7 Simple Questions to Answer for Selecting and Using Motor Oil Correctly

In March 2021, Vietnam's automotive market recorded 17,000 imported vehicles (according to General Department of Customs data), an increase of over 56% compared to the previous month. This indirectly demonstrates that domestic customers' purchasing power for automobiles has increased significantly. However, car owners also face a challenging problem: which engine oil should be used and are the selection and replacement methods the same as for motorcycles? Therefore, in the article below, Huynh Chau will suggest 7 simple questions to help you purchase the right lubricant.

See more:

• Are you using the correct engine oil type as recommended by the manufacturer?
• Change your car engine oil at home with just 4 simple steps

Many users still don't know how to choose and change car engine oil

1. What is engine oil for automobiles?

Similar to motorcycle engine oil, automotive lubricant is a specialized product for maintaining and caring for car engines. Its primary function is to lubricate and reduce friction, preventing wear on internal engine components. However, after a period of use, you must change your car engine oil to ensure the lubrication properties are maintained.

Engine oil formulation consists of base oil (mineral, synthetic, or plant-based) and reinforced additives. The base oil determines molecular size and other fundamental factors. Additionally, additives provide supplementary benefits such as detergency and sludge dispersion.

See more: 9 fuel-saving tips for automobiles that only experienced drivers know

Engine oil is an essential protective and maintenance product for automobiles

2. How many types of engine oil are there for cars?

When selecting engine oil, you should pay attention to three main types:

• Mineral base oil: produced from petroleum products and preferred for older vehicle models. Its characteristic is that it is easily oxidized, requiring frequent replacement and is relatively inexpensive.
• Synthetic oil: made from synthetic base oil, suitable for high-performance engines and has longer oil change intervals.
• Semi-synthetic oil: this product combines the advantages of both types above: the quality of synthetic oil and the price of mineral oil

Base oil is the primary factor that determines oil type classification

3. Common automotive lubricant viscosity grades

Besides base oil, when changing your car engine oil, you need to pay attention to viscosity grade as well. Accordingly, common automotive lubricant viscosity grades are: