Choosing Engine Oil

How to do-it-yourself instructional on selecting the correct engine oil. Explains API Service Classifications, Viscosity, Synthetic and Multi-grade oils. #oilchange #mechanic #automotive
Transcript provided for the hearing impaired:
Today on Repairs101 I'm going to show you how to choose the right engine oil for your vehicle. Alright, here we go. Today on Repairs101 I thought I'd try and answer the question that I get asked more than any other question - and that is "What kind of oil should I put in my engine?" Now it's a really good question and it's really worth looking into. So today I thought I would try and teach you how to decide for yourself what kind of engine oil to put in your engine. Using the wrong motor oil can lead to poor performance, premature wear and ultimately it could lead to failure. Here's the chart in my Buick Century's manual. You can see, very similar in the owner's manual for my Blazer. So the first question you've got to ask yourself is "What am I burning? gas or diesel?" big difference between oils designed for gasoline engines and diesel engines. So the API -- the American Petroleum Institute is the system that's in use here in Canada and the US. start off as SA, then SB, SC, SD... the book - service manual - want engine oils labelled by the API. they call this "the API Gasoline Engines Starburst". Oils made for gasoline engines will have the starburst. this little symbol is called "the API Donut" gives you all the information you need says that it's API service SL, donut it says that it's SAE 5W-30 viscosity and underneath it tells you that it's an energy conserving oil. Here's a list of API Service Classifications for gasoline engines and here's a list for diesel .I'm flashing through this quickly is because it's really not that important. A real Gearhead might want to study these charts. most people just aren't going to need to know every service. Whether you think the "S" is for "Spark" or "Service" "C" is for "Compression" or "Commercial" -- as long as you learn that "C" is for diesel and "S" is for gasoline engines. brand new vehicle I definitely recommend that the Service Classification called for by the engine manufacturer matches the service classification of the engine oil you intend to use. viscosity -- now that's another issue. Viscosity is the measure of how thick an oil is. Think of molasses in February Whereas water is thin. The lower the number on the viscosity scale -- the thinner it is. So a five weight oil is going to be very thin compared to a forty weight oil, "Is it going to be thin enough to start in the coldest conditions that it's going to be exposed to?" So for instance, if you're in the Yukon at Christmastime you're going to need thin oil -- you know a five weight oil or even a zero weight oil. Equatorial climate you're not going to really need anything very thin. could go with a straight forty weight oil or straight thirty weight oil. Multi-grade oil is to address the problem of "cold starts" and then enough to protect the engine when it's hot and running. When it's cold it behaves differently than it behaves when it's hot and the way they do that is they introduce a polymer into the oil . when it's cold it will be much thinner than when it's hot. Which is counter-intuitive, I understand. if it's below zero degrees Fahrenheit you're going to need a 5W-30 oil and if it's above zero degrees Fahrenheit you're going to be OK with a 10W-30 multi-grade oil. multi-grade oils in the vehicles these days with the exception of "extreme service" and collectors, the real hardcore Gearheads, want to use single weight oils because they're changing their oil three and four times a year and they want to make sure that they've got the absolute best performing oil in their crankcase. Most people are going to fall into the lower one or two of these categories. Compared to conventional oils, synthetic oils last longer, withstand a lot more heavy duty applications, extreme duty applications, more continuous service. better in turbo-charged systems, super-charged systems -- anywhere there is extreme service. examples of extreme service would be -- continuous service. Say an engine running 24hours a day like a Taxicab or a Police vehicle. a forklift that's running commercial duty. Race-cars, high performance vehicles, or how about say a tugboat that's running 24 hours a day pulling a load through the inside passage. That's extreme service. synthetic oils will last longer because they resist degradation through oxidization.

[privatenumber]

watched many videos on topic, but this is the first time I have a grip on this issue, thanks

[abasketofcrutches]

Thanks for including the graphs, i used the one at 4:45 to pick my bikes new oil. Very handy guide, nice and clear! i just subscribed too.

[Brett]

I only drive Ford products and they recommend 5w20 motorcraft oil and filters. I've never had a problem with the 5.4 Triton either the 2v or 3v simply because I use what the manufacturer recommends. You can't go wrong following the manufacturers instructions.

[arthursmith]

My Volvo manual says Castrol synthetic oil. I use Mobil One advanced synthetic oil. I change my oil every 5000 miles with a new oil filter. I live in the North East so we get freezing winters but it's not Alaska and hot summers but it's not the desert. I use 10/30 weight. With Mobil One the Volvo and Jeep start right up no hesitation and starts to lubricate instantly. Use Mobil One with no worries. Its also is a great gun lube.

[repairs]

Many mechanics believe that a thicker oil will improve compression of worn out engines. I believe it is extremely important to use only the oil recommended by the engine manufacturer for the life of the machine. Incorrect oil may lead to more problems than it solves.

[SaudAlWahbi]

@ 4:46, you see in the manual the 5w-30 is going left side along with low temperature, but at engine normal operating temperature(212F) the 5w-30 would have the same viscosity as 10w-30, then why on the chart they are going opposite directions while they should logically both perform similarly in the same temperature requirement?

[repairs]

I believe it is extremely important to use only the oil recommended by the engine manufacturer for the life of the machine. If you rebuild or modify using power-adders then you essentially become the manufacturer so you must determine what lubes are used. Lots of people will upgrade from conventional to synthetic but without power-adders I don't see the point. I don't know anyone who changed from synth to con, although I imagine some people do as a cost cutting measure.

[CarlosGarcia-ijyg]

Can i use 10w30 in my 03 explorer in southern ca? It says i should use 5w30 but im trying to stop a small leak from valve cover. Thanks subscribing now.

[harishkumarko]

Nice and informative in layman's terms...thank you!!

[SkidUSA]

first LOVED YOUR VIDEO
second what's the best oil for really extreme hot weather I'm talking about 50c in summer

[ChoisissezUnNom]

So, if my car run 5w20 in summer ( canada ), is it good to put 0w20 in winter ?

[JuanGarcia-gwmx]

have a honda pilot 2004....i have been using 10w30....after 10 years...found out it use 5w20....what should i do

[omarG]

very we explained man. thanks for ur patience to expaine ad for posting

[steveshih]

Thanks for the video. I’ve got an 06 rrs 4.2 v8 that calls for 5w 30 oil. I am thinking about going with 0w 40 oil for my next oil change. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

[joanahlee]

You are so wonderful for posting this informative video.

[jamieb]

Ive heard of some new cars having issues with thicker oils why i use havoline 20w50 in my old v8 silverado in summer 10w40 in winter in the south

[Hamburglar]

I own Buick Century 1999, I use 10w40 plus, Is that wrong oil? I use it two cycles.

[cirian]

I got no sense out of the oil selling places here in the UK

I ended up contacting the maker who told me straight 5w30 synth API SL, don't not use SM on pain of engine death.

[forat]

I have question for you how do car engine manufacturers decide on the best lubricanting oil to use in different countries or conditions such as Alaska and Bahamas to grease F1 engine parts and what oil do we have to use in Alaska and why please?

[Eagleoneradiogod]

I put fyul synthetic in everyrhing with motorkote oil adtitive. Even the vw cars from the early 40's where designed for full stnthetic ow30 oil from germeny so there for i put full synthetic in everything car i touch.