How to Know When You’re Due for an Oil Change

In the past, the golden rule when it came to changing car oil was “every 5,000 kilometers”. However, newer synthetic oils are so efficient that the golden rule no longer applies for the average car owner.

Of course, this is not to say that you never have to go for an oil change if you’re using synthetic oil. If you notice the following signs, it may be time to replace your car oil:

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Synthetic Oil Benefits for Your Fleet

Synthetic motor oils were originally designed to protect powerful jet engines from the extreme conditions that they have to endure when flying thousands of miles up in the air. Thanks to technology, the benefits experienced by jetfighters can now be enjoyed by even the most humble of land vehicles. Used in a fleet, synthetic oil can help your trucks operate at optimal performance for many years to come.

To understand synthetic motor oils and how they can benefit your fleet, it pays for you to know the difference between the two. Considering that synthetics generally cost two to four times more than conventional, you naturally want to build a strong enough business case before your fleet makes the switch to synthetics.

The difference is in the hydrocarbons

Synthetic oils have more consistent hydrocarbon molecule structure. Conventional oils, on the other hand, potentially have a hundred different hydrocarbon molecule variants. Thanks to the uniformity of hydrocarbons in synthetic oil, engines experience less friction and hold up better to extreme conditions.

Better fuel economy

Due to lesser friction and heat, moving components inside an engine are able to do their job more efficiently. In that sense, synthetic oil can increase fuel economy by as much as 10 percent.

In the face of extreme temperatures

Whether in extreme hot or cold, synthetics simply perform better. It takes longer for synthetics to vaporize or solidify than conventional oil, again, thanks to its more uniformly-sized hydrocarbon molecules.

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Choosing Synthetic Oil for Your Customers

Not all synthetic motor oil gives the same value. This lubricant generally offers more advantages than conventional oil, but not every product lets users enjoy the maximum benefits. When you’re asked by your customers for the synthetic oil that suits their needs and delivers the best results, you have to know the properties that make up a quality lubricant.

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Synthetic Engine Oil: Busting the Myths

Different people have different things to say about synthetic engine oils. Unfortunately, general opinion is not always based on accurate information. Take a look at some of the most common misconceptions of using synthetic oils in vehicle engine.

Myth #1: Synthetic oils are more prone to sludge.

Sludge is created when oils are constantly in high temperature and react with oxygen. Since synthetic oils perform better at extreme conditions, they are actually less likely to produce sludge than their mineral-based counterparts.

Myth #2: Using synthetic oil will void a vehicle’s existing warranty.

Unless stated, most vehicle manufacturers will not void a vehicle’s warranty based on synthetic oil usage alone. The best synthetic products exceeds industry service requirements which means they have been thoroughly tested and their high performance level established. If in doubt, check your vehicle owner’s manual or confirm with your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Myth #3: Synthetic oils are expensive.

Yes, synthetic oils come with a much higher price tag, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not cost-efficient. Studies have shown that when synthetic oil is used correctly, they actually save companies money by enhancing fuel efficiency, prolonging the need for regular maintenance, and extending engine lifespan.

Now you know the truth. Let the information above guide you when the time comes to replace the engine oil of your vehicle.

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Engine’s Lifeblood: Conventional and Synthetic Oil

Motor oil is essential to the life and functionality of an engine. Among other things, motor oil lubricates and prevents engine parts from rubbing against each other. These days, car dealers provide motorists with both conventional and synthetic oil options. Vehicle owners can accordingly pick the product that works best for their vehicles and for their budget.

Conventional motor oil is derived from natural petroleum and works for both old and new car models due to its neutral composition. This product is recommended for breaking in a new car. Vehicle manufacturers also normally use conventional oil when testing new models, so most cars are likely designed to work with this lubricant.

Suppliers also provide synthetic oil because many vehicle owners consider it as a better option. Made from modified petroleum compounds that are more durable than petroleum, synthetic oil is thought to last three times longer than conventional oil. It also performs with less resistance against the movement of engine components. As a result, engines can perform with higher efficiency, saving both fuel and oil.

