3 Things You Might Not Know About Engine Oil

You might count on engine oil every day to keep your vehicle’s engine running smoothly, but how much do you know about automotive oils? Our Bar’s Leaks experts have put together a list of the three things you might not know about engine oil so that you can better appreciate why keeping your oil clean and topped up is important.

1. What Does Engine Oil Do?

Engine oil provides a layer of lubrication between moving metallic components, including your pistons, cylinders, rockers, valves and more. Metal-on-metal contact without oil generates huge amounts of heat and can quickly destroy an engine. Your engine oil also collects combustion deposits, which is why engine oil does not last forever and needs to be changed on a regular basis.

2. What Does the Alphanumeric Rating Mean?

Almost all engine oils come with a two-part alphanumeric rating, for example, 10W30 or 5W40. The two numbers refer to the oil’s viscosity (or ability to flow). A lower number indicates a lighter, more free-flowing oil. The first number is the viscosity of the oil in winter (hence the W), while the second number denotes the viscosity characteristic at higher (summer) temperatures. So the “common knowledge” that the “W” stands for “weight” is entirely wrong. Imagine how much fun you’ll be at your next party with that tidbit of sassy info!

3. Does Synthetic Oil Offer Advantages Over Conventional (Regular) Oil?

Yes. There’s a reason synthetic oil is more expensive. It is subjected to more processing and refining steps than conventional oil and gives better performance across a broader range of temperatures and conditions (heavy duty, commercial driving, racing applications, etc). Synthetic oil has fewer impurities and more consistent molecule sizes which promote more even lubrication and better heat dissipation.

Now that you know these three engine oil facts, you can better understand why regular oil changes are important. Old engine oil can cook and dry in your engine, creating deposits, sludge and gunk build-up. Perform regular oil changes at the intervals suggested by your car’s manufacturer and consider our Bar’s Leaks engine additives and products, especially at the first sign of a leak or oil burning (including excessive consumption). You can fill in our online contact form to obtain more information or use our store locator to find a distributor of Bar’s Leaks products near you.

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