Choosing the right engine oil

Choosing the right engine oil for your car can sure be a task. While there are the three kinds of oils – mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic, there are also grades or different specifications within these. Further to the mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic, there is single-viscosity oil and multi-viscosity oil also available in the market. Most modern vehicles are designed to run on multi-viscosity oil. And for those who own a vehicle it is always advisable to know the right oil to be used in your vehicle. Most car owners simply go by the manufacturer recommendations but if you are the kind who loves to experiment on the car then you need to know exactly what kind of oil to use for optimum performance. 

Choosing the right oil also depends on the kind of weather conditions your car is going to be driven in. Although in India the temperature variations aren’t extreme, but if you plan to take your car for a long drive to up north into the hilly regions you need to use oil that remains viscous even at low temperatures. 

Cans of multi-grade or multi viscosity oils have some seemingly cryptic designations printed on them like 5W30 or 10W30. The ‘5W’ in this case denotes the viscosity of the engine at cold temperatures. The lower the number the less it thickens in cooler temperatures. The ‘30’ indicates the viscosity of the oil at higher temperatures. At higher temperatures, oil becomes thinner but still needs to remain thick enough for it to protect your engine efficiently. 

While most car manuals recommend a certain grade of oil for your car, these recommendations are made assuming that the vehicle will be driven mostly in standard weather conditions that we experience across the country. Hence it always advisable to check the grade of oil you are using and if it is appropriate for your travel to colder regions. 

As far as the Mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic engine oil quandary is concerned; each one has its own pros and cons. Check the manufacturer recommendations for your vehicle. Based on those, you can upgrade a level higher but be sure not to downgrade. For instance, if the car maker recommends semi-synthetic oil, you can upgrade to synthetic but it is advisable not to downgrade from synthetic to semi-synthetic or semi-synthetic to mineral.