Can Oil Grade Numbers Affect Your Car? Let’s Find Out!

You’ve seen them on the side of your oil containers, and you may have even heard other drivers talking about their “grades.” But what do those numbers mean? And more importantly, do they affect your car?

Arrigo CJDR – W. Palm Beach, serving Indiantown, FL, will answer all of your questions about oil grade numbers and how they can impact your vehicle’s performance.

Decoding Oil Grade Numbers

The Society of Automotive Engineers or SAE determines the grade numbers on conventional blends, assigning grades based upon their viscosity rating at specific temperatures.

The lower number indicates thinner oil, and the higher it goes up on the scale, the thicker it will be. It defines how well the oil lubricates parts moving inside an engine.

The first number in an oil grade refers to the oil’s viscosity. Thick oils are better for colder climates as they help keep your engine from overheating. However, they can also cause performance and gas mileage problems if used in hotter weather.

The second number in an oil grade refers to the type of engine it is meant for. 0W-20, for example, is a fragile oil that is perfect for turbocharged engines. It will help keep your engine running cool and can improve fuel economy.

When looking at oil grades, it’s important to remember that not all oils are created equal. Some companies will put additives in their oil to help or harm your engine.

If you’re not sure which grade of oil to use, ask a professional mechanic who specializes in the make and model of the car you own for advice. They should help you determine which type of oil is best suited for your vehicle’s needs.

Choosing the Suitable Oil Grade for Your Vehicle

Suppose you have an older or higher mileage car. In that case, it is better to upgrade from conventional motor oil with lower viscosity ratings to something with a higher rating like synthetic blend oils explicitly designed for high-mileage engines and vehicles that are frequently driven like trucks and SUVs.

Suppose you own a performance vehicle like a sports car. In that case, synthetic blend motor oils could be beneficial because they provide better protection against wear than conventional blends. It translates into longer engine life spans by reducing friction between parts while providing superior lubrication properties than their less refined counterparts.

Conventional oil is usually a blend of crude oil and other additives that have been refined to make it suitable for use as motor vehicle lubricants.

Conclusion

We hope that – after reading this blog post – you feel more confident about what those numbers mean and are excited to use this information when the time to change your engine oil comes.

If you would like an engine repair or service for your car, bring your car to Arrigo CJDR – W. Palm Beach’s service center, serving Indiantown, FL.