If petrol is what you feed your car to keep going, it’s fair to say that engine oil is its lifeblood. A vital component when it comes to your car’s health, engine oil ensures that your car is able to perform at its very best, minimising friction between the violently moving parts under the hood.
As such, getting the right oil is absolutely vital. But with such a wide variety of engine oil options available, finding the right one can be difficult. As such, it’s important to have an understanding about what goes into your car and how the engine oil you choose affects your Hyundai in the long run, so you can make the smarter, informed choice.
What’s in them?
First things first, what makes up engine oil? Petroleum-based engine oil is a mixture of several types of base oils. Usually, companies pick from a selection of five groups to make up engine oils, each with its own process and thickness. In general, the base oil content makes up about 70% or more with the rest being additives.
It should be noted that the percentage of base oil content does not always reflect the quality of the oil itself. Each engine oil is manufactured to different qualities and often suit different conditions. As such, what works best for one car may not suit your Hyundai – consult your owner’s manual for guidance on what works best for you.
The viscosity factor
There are a few things to consider when looking for the right engine oil. The weight of the oil, type depending on the season, and the mileage of your car are among a few things to note when you’re browsing the shelves at the auto parts store. Your car’s manual should ideally have specified all these details. The weight of the oil for example, is indicated in a standard form like 10W-30. This refers to the viscosity of the oil that is to be used for the car and it translates to a fluid’s resistance to flow.
The number preceding the W is a grade that represents the engine oil’s thickness at zero degrees celsius (winter) while the grade following the W is its thickness at 100 degrees celsius. As oil thickens when it's cool and runs thinner when it heats up, the higher that second number is the more resistant a certain oil will be to thinning at high temperatures. Similarly, a lower number attached to the W reflects better resistance to excessive thickening for cold weather performance.
Overall, it’s important to keep the oil from thinning while heating as well as becoming too thick in lower temperatures. One possible way this could be mitigated is by using less volatile base oils to avoid evaporation.
This is one reason why you should pay attention to the quality of your engine oil, particularly for your Hyundai car. A high-quality engine oil will go a long way in ensuring durability of your engine’s moving parts. Wear and tear along with the engine’s performance will likely be significantly higher with a high-quality engine oil. Furthermore, it adds to higher cost savings and better fuel economy over a longer period, as compared to using a low-quality engine oil.
Catering to your Hyundai car service needs
Still have questions about getting that superior quality engine oil for your Hyundai car? Ask the experts! Our team of professionals at Phil Gilbert Hyundai have been serving the automobile industry in Australia for over a decade. We specialise in all your Hyundai car essentials, including premium quality engine oil. Come visit Phil Gilbert Hyundai today. You can also book online, call us on (02) 9735 8400 or contact us here.
