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Among the many things that are very essential to your car's health, engine oil can be of utmost importance. Oil is responsible for lubricating all the different engine parts and components, allowing them to move smoothly without any unwanted frictions, resulting in less wear & tear, lower temperatures, and an almost zero chance of engine failure.

Most car owners adopted some behaviors and followed some prominent practices that are simply myths, or were once valid but are no longer so.

It's time to reveal the truth about 9 common engine oil myths and misconceptions that most people believe in.

Myth #1: No Matter What The Car Manual Says, You Should Change Your Engine Oil Every 5,000km!

always remember to check your car's owner manual to get the recommended oil change period

 

Fact: 

This was true once, in older cars and older engine oils, but it is not the case anymore! Most modern car manufacturers have defined the need for oil change between 10,000km to 25,000km, as oil viscosity & quality got improved. 

The best way to find out how often you should change your car's oil and which engine oil best fits your needs is in your owner’s manual. 

Myth #2: When Switching Between Oil Brands, The Engine Will Be Harmed!

Fact: 

This is not true! As long as you are using the same specifications of the previous used one, switching between brands can never harm your engine! 

In addition to that, you need to understand that there might be differences in oil qualities even if they were sharing the same specifications, but switching brands doesn't do any harm.

Myth #3: When The Oil Turns Dark, That Means It Is Time To Change It!

it is not recommended to determine the life of an engine oil from its color

 

Fact:  

As you have noticed, a brand new engine oil has an amber color. However, this is a complete false assumption. You can not determine the life of the oil by checking its appearance, as it might get dark for several reasons. Some oils get affected by additives and go dark quicker, which indicates that the additives already started doing its job and clean your engine. 

But remember, a gritty or grainy oil indicates that it is dirty and needs to be changed ASAP.

Myth #4: The Letter "W" On Most Engine Oil Packing Definitely Stands For Weight!

Fact: 

Well, we can’t tell where this myth came from, but anyway, as the numbers on each side of the letter reflects the viscosity of the oil in extreme temperatures, the letter “W” stands for winter! 

Myth #5: To Increase Engine Lifespan, The Thicker The Engine Oil, The Better!

using thinner engine oil will help in optimizing and elongating the engine lifespan

 

Fact: 

Far from what you have in mind, thicker oil can lead into a bad lubrication compared to thinner oil! For a fact, thinner engine oil provides optimal lubrication, eliminates foriegn contaminants faster, and reduces friction between engine parts. 

Not only that, but also it is more efficient as it requires less energy to pump it to the engine parts. 

Myth #6: If Your Car Is Running Well, You Can Settle For A Low Quality Engine Oil!

Fact: 

You might think you are saving a few pennies here and there, but what you are actually doing is nothing but harming your engine and affecting its lifespan. Low quality engine oil is contaminated with foreign elements that decrease the lubrication features of a high-quality one, which for a fact, makes it affordable. 

Remember, choosing a low quality oil may not show bad results at once, but it will definitely damage the engine in the long run. So, put your safety first, and choose nothing but the best for your car!

Myth #7: Synthetic Engine Oils Can Wear And Tear Down The Seal And Cause Leaks!

engine oil new formulas have been developed to protect the engine and all of its components

 

Fact:

 There was a time back in the 1970s where this myth was true, but it is not the case anymore! When synthetic oil first came out, as any newly introduced item, it wasn’t perfect, as it caused deterioration of the engine seal and gaskets that caused the leak. Today, new formulas have been developed to protect the engine and its critical components. And for a fact, most synthetic engine oils are proven to be better in protecting and enhancing engine performance more than conventional, also known as “mineral”, oils.

Myth #8: All Oil Additives Are The Same And Serve The Same Purpose!

Fact: 

This myth is totally not true! Oil Additives are designed with different formulations to help your engine in different ways. Some oil additives are designed to handle high pressure and heavy use, such as in racing engines. Others are designed to help older, higher-mileage cars last longer by preserving its seals. So take a moment to choose the right oil additive that serves your needs at best.

Myth #9: Who Said That You Don't Need To Change Your Engine Oil Filter Every Time You Change Your Oil!

engine oil filters are designed for a single cycle use

 

Fact: 

Well for a fact, your engine oil and the filter work in pairs! All the contaminants, such as dirt, that could damage your engine get trapped and eliminated by the filter to prevent them from re-entering the oil. Generally, oil filters are designed for a single cycle use, so you need to have it changed with every engine oil change.