What Oil Does My Car Take?

Your new or used vehicle comes with a recommended service schedule devised by the manufacturer to ensure optimal performance as the years go by. Oil changes are a part of every routine maintenance visit, and for good reason: this quick and simple service keeps your engine clean, prevents overheating, and maintains performance and efficiency.

Your vehicle will require an oil change anywhere between 3,000 and 10,000 miles, but this frequency can differ based on the age of your vehicle and the type of oil you’re using. If you’re wondering what oil your vehicle requires for optimal performance, read on. We’ll be covering what you need to know about oil types in the following guide, so you can learn which oil is best for your car and more.

Engine Oil Grades & Density

There are two main oil types available for your vehicle: conventional motor oil and synthetic oil. We’ll discuss the differences between them in the following section; for now, let’s examine oil viscosity. Whether you buy conventional or synthetic oil, your owner’s manual will likely recommend one of the following common grades:

• 5W-20
• 5W-30
• 10W-30

5W-20 or 5W-30 grades provide the optimal viscosity for your engine, allowing it to flow smoothly and coat all engine parts, thereby protecting them from friction and overheating. Our team can answer questions about which oil is best for your car when you visit the Rudig Jensen service center or order oil change supplies online. To be certain, always refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Which Oil Is Best For Your Car?: Conventional Vs. Synthetic

An important question to consider is what type of oil your car uses—conventional or synthetic? What about synthetic blends? At the end of the day, it’s best to follow the type suggested in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Keep in mind that age can affect the type of oil best suited for your car. Generally, high-mileage motor oil is recommended for older vehicles.

Does synthetic oil improve gas mileage? Not directly. Instead, synthetic oil is better than conventional oil at keeping your engine clean—and a clean engine operates efficiently and with minimal friction. If you’re using conventional oil and miss some of your vehicle’s recommended oil changes, sludge will build up in your engine, causing it to run hotter. This can reduce fuel efficiency and eventually damage your engine if you don’t get an oil change.

In other words, using synthetic oil enables you to change your car’s oil less often without sacrificing fuel economy. However, due to the increased cost of fully synthetic oils, some drivers balance performance and cost by choosing a synthetic-conventional blend.

Benefits Of Synthetic Engine Oil

If you’re still stressing over what oil your car takes, the bottom line is that synthetic oil offers benefits for the haul haul in Baraboo, Viroqua, and beyond. It costs more than conventional oil, but synthetic oil:

• Resists breaking down longer than conventional motor oil
• Lasts up to 15,000 miles between oil changes
• Keeps your engine cleaner
• Provides better protection from engine overheating when temperatures are high
• Enhances the performance of turbocharged engines

Schedule Certified Service In New Lisbon

If your vehicle is just about due for an oil change, be sure to check out our current service specials to see how much you could save at your next appointment. We’re happy to help if you have more questions about what oil your car takes or how to change motor oil yourself. Reach out to our service center to speak with a technician today.

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