The simple truth is that the world is getting more complex. With that has come more options for motor oil for your vehicle. But which one is right for your vehicle? For the most part, you select the motor oil that the manufacturer recommends for your vehicle. But to meet the needs of the modern day motorist, most motor oil companies offer four major types of passenger car engine oil: conventional, synthetic-blend, full synthetic, and high mileage. Which one is right for you? Let's take the following quiz to find out.
A) I drive a regular mid-sized sedan in generally normal weather conditions in generally normal traffic.
B) I drive a pickup or minivan that occasionally sees duty hauling the kids to soccer practice or towing the boat to the lake.
C) I drive a high-performance or sports car that I like to work out from time to time - maintaining the posted speed limit ato all times, of course.
D) I drive a luxury car that is my baby. I don't care what it cost to keep it in perfect condition.
E) I drive an older car. Its got more than a few miles on the odometer, but it's like a member of the family.
IF YOU ANSWERED A OR B - CONVENTIONAL MOTOR OIL
For most drivers, conventional motor oil will do the trick as far as meeting the needs of their vehicle and driving style. Formulators do a great job creating motor oils that work well in many applications. They use additives to keep the oil viscous at low temperatures, keep contaminants held in suspension until they can be filtered out or drained out with the old oil, and keep engine parts clean and cool. Most high-quality conventional motor oils are very good products. However, there are certain driving styles that will put extra stress on motor oil, which is where the next products on our list come in handy.
IF YOU ANSWERED B - SYNTHETIC BLEND MOTOR OIL
Synthetic-blend motor oil is a mixture of conventional oil and a synthetic based oil that is specially formulated to achieve certain characteristics.
The synthetic base improves the oil's ability to protect at temperature extremes. Synthetic-blend motor oil may have better pumpability in cold temperatures and do a better job of protecting the engines "hot spots". If you regularly pull a trailer, or you load down the SUV with passengers, Synthetic-blend motor oil may be the right product for you.
IF YOU ANSWERED C OR D - FULL SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL
Like synthetic-blends, full synthetic motor oil features a highly modified synthetic based oil. Full synthetic motor oil is not blended with conventional oil but is formulated with full synthetic based oil. The benefits of synthetic motor oil is its ability to protect engines at temperature extremes. High-quality synthetic motor oil has very good low temperature flow, and it's very good in its ability to protect hot spots in an engine. For drivers wanting the absolute best in durability, cleanliness, and protection from their motor oil, or for drivers who tend to work their vehicles full snythetic motor oil is the way to go. So, if you answered C or D, you are a good candidate for synthetic motor oil.
IF YOU ANSWERED E - HIGH MILEAGE MOTOR OIL
What about older vehicles? Should they feel left out? Absolutely not! Motor oil companies have a formulation for high-mileage engines (over 75,000 miles). High-mileage motor oils are manufactured with seal conditioning additive that can recondition old seals to help with both internal and external oil leaks. They are formulated to make the oil more resistant to hot spots so the oil is less likely to evaporate. These oils formulated for high mileage engines work a little harder than conventional oil which is reason enough to opt to use them if you drive an older vehicle.
Selecting the right motor oil for you and your vehicle isn't as complicated as you think. Though there are many unique drivers and vehicles, these days motor oil companies are doing a good job of creating a motor oil specially formulated to meet your needs.
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