If you drive a gas-powered or hybrid car, motor oil and oil filter changes are essential to your maintenance routine. To keep things running smoothly, you need to fill your car with the right oil.
Let’s go over what choices you have and some tips for picking the right motor oil for your vehicle.
Types of motor oil
The four main types of motor oil are conventional, synthetic, synthetic blend, and high-mileage.
Conventional
Conventional oil is best for simple and/or older engines and everyday driving. It’s the most recommended type of oil for vehicles made before 1990, but many modern cars can also use it.
NAPA Conventional Motor Oil
Starting at 8.80 $
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April Super Flo Motor Oil
32.79 $
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Synthetic
Synthetic oils contain higher performing additives than conventional oils. This helps them resist oxidation better and perform better in extreme temperatures. Synthetic oils are great for modern cars and situations where your engine must work harder, such as hot climates, towing, and hauling.
NAPA Synthetic Motor Oil
Starting at 11.60 $
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Castrol Edge Motor Oil
Starting at 80.59 $
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Synthetic blend
A mixture of conventional and synthetic base oils is called a synthetic blend. This oil has even better oxidation resistance and performance in low temperatures. Synthetic blend oils are like synthetic oils but with weaker base components, leading them to break down faster. This makes them less expensive than full-synthetic oils.
Rotella T5 Motor Oil
Starting at 31.99 $
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Valvoline Daily Protection Motor Oil
44.99 $
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High-mileage
If your vehicle has clocked over 120,000 km, high-mileage oil is what you need. This is usually a full-synthetic oil or a synthetic blend and is designed to reduce oil burn-off and prevent oil leaks in older engines.
Quaker State High Mileage Motor Oil
57.59 $
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Pennzoil High Mileage Motor Oil
Starting at 9.00 $
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Choosing your motor oil
Factors to consider when choosing your motor oil include:
- Vehicle make/model
- Driving style
- Driving environment
Your owner’s manual or maintenance guide will list what type of oil is best for your engine (conventional, synthetic, etc.). These documents may even list a recommended brand.
To find what grade of oil your car needs, check the engine oil cap, owner’s manual, or maintenance guide.
5W-30 is the most common oil grade. This code refers to the oil’s viscosity. The “W” stands for winter. The first number refers to how the oil flows in cold weather, while the second refers to the oil flow at operating temperature (measured at 100°C.) The lower the number, the less viscous the oil, and the quicker it will flow. So, a 5W-30 oil will flow faster once the engine reaches operating temperature. Thicker oils are best for higher temperatures, while thinner oils are more suitable for colder temperatures.
Synthetