Oil Changes: Is Your Vehicle Ready for Winter?
The cold months of winter are arriving in full force. Do you know that the hot months of summer probably played havoc on your vehicle's engine, especially relating to oil changes? If you did not have the necessary oil change service taken care of during the cooler fall months, be sure to schedule it now to prevent any unexpected engine problems while driving about in snowy or icy conditions.
Here are a few simple tips about oil changes to make sure your engine is ready for winter driving:
- Regular Oil Change Intervals: When the oil is cold, it becomes thicker; as it heats up, it becomes more watery, or less viscous. It may have lost some of its cooling efficiency for the motor during the hot summer weather as it lost its viscosity. Protect your engine against the extremes of hot and cold weather conditions with the correct oil change intervals.
- Viscosity: Viscosity is measured using two numbers and a letter. For example, 10W-40; the first number (10) refers to the thickness at cold temperatures (0ºFahrenheit), and the second number refers to the thickness at high temperatures (212º Fahrenheit.) The first number is crucial for the cold months of winter--you want to make sure your engine is protected at startup. The second number is more important once the motor is warmed up and running.
- Synthetic, Natural, Blends: Although synthetics maintain a more consistent viscosity over a wide range of temperatures, they're significantly more expensive and sometimes incompatible with certain older engines. Premium conventional oils are natural, and of a higher quality with increased levels of protection. Synthetic blends include a combination of both natural and synthetic and offer the benefits of synthetic without the higher cost. The type and the viscosity of the oil you choose will depend on the conditions in which you drive, compatibility with your vehicle, and your budget.
If in doubt, check your owner's manual or ask your auto mechanic for professional advice about the best cold temperature oil change for your specific vehicle.
Need advice about oil changes for winter? Contact our ASE certified technicians today at Rebel Automotive or go online to https://www.rebel-auto.com for more information. We will be pleased to take care of your vehicle and provide you with honest and professional automotive repair and maintenance services. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
The cold months of winter are arriving in full force. Do you know that the hot months of summer probably played havoc on your vehicle's engine, especially relating to oil changes? If you did not have the necessary oil change service taken care of during the cooler fall months, be sure to schedule it now to prevent any unexpected engine problems while driving about in snowy or icy conditions.
Here are a few simple tips about oil changes to make sure your engine is ready for winter driving:
- Regular Oil Change Intervals: When the oil is cold, it becomes thicker; as it heats up, it becomes more watery, or less viscous. It may have lost some of its cooling efficiency for the motor during the hot summer weather as it lost its viscosity. Protect your engine against the extremes of hot and cold weather conditions with the correct oil change intervals.
- Viscosity: Viscosity is measured using two numbers and a letter. For example, 10W-40; the first number (10) refers to the thickness at cold temperatures (0ºFahrenheit), and the second number refers to the thickness at high temperatures (212º Fahrenheit.) The first number is crucial for the cold months of winter--you want to make sure your engine is protected at startup. The second number is more important once the motor is warmed up and running.
- Synthetic, Natural, Blends: Although synthetics maintain a more consistent viscosity over a wide range of temperatures, they're significantly more expensive and sometimes incompatible with certain older engines. Premium conventional oils are natural, and of a higher quality with increased levels of protection. Synthetic blends include a combination of both natural and synthetic and offer the benefits of synthetic without the higher cost. The type and the viscosity of the oil you choose will depend on the conditions in which you drive, compatibility with your vehicle, and your budget.
If in doubt, check your owner's manual or ask your auto mechanic for professional advice about the best cold temperature oil change for your specific vehicle.
Need advice about oil changes for winter? Contact our ASE certified technicians today at Rebel Automotive or go online to https://www.rebel-auto.com for more information. We will be pleased to take care of your vehicle and provide you with honest and professional automotive repair and maintenance services. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
