Oil Change Service Tip: How Oil Additives Enhance Engine Performance
Clean motor oil plays a vital role in preserving any vehicle’s well-being, but this fluid won’t last forever. At some point, your motor oil will start to break down. When that happens, you’ll need to set up an oil change to prevent your car from developing serious issues.
Fortunately, modern motor oil has additives that can significantly extend its life span and provide additional performance benefits. If you plan to schedule an oil change in El Paso, TX, here’s what you should know about oil additives (and extra advice on oil change service, for good measure).
Oil Additives: Know the Basics
As it circulates through a vehicle, motor oil must contend with intense heat, contaminants such as dust and dirt, and internal engine pressure. That can cause oil to lose its effectiveness over time — but additives can help.
The additives found in today’s motor oil brands are meant to help motor oil reach its full potential despite these factors. To that end, your oil might contain additives, such as:
- Extreme pressure additives
- Antifoaming agents
- Detergents
- Rust/corrosion inhibitors
- Viscosity index improvers
- Oxidation inhibitors
- Dispersants
The Benefits of Motor Oil Additives
When your motor oil includes the additives listed above and others, your engine will receive benefits, such as:
Improved Lubrication
Certain oil additives can enhance your oil’s lubrication abilities, helping it form a protective layer between moving parts in your engine and minimizing wear and tear as a result.
Quieter Operation
When your engine is thoroughly lubricated, it will have an easier time cushioning and absorbing mechanical shocks. That means oil additives can help minimize noise in your car, especially if you drive a high-mileage vehicle.
Better Fuel Economy
A significant amount of the energy your vehicle uses is mitigated by friction, and that means your car probably isn’t as efficient as it could be. Since oil additives can reduce friction in your engine, they can give your fuel economy a boost — and help you save at the pump.
Enhanced Heat Control
When your oil starts to foam, it will lose its ability to regulate your vehicle’s heat. Antifoaming agents can lower the likelihood of this, which should help to keep your engine heat under control.
Can Additives Replace The Need For Oil Changes?
As you can see, getting oil with high-quality additives during an El Paso oil change can have a positive impact on your vehicle. But while additives can allow your oil to function longer than it would without these compounds, they can’t extend your oil’s life span indefinitely.
Ultimately, oil additives must deal with the same forces that your oil does. And after they’re exposed to the intense pressure and heat found in an engine for long enough, these additives will also start to break down. That means you’ll still need an oil change service at some point — no matter how good your oil’s additives are.
Don’t Ignore Your Oil Type
Since no oil additive can give your motor oil an infinite lifespan, you’ll have to set up an oil change in El Paso sooner or later. At that point, you’ll want to put some thought into the additives in your new oil, but this isn’t the only factor worth considering. You’ll also need to make sure you get the best type of engine oil for your situation.
The most common oil types on the market today include:
Conventional Oil
No oil variety is more popular than conventional oil, primarily due to its low price. However, since conventional oil is essentially natural crude mineral oil, it doesn’t perform as well as other oil types. Furthermore, this form of oil needs to be replaced more often than alternative options do.
Full Synthetic Oil
Since the manufacturing process of full synthetic oil is much more exacting than the process used to make conventional oil, this product can meet much higher standards for performance. And while it’s more expensive than conventional oil, you can wait longer between oil changes with this oil type.
Synthetic Blend Oil
Are you having a tough time choosing between conventional and full synthetic oil? Synthetic blend oil combines these oil types, which means it can provide better engine protection than conventional oil at a lower price point than full synthetic oil.
What To Look For From Your El Paso Oil Change
El Paso is home to many different auto shops, but not all of these shops are worth doing business with. When you’re searching for a shop that provides oil change services in this part of Texas, look for companies that deliver:
- Skilled mechanics. Since a shop’s mechanics will determine the success or failure of your oil change, they need to know what they’re doing.
- Low rates — and more ways to save. Ideally, your shop should go the extra mile by providing financing options and online oil change coupons.
- Oil changes and more. Though oil changes are a great starting point, auto shops must also offer a full lineup of additional auto services.
- Multiple locations. Your shop of choice needs to be ready to help you wherever you are by offering several locations in or around El Paso.
At Martin Tire Company, our ASE-certified mechanics can help you get all of these benefits and more. Don’t wait any longer — schedule an oil change appointment with us today!
