Choosing The Right Motor Oil

Motor oil is one of those items that most drivers take for granted. Everyone realizes that their cars need it to operate properly, but few know the differences between oil types. And fewer still understand viscosity ratings. The type you put into your car will have a long-term impact on the performance of the engine and can prevent it from experiencing excess wear and tear. In today’s column, you’ll learn about viscosity ratings, “straight weights,” and synthetics. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have a good understanding of which type of motor oil your car needs.

Viscosity Ratings

At its most basic level, viscosity means thickness. The higher the rating, the thicker the substance. For example, water is a low-viscous fluid while syrup is highly viscous. To understand what this means for your car and the engine, consider what happens when you start your car. The oil circulates through the car parts, reaches the valvetrain, and lubricates everything. High-viscosities (for example, 20W-40) won’t circulate as quickly as those with a lower rating (for example, 5W-30).

In cold weather, thinner solutions are more appropriate. They make starting your car engine easier, causing less wear and tear. That said, thicker viscosities are usually better for engines that operate at higher temperatures. For example, a tow truck with a V-8 that operates in extremely hot weather will be better served with a thicker lubricant because it provides extra temperature protection.

What Are “Straight Weights?”

Straight weights are single-viscosity oils. They’re not used very often in cars that are sold to consumers, but a lot of vintage car owners prefer them. Straight weights don’t have the temperature range that multi-viscosities do. If you insist on using them (and there aren’t many reasons why you should), keep a close watch on your engine’s temperature. Straight weights include 10W, 20W, 30W, 40W, and 50W. The latter two are generally used for heavy equipment, so don’t use them in your car.

Synthetics

The best type of motor oil to use are synthetics. They provide more protection from higher temperatures than straight weights or multi-viscosities and your engine will generally perform better. The only downside is the cost: synthetics are priced at nearly triple the cost of the others. But, if your budget can withstand the hit, they’ll provide a significant advantage over straight and multi-weights.

So, which type should you use? 5W-30 is appropriate for most new cars because it’s thin and circulates easier on a cold start. However, if you’re doing a lot of your driving on the freeway (high speeds equal high temperatures), use a 10W-30. And if you’re operating a performance car, synthetics are definitely the way to go.

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How To Know Your Car’s Alternator Is Bad

Your car’s alternator is a part of the vehicle’s charging system. If you turn the ignition and the battery fails to crank the engine, the problem may be with the battery itself. However, it’s also possible that the alternator is no longer capable of holding a charge. When there’s a problem with the alternator, the battery will be unable to send a current to the engine. In this article, I’ll explain an easy way to identify whether your car’s alternator is going bad (i.e. not charging properly). I’ll also describe a few factors that can cause your alternator to become incapable of holding a charge.

Identifying The Problem

You can usually tell whether the charging problem is your battery or the alternator by watching your car’s headlights. Here’s how: start your car and turn your headlights on. With your car in “Park,” gently put pressure on the gas pedal. If you don’t see any change in your headlights’ intensity, your charging system is working properly. However, if you notice that your headlights become dimmer when you press on the gas pedal, it means that they’re being powered by the battery. Your alternator isn’t producing a current.

On the other hand, if the headlights grow brighter, it means your alternator is producing a current, but not very much. In fact, it may not be generating enough to keep the battery properly charged when your car is idling.

This method isn’t infallible for identifying a bad alternator, but it works most of the time.

What Can Cause A Bad Alternator?

Even though alternators are generally sturdy, there are many reasons why they can stop charging properly. They’re often susceptible to heat. If you’ve been driving long distances in extremely warm weather, they can lose their ability to produce a current. They can also be damaged from voltage irregularities. For example, if you jump start a car and cross the jumper cables, the current can overload the alternator.

Also, its ability to produce a full current can be affected if one of the diodes goes bad. The diodes are essential for converting the output from AC to DC. If one of them is damaged or burns out, the alternator’s output can be diluted.

If your alternator becomes incapable of holding a charge or producing a viable current, take your car into a service center to have the unit tested. If there’s a charging problem, you probably won’t be able to have it repaired. Most technicians will consider doing so to be too much effort. In that case, plan to invest in a new or remanufactured unit.

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