What oil should I put in my car?

Choose an oil with the vehicle manufacture's recommended viscosity rating (check your owner's manual). Viscosity is an oil's ability to flow at different temperatures. The two most common viscosities (a.k.a. weights) are SAE 5W-30 and SAE 10W-30. The lower the number, the thinner the oil.

Does it matter what brand oil I put in my car?

Does brand matter? As long as the grade and ACEA specification is correct, you should be fine. However, David Wright of the United Kingdom Lubricant Association recommends choosing reputable manufacturers. Some firms will blend more advanced, expensive oils that exceed the specifications on the packaging.

What are the 3 types of car oil?

How often should I change my oil?

It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services!

Is it OK to use different engine oil?

Yes. If it's something you do only occasionally, mixing shouldn't damage your engine. Let's say you want to top off your oil, just to keep you rolling until your next regularly scheduled maintenance check. Mixing is alright, if the oil you use is the weight (or viscosity) recommended in your owner's manual.

What Oil Should You Put in Your Car?

What happens if you put the wrong kind of oil in your car?

You might notice a few oil spot in your garage or under your car because using the wrong oil can lead to leaks, or you might become aware of a burning smell while driving. If the oil isn't working as it should engine parts might not be lubricated well enough and cause friction, which can burn the oil.

Is it OK to top up engine oil with different brand?

You can add any engine oil as long as it has the right specifications — preferably with an official approval of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). Not the brand, but the specification and viscosity indicated in your car's manual are your reference for using the right oil.

Is it OK to mix oil brands?

Yes, you can safely mix one brand of oil (e.g. Mobil 1) with a different brand (e.g. AMSOIL) or conventional oil with synthetic oil (in fact, that's what a synthetic blend is). Most synthetics today are fully compatible with conventional oils and can safely be mixed.

Can you add oil to a hot engine?

If you're not changing the oil and only are adding oil, you can do so when it's hot without a problem. The cold oil will not harm your hot engine. If you're measuring the oil first, you should let your vehicle cool off first, though. When the oil is hot, it expands.

Is synthetic oil Better?

Synthetic oil is by far better for performance. It protects the engine due to lower levels of friction. Additives help clean the engine of deposits. And, fewer impurities mean it burns cleaner, thickens far more slowly, and has fewer deposits to start.

What happens if you put new oil on top of old oil?

What happens if you put new oil on top of old oil? When you mix new and old oil, the new oil becomes “watered down” with the lack of interfacial tension and strains to do its' job. Be sure to have your oil changed as soon as possible.

Can you mix brands of oil if they are the same weight?

THE ANSWER IS NO!

(Why anyone would even consider doing this in the first place is something we cannot comprehend. But we digress.) Technically, using a grade of oil that's recommended by your car manufacturer is correct. However, if you combine two different brands of motor oil, you could be at risk of damage.

Can I mix fully synthetic oils?

So, in the end, conventional and synthetic oils are comprised of the same, compatible components – it's just that the components in synthetics are much higher quality. While you can safely mix synthetic and conventional oils, you're doing nothing more than diluting the performance of the synthetic oil.

Is it OK to use 10w40 instead of 5w30?

Your vehicle does not use 5W-30 oil. The recommended oil viscosity for your vehicle, according to Kia documentation, is 10W-40. If you drive the vehicle in exceptionally cold weather, well below 32 degrees, you can use 5W-30 oil but even 10W-40 is still perfectly OK to use if outdoor temperatures are below freezing.

Can I use 5W 20 instead of 5w30?

Mixing 5W-20 and 5W-30 (or any other oils for that matter) may lead to faster wear and tear of your engine and eventually cause problems with the basic functioning of critical engine parts. And even if your engine allows it, you won't get any noticeable results by mixing different viscosity grade oils.

Is it OK to run 10w30 instead of 5w30?

Can I Mix 10w30 and 5w30? Most oils will mix perfectly, provided they have a similar synthetic. Therefore, there is no problem in mixing 10w30 and 5w30 since one will be topping up. Mixing the viscosity of oils will not have any effect on the engine.

Can you mix Valvoline and Castrol?

Q: Can I Mix Castrol And Valvoline? Mixing different oil brands is possible, so long as they are of the exact specifications. If you have Castrol 5w30 oil, mix it with Valvoline 5w30. There will be no problem when it comes to performance.

Are all 5w30 oils the same?

As a result, every engine needs its own specific package of additives. And that's why there are so many 5W30 oils, each with a different composition and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)-specification. This means we can honestly say that a “universal” or one-fits-all 5W30 lubricant does not exist.

Do I add oil with car on or off?

Step 1 – Park your car and turn off the engine

Your engine should be cool. If you've just driven your car, wait for 5-10 minutes before you check your oil level, or check it first thing before you use the car. Never try to check anything under the bonnet with the engine running.

Should I check my oil hot or cold?

If checking the oil yourself, make sure the car is parked on level ground and, with most cars, the engine is cold, so you don't burn yourself on a hot engine part. (With some cars, the automaker recommends that the oil be checked after the engine has been warmed up.)

Can I just put oil in my car without changing the filter?

So if your oil filter isn't changed, your oil gets filthier. And the dirtier your oil, and the thicker and more sludge like it becomes, the less it can lubricate the metal parts of the engine that are pressing together. Engines get hot.

What car needs synthetic oil?

Typically, high-performance vehicles will be more likely to require synthetic oil, as will vehicles that have a turbocharged or supercharged engine. However, if the automaker for your vehicle does not require synthetic oil for your engine, the oil choice is trickier — and there is no clear answer.

Should I put synthetic oil in my old car?

It protects better, performs better, and lasts longer, and it's no longer made with a chemical compound that could hurt older vehicles.