While, hopefully, all of us know to regularly change the motor oil in our cars, most of us probably do not realize just what motor oil is for or how it works. Motor oil helps to lubricate internal combustion engines. Without motor oil, engines would overheat due to the friction caused by their moving parts. By lubricating these moving parts, motor oil keeps engines cool. Motor oil also keeps engines clean and prevents rust and corrosion.
Now days, motor oil typically comes in plastic bottles. However, before these were introduced in the 1980’s, motor oil often came in glass bottles or metal cans. Not all motor oil is the same though. Rather, it is rated on a scale of 0 to 25, increasing in increments of 5. These numbers refer to the viscosity of the oil. Motor oils may also be rated “W” or not. Many people assume the “W” stands for “weight,” but it actually stands for “winter” and refers to the oil’s ability to function in colder temperatures. If you plan on changing the oil in your car, it is important to determine the recommended motor oil for your vehicle. Motor oil can be purchase at many auto parts stores and the best oil change places.
Motor oil is a very easy thing to check and even change. The level of motor oil in a vehicle is messaged by a tool called a dip stick. If the level of oil is lower than the line indicated on the dip stick, then you may want to consider adding more oil. Regardless of the amount of oil in a car, it does need to be changed periodically. This can be done yourself or if you feel more comfortable, there are specialized oil change places that will change your oil for you.
One of the reasons you may want to visit an oil change place is because they can also take care of oil disposal. This is important because if dumped improperly, motor oil can be very hazardous to the environment and kill plants and wildlife. To find out more information about motor oil, including the best oil change places nears, check the yellow pages or search online. Read more: www.motoroilmatters.org