You might not know that much about motor oil. In fact, you might even take it for granted. But a car simply can’t run without it. Motor oil allows the engine and other moving parts under the hood to stay lubricated so they can continue pumping out the power it takes to spark your ride.
Mechanics and other car caregivers use motor oil for preventing corrosion, improving sealing and generally cooling down all those high-energy parts. Finding the best motor oil for your car can depend on a number of factors, including how old your car is and what the state of the engine is. If you’ve never looked into it before, these five facts can help you get started on finding the best motor oil for your ride.
Motor oil can be recycled.
Drivers in the United States alone produce somewhere around 1.3 billion gallons of used motor oil per year. While it’s important to get an oil change every three months or 3,000 miles, it’s almost equally as important to recycle that oil. Since it is still useful past its first run in your car, talk to the the folks at the auto shops and car garages in your area to learn how you can put that oil back on the shelf.
The U.S. lags in its refining efforts.
Looking at all the motor oil in Europe, almost half of it has been refined, or stripped of its contaminants and made good-as-new. In the U.S., comparatively, only 10 to 15 percent of the best motor oil has been refined. It is important to opt for recycling your motor oil as it preserves a non-renewable resource and ensures you are reducing your environmental footprint.
Make sure you use enough.
Skimping out on motor oil use only hurts your engine and won’t actually save you any money in the long run. When you use too little oil, you significantly up the amount of heat produced by your engine, which can lead your car to overheat more easily. Save money by selling your used oil to be refined and reshelved, not by using too little under the hood.
Even the best motor oil can pollute the environment.
It’s become increasingly more important to look for certain standards when searching for an oil change location. Garages and shops that meet rigid American Petroleum Institute standards are great places to give your business to because they know how to properly dispose of, refine and reuse old motor oil. Every year, improperly dumped motor oil forms a type of scum on the surface of bodies of water that can block sunlight from entering. This kills numerous types of animals below the surface.
Motor oil has come a long way since the days when it was sold in glass bottles and metal cans. Since we live in the most technologically advanced age in history, we know how to get the best motor oil benefits by refining and recycling it. To learn more information, visit your local shop and garages and talk with the experts. Helpful info also found here.