Using the right type of motor oil enables vehicle owners to save huge sums in the long run. Likewise, one can minimize the need for costly repair and oil changes. Auto dealers, in turn, can build customer loyalty and boost their bottom line by providing motorists with high-quality motor oil products from a trusted supplier.

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Benefits of Using Synthetic Oil

If your car stalled in the middle of the freeway due to the engine overheating for the nth time, you know that it’s probably time to change your motor oil. However, if the same brand of motor oil causes your engine to overheat prematurely, then it may also be a good time to consider utilizing a high-quality synthetic motor oil for your car.

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The Advantages of Using Synthetic Oil in Your Vehicle

When you drive your car into the service station to have an oil change, you’re often presented with the decision of what lubricant to use in your engine. The two choices are synthetic and conventional oil. The latter refers to oil that is processed from crude oil, which comes direct from the pipeline. The former refers to oil that originates from already processed and refined oil.

There is a definite advantage to using synthetic oils, though. Engines using them are protected more from friction damage. This is because of the uniformity of molecules in their mix. Conventional motor oil is not as refined and thus has different molecule sizes. This cause problems when the engine parts rub each other; with uniform molecules, the contact is smoother and less friction is created, while variance between them can increase the chance of friction.

Synthetic oil was designed for engine work. This means it helps an engine function its best. It does this by being able to withstand the temperature extremes found within a modern engine, helping it to be as efficient as possible.

Synthetic oil also lasts longer more than other motor oils. Because of the way it is refined, it has less of the impurities found in regular motor oil that can cause its quick degradation. This results in less oil changes for your car. With all of these advantages, make the right choice the next time you pull into a service station to have your vehicle serviced.

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The Importance of Fuel Injector Cleaning

The fuel injection system is considered one of the most worked sections of any vehicle. Of course, we all know that with constant mechanical movement comes wear-and-tear; and eventually, dirt. Fuel often leave behind deposits that may directly affect the engine’s overall efficiency, which can lead to significant drops in overall vehicle performance.

As the name suggests, the fuel injectors’ job is to squirt in a right amount of petroleum into the combustion chamber. However, high temperatures and variations in gas quality can clog injectors with wax, water, dirt, fuel additives, and carbon. These clogs work like blockades, preventing the injectors from pumping the right amount into the engine. And you know what that means – less fuel means less power, and the car might be wasting its supply without delivering enough thrust. That’s something you’ll definitely not want.

Keep your injectors clean either by having professionals look at it, or by using specialized injector cleaning solutions. Such additives are ideally used along with routine vehicle maintenance, done every 5,000 miles. Most products are designed to effectively remove clogs like carbon, gum, and varnish. Once fuel goes through the injectors, the additive “sweeps” through the inside, clearing away the grime.

In the end, all drivers would want: a perfect balance of great fuel mileage and overall performance. Think of your car’s fuel injectors as the valves connected to a living heart – it will never beat without life-giving blood.

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Facts for Racers: On Using Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oil is a lubricant made of manufactured or modified products like chemically modified petroleum instead of crude oil. In almost all industries that involve transportation, there is widespread debate regarding the use of synthetic oil versus the conventional lubricants. Nevertheless, whether you’re using the lubricant for a racing ride or for an aircraft, many experts suggest that the real key is in how you actually use it.

Viscosity

The most basic term you should know about lubricating vehicles is viscosity, which stands for the oil’s thickness or semi-fluid state. Too much viscosity, and your car’s pipes may clog; too little and you run the risk of rod bearing failure. Make sure that the viscosity index of the oil you’re using is compatible with your engine’s

Oil Change

Sure, synthetic oil typically lasts a lot longer than the conventional variety, but unfortunately, many people take this to mean prolonging their oil even when it’s already clearly dirty. As a matter of fact, the filth and gunk that accumulate, thanks to your lubricant, just might hinder your engine’s longevity. It’s still important to have your oil changed whenever it gets dirty.

No Experimental Additives

Don’t rely on any shady ‘miracle formula’ that passes for oil additives unless you’re absolutely sure that they work. This is because base oil formulas and the additives in them are already set precisely to work efficiently together; adding an entirely new compound might, in fact, actually disrupt that efficiency.

