Specifically, there are four types of motor oil that are available to consumers. Your owner’s manual will give your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for the best oil for your engine. It is important that you use this oil type. For example, if you get around town in a BMW, you need to put synthetic motor oil in the engine. This is what BMW recommends. Let’s talk about the different types of motor oil below and what their advantages are for your automobile’s engine.
Conventional
Perhaps the biggest advantage of conventional motor oil is that it has been around for over 100 years. You can’t go wrong with something that has been working well for so long. Conventional oil is an excellent choice for people who drive automobiles that have standard engines. This motor oil is the least expensive on our list, which is likely one reason why it is also the most popular oil on our list.
High-Mileage
There will come a time, however, when it may be a wise choice to switch from conventional to high-mileage motor oil. This time is when your vehicle has clocked 75,000 miles or more on the odometer. The advantage of high-mileage motor oil is that it contains additives that help keep an older engine cleaner. The additives also help to prevent oil leaks from forming in the older engine.
Synthetic
The benefits of synthetic motor oil are that it stands up better to excess cold, excess heat, and high-performance engines. This is why BMW recommends it. It also contains additives that help it remain viscous longer, so you don’t need to change the oil as often. In addition, the oil does an excellent job of keeping the engine clean and lubricated so that you get more life out of it.
Synthetic Blend
Finally, you may want the best of both worlds, and that is okay. For you, your oil of choice would be a blend of synthetic and conventional motor oils. This is called a synthetic blend and it will work well in all vehicles that do not require full synthetic oil. In other words, if your vehicle manufacturer recommends full synthetic, that is the only oil you should use in your automobile’s engine.
We would be happy to help you determine the best motor oil for your automobile. Call us today to schedule a service visit so we can take a look at your engine and change the oil.