Tips for Choosing Oil for Your Beloved Car

Oil is one of the important things to support the performance of your car's engine. Oil serves as a lubricant so that engine components do not experience excessive friction. In addition, oil can also reduce engine heat. Well, for optimal engine performance, you certainly can't just choose any oil.

How to Choose Oil for Your Car

You need to be careful in choosing oil. So, what are the tips for choosing oil for your beloved car? Let's take a look!

1. Car Engine Specifications

Before choosing oil, it is best to read the manual of your beloved car. This step is important to know the specifications of the car's engine. Usually, the manual contains the engine specifications and the right type of oil. Before thinking about brands, the most important thing is to choose oil that is suitable for the car's engine.

2. Understand Oil Codes

Almost the same as when we want to choose car tires, the selection of oil must also be accompanied by an understanding of certain codes. The common code you will find on oil packaging is the SAE code or Society of Automotive Engineers. This code can explain the viscosity of the oil and the oil's ability to maintain viscosity stability against the influence of engine temperature.

For example, an oil has the SAE code 5W-20. This code explains that at low temperatures (cold), the viscosity level of the oil is at five. Low temperature is indicated by the letter W which means Winter. The lower the number in the oil code, the thinner the oil is. The thinner the oil, the harder it is to solidify at low temperatures. Therefore, thin oil is suitable for use in cars in cold temperature areas. Meanwhile, at high temperatures (hot), the viscosity level of the oil is at twenty. Usually, the viscosity level is also adjusted to the surrounding temperature. For example, in Indonesia, our cars use oil with the SAE code 5W-40.

In addition to the SAE code, there is also the API code or American Petroleum Institute. The API code can explain the use/suitability of the oil. Gasoline engines have the API code "S" while diesel engines have the API code "C." Here is the API classification for gasoline engines:

SA: Pure oil without additives.

SB: Used for light operating engines with slight antioxidants.

SC: Oil that contains detergents, dispersants, antioxidants.

SD: Used for engines operating at high temperatures, containing resisting agents, antioxidants, etc.

SE: Used for engines operating at moderate levels, containing more resisting agents and antioxidants.

SF: High flow rate with high resistance usage.

Usually, the second letter of the alphabet above describes the level. The letter "A" in "SA" indicates the oil's suitability for use in lighter working engines. Meanwhile, the further down you go, letters like "B", "C", "D", "E", and "F" describe the oil's suitability for use in heavier working engines. Then, here is the API classification for diesel engines:

CA: Used for light operating diesel engines.

CB: Used for moderately operating diesel engines.

CC: Used for diesel engines using turbochargers with moderate temperature operations.

CD: Used for diesel engines using turbochargers with low sulfur content.

3. Understand Types of Oil

Oil is divided into three types, namely mineral oil, semi-synthetic oil, and synthetic oil. Mineral oil is oil made from crude oil. Meanwhile, synthetic oil is oil derived from processed crude oil and a mixture of other chemical elements. In this oil, the unnecessary contents in mineral oil can be removed. Furthermore, there is also semi-synthetic oil which is a mixture of mineral oil and synthetic oil. Synthetic oil has many advantages, namely lower evaporation rates due to its stability at high temperatures. Then, synthetic oil is more resistant to friction. Third, it is more economical because it is resistant to oxidation. Fourth, synthetic oil can maintain cleanliness because it contains detergents.

However, this does not mean that synthetic oil does not have weaknesses. This oil is not suitable for use in older technology engines. Synthetic oil has a low SAE index number, making it very thin. In older technology engines, you are advised to use mineral oil.

You see, those are the tips for choosing oil for your beloved car. Of course, you want your car to be in prime condition at all times. Therefore, do not underestimate the role of oil! Avoid counterfeit oil. Do you want to switch oil brands? That's fine, as long as the oil has the same viscosity level and is suitable for your car's engine. In addition, don't forget to regularly check the condition of your car's oil!

Read also: The Right Time to Change Your Car Oil