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Take Advantage of Pennzoil’s Platinum Synthetic Oil Promo at Apache

At Apache Oil Company, we are currently running a promotion that allows anyone who buys more than five quarts of Pennzoil Platinum to receive a $10 rebate from Pennzoil. Our team is proud to be able to promote this synthetic oil product that can help vehicle owners save even more money throughout the lifetime of their vehicle.

Pennzoil Platinum is the American oil company’s fully synthetic conventional oil alternative for ordinary road vehicles—Pennzoil Ultra, its more sophisticated older brother, is designed for high-performance vehicles. Unlike conventional oil, which is derived from petroleum, synthetic automotive oil is created in laboratories through chemical synthesis. This allows for the creation of an oil that lasts longer between oil changes and can help your vehicle perform better.

http://www.apacheoilcompany.com/take-advantage-of-pennzoils-platinum-synthetic-oil-promo-at-apache/

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Smooth Operator: Benefits of Synthetic Oil over Conventional Motor Oil

As most professional auto services know, without motor oil, the parts of an automobile engine become more susceptible to wear and tear, friction, corrosion, and dirt accumulation– all of which can lead to engine failure. Kristen Hall-Geisler explains in HowStuffWorks.com that the type of motor oil used in a vehicle also affects the engine’s efficiency.

The engine oil’s viscosity is an important factor to look into. Since motor oil mainly serves as a lubricant to minimize friction between engine parts, a thicker or a more viscous motor oil than what’s required may do more harm than good. For this reason, many automotive experts tout quality synthetic oil as more beneficial than conventional motor oil.

http://www.apacheoilcompany.com/smooth-operator-benefits-of-synthetic-oil-over-conventional-motor-oil/

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Can Synthetic and Non-Synthetic Oil Be Mixed?

Synthetic oil is a lubricant manufactured using chemically modified petroleum components. Compared to traditional non-synthetic oils, synthetic oil provides superior mechanical and chemical properties. These include possessing very uniform hydrocarbon molecules, which gives it the superior mechanical properties it possesses, even at extremely high or extremely low temperatures.

 While the use of synthetic oil is no longer new, both motorists and operators of machinery that require motor oil still experience confusion towards its use, namely on matters regarding: 

• safely changing vehicle/equipment use from oil to synthetic; 

• safely switching back to regular oil after using synthetic; 

• mixing the two oils together. 

In the earlier days of synthetic oil mixing it with regular mineral oil wasn’t recommended because its synthetics have very different seal-well characteristics that would affect seals made for traditional oils. If the seal-swell rate of a particular synthetic was low, it could cause the seals to shrink, and the crankshaft and rocker cover seals to leak. If the rate was high, the seals tended to swell a little bit more and made the engine tight. 

 When traditional mineral oil was added to the synthetic, or used to replace it, the crank and cover seals had been worn out due to the different reactions it produced, making it unreliable and causing various oil leaks in the engine. 

Fortunately, manufacturers were able to fix this seal-well concern, and both synthetic and non-synthetic oils can be interchanged in use, as well as mixed if, there is a need to top up.

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When using synthetic oil for your car’s tranny

If you are running down the road in a well-performing car, it’s almost second nature to want to pop the clutch, and shift gears so you can go faster. However, you wouldn’t like it when the transmission strains as you upshift or downshift. If your shifts are a little rough, you might want to try using synthetic transmission fluid shift next time you visit the repair shop for maintenance.

So why should you use synthetic, you may ask? First up, a synthetic transmission fluid is designed to remain consistent across a wider temperature range. It ensures that the liquid still protects and lubricates the parts even after much stress is placed on the transmission. The chemical will also help the gearshifts go smoothly.

Some auto experts note that a synthetic transmission fluid has the ability to further prevent wear and tear down the line. For instance, the chemical composition of many synthetic lubricants protect the parts against rust and corrosion as a result of oxidation. Synthetic tranny fluids are also designed to last longer than regular petroleum-based products, reducing the frequency of a change at the neighborhood service station.

Shifting to synthetic transmission oil can be one of the best moves you make for your car. Check your vehicle owner’s manual if the manufacturer recommends it.

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