How much do you value your Vauxhall’s engine? The life of this car part depends greatly on the quality of oil you feed it; this is its lifeblood. However, many drivers don’t pay much attention to oil, simply assuming that one type of oil is the same as the next. In years past this may have been true, but during the 1980’s and 1990’s, oil went through a type of revolution. In order to deal with the new types of cars on the market and the problems that continually occurred with black death, having one oil for every single car just wouldn’t work anymore.
How much do you value your Vauxhall’s engine? The life of this car part depends greatly on the quality of oil you feed it; this is its lifeblood. However, many drivers don’t pay much attention to oil, simply assuming that one type of oil is the same as the next. In years past this may have been true, but during the 1980’s and 1990’s, oil went through a type of revolution. In order to deal with the new types of cars on the market and the problems that continually occurred with black death, having one oil for every single car just wouldn’t work anymore.
Since then there have been several types of oil made to fit specific cars. Choosing the right one, and knowing what the oil does is important to maintaining the life of your Vauxhall. If you’re a little confused about your engine oil, here are the answers you’ve been looking for.
FAQ About Oil and Vauxhall Parts
- What does engine oil actually do? Engine oil is responsible for many aspects. It lubricates car parts within the engine to keep metal surfaces from grinding together and becoming torn. It also helps draw heat away the engine’s combustion cycle. In addition, it limits oxidation at high temperatures and holds all of the nasty by-products that could negatively affect the engine and other Vauxhall parts, like acids and silica.
- What do the numbers on engine oil mean? When you look at engine oil, there are typically numbers and a “W” on the front of the bottle. If you don’t know what this means, you could accidently use the wrong oil for your particular car. As oil gets hot, it becomes thinner. Multigrade oil combats this problem by using physics and science to keep the oil from becoming too thin. The numbers that are placed before the W on the oil container are the cold viscosity ratings of the engine oil. The number after the W are the hot ratings. So, if the number is 5W40, the oil behaves like a 5 single grade oil when cold, but a 40 single grade oil when hot. This allows the car owner to understand how thin the oil will get when heated so it doesn’t become too thin to do its job properly.
- What’s the difference between mineral oil and synthetic oil? Mineral oil is a type of oil that has been refined, but is based on natural oil that the earth provides. Synthetic oil is concocted by chemists in a lab, but are mostly still derived by minerals oils. Choosing between the two is often a personal decision, but sometimes it isn’t your choice at all. If you own a vehicle that is considered high performance or you live in a location where winters are particularly frigid, synthetic oil may be your best option if you want your car parts to keep running correctly.
- When engine oil turns dark, does it mean it needs changed? Not necessarily. This is a frequent misconception, and it’s important to know that oil naturally turns dark when it heats up and begins absorbing the by-products of the engine. This doesn’t mean it needs changed, however. Keep track of your mileage and your last oil change; you should change your oil every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.
- Should the oil filter be changed at the same time as the oil? Oil filters are responsible for filtering out all those harmful products that could shut down your engine and other car parts. If they are clogged, which happens over time, they can’t do their job correctly. Change them when you change your oil.
Curious about your engine oil? It’s the lifeblood of your Vauxhall, so make sure you know as much as possible about it. This will ensure you’re able to keep each of your Vauxhall parts running smoothly.
