Oil Change Service: The Role of Oil Quality in Preventing Engine Damage
The benefits of frequent oil change service are undeniable, but these benefits are primarily “under the hood.” That means it can be hard to notice them while driving around the area, and you might be tempted to think that any type of oil is good enough to get the job done.
However, that’s not the case — when it’s time to schedule an oil change in El Paso, TX, finding quality oil should be among your top priorities. In this article, you’ll learn why motor oil quality is essential and how to find the right type of oil for your vehicle.
Why Motor Oil Quality Matters
Auto repairs can be expensive, especially when your engine is involved. As a result, drivers in the Southwest should do what they can to lower their risk of car problems. The best way to pursue this goal is to keep up on preventative maintenance services — including oil changes.
Any type of oil change service will lower your chances of needing auto repair, but it’s best to use high-quality oil in your car. The better your oil is, the more likely your vehicle is to keep running smoothly for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, getting less-than-exceptional oil could contribute to unexpected car trouble.
The importance of motor oil is linked to one of the most critical tasks this fluid performs — lubrication. Your car’s engine contains all sorts of moving parts, and when they rub against each other, they’ll inevitably start wearing down. High-quality oil provides unmatched lubrication, helping your engine run as smoothly as possible (and improving your fuel economy in the process).
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The Effects of Using Low-Quality Oil
That should help you understand the benefits of investing in high-quality oil, but it’s equally important to consider the risks associated with going the opposite route. If you try to cut costs by buying low-quality oil, you could encounter issues, such as:
- Lower fuel economy and increased gas expenses
- Poor lubrication (which can contribute to engine wear)
- Oil leaks affecting your compression chamber or pistons
- Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV valve) clogging and subsequent blue smoke from your exhaust
- A shorter oil change interval
How To Find High-Quality Oil
One of the biggest factors to look out for when buying oil is viscosity or its thickness/resistance to flow. No viscosity is inherently better than another; instead, you’ll want to consult your car’s manual to find the correct viscosity for your needs. Along with that, an oil’s viscosity will differ depending on the temperature outside. The numbers shown on oil bottles take this into account — for example, 10W-30 oil has a viscosity of 10W in cold weather and 30 in warmer conditions.
You should also consider the type of oil you want to get during your El Paso oil change. Some of the most notable oil varieties available for purchase today include:
Conventional Oil
Unlike other oil types, conventional oil is naturally occurring — this product is a form of enhanced crude mineral oil. Thanks to these enhancements, conventional oil can provide better viscosity and engine protection than it would on its own.
Still, even this isn’t enough to help conventional oil reach the quality level offered by alternative options. Though it costs less than full synthetic oil and synthetic blend oil, it won’t protect your engine as well as those products would. Plus, you’ll need frequent oil changes while using conventional oil.
Full Synthetic Oil
While conventional oil is partially refined before it arrives on store shelves, full synthetic oil goes much further — this is an entirely artificial form of motor oil. Since it’s made from scratch, full synthetic oil can reach the highest performance standards imaginable.
As you might expect, full synthetic oil is in a class of its own when it comes to quality. And while synthetic oil changes are more expensive than conventional oil change services, you won’t need to change this oil type nearly as often.
Synthetic Blend Oil
Some El Paso-area drivers want the benefits of full synthetic oil without giving up the low price tag of conventional oil. For these people, synthetic blend oil is the perfect in-between choice — this product is a mixture of the two main oil types.
Since it contains conventional oil, synthetic blend oil isn’t quite as high-quality as full synthetic oil. Even so, this product represents a significant step up for drivers who previously relied on conventional oil in terms of engine protection.
Get a High-Quality Oil Change in El Paso
The quality of your oil matters — and so does the quality of your oil change service. If you don’t spend some time looking for a trustworthy shop to handle your next El Paso oil change, you could get inflated prices and slapdash service. Conversely, the best shops in the area offer full-service oil changes at reasonable rates.
At Martin Tire Company, we take pride in offering the area’s finest conventional, full synthetic, and synthetic blend oil changes. When you visit one of our convenient locations for this work, our skilled mechanics will remove and replace your oil, install a new oil filter, lubricate your chassis, and take care of other maintenance tasks. Get started by scheduling an appointment today!
