?
- Yes! The different types of oil are engineered for different needs and conditions. The one you should choose depends on various considerations. See above!
- Are all motor oils the same?
- No! Some are fully manufactured and engineered to maximize the lubrication properties, while others are largely crude oil.
- How many different types of oil are there?
- There are four main overarching types of motor oil: conventional, synthetic-blend, full synthetic, and high-mileage oil. There are, however, many products that fit into these categories, and different brands will offer various products based on your needs.
- Is full synthetic best for my vehicle?
- It depends on factors such as climate, driving patterns, etc. Generally full synthetic oil takes longer to break down while lubricating and cooling better, however this does carry a larger price tag.
