Facts on Motor Oil

Internal combustion engines use motor oil to stay lubricated. While many people associate motor oil exclusively with automobiles, it is also used in many other machines, from lawnmowers to airplanes. Like gasoline and plastics, motor oil is a derivative from petroleum, so its price has also risen in recent years.

Function

In addition to lubrication, motor oil also helps engines avoid corrosion, keeps engines from overheating and even has cleaning properties.

Types

Popular manufacturers of this type of oil include Valvoline, Mobil, Pennzoil, Castrol, Torco, Ace and Royal Purple.

Features

Motor oils that are used only for cars and trucks are given a numerical grade value ranging between 0 and 60.

Considerations

Most vehicle experts recommend checking oil levels every 3,000 miles or every 3 months, whichever comes sooner.

Warning

Before adding motor oil into an engine, find out which grade of oil is recommended for your engine type.

Resources

• Get more information on oil changes.