Do you know all of the basic motor oil facts? Motor oil is made from petroleum based as well as non petroleum synthesized chemical compounds. All internal combustion engines use motor oil, including not just cars, trucks and buses, but also motorcycles, go karts, snowmobiles, boats, tractors, construction equipment, aircraft and even generators.

Motor oil is essential to the health of a motor vehicle, preforming many different functions. It helps your engine start easily, lubricates engine parts, reduces friction, protects against rust and corrosion, keeps the various engine parts clean, minimizes combustion chamber deposits, cools the engine parts. It is essential to use sufficient oil in your car, as using too little oil in your car may lead to excessively high oil temperatures. Though on the flip side of this it is also quite dangerous to use too much oil. Putting too much oil into your car may cause parts of the crankshaft to dip into the oil, which churns air into the oil and causes foaming, as well as fluctuations in oil pressure. To ensure you are using the proper amount of oil in your car you will want to check oil levels with a dipstick. A dipstick is a tool used to measure the quantity of liquid in a space that is inaccessible, by inserting and removing the stick and then checking to see how much of the stick came into contact with the liquid.

If you are looking for motor oil facts, keep in mind you want to use a high quality motor oil appropriate for your vehicle. The best motor oil for your car will depend on what kind of car you have. You will to check your owner’s manual to see which viscosity grade and performance level is right for your vehicle’s engine. Manufacturers often recommend oils that adhere to API standards as these oils have been rigorously tested to ensure they meet API motor oil standards. And in fact, using motor oil that’s not up to API’s standards could compromise a vehicle’s performance over time.

In regards to motor oil facts, you will also want to make sure you are going to a place that is API licensed and adheres to Api standards for an oil change. In order to be API licensed, car oil change locations need to demonstrate that they meet API chain of custody standards. This includes an auditing process to ensure the motor oil received by customers is exactly what they’ve asked for. This program also holds oil distributors and oil change locations accountable if they’re not up to standard. Furthermore, industry members and consumers are encouraged to notify API about questionable products. Overall, motor oil is essential to the health of your vehicle; make sure you know the basics about motor oil facts. More can be found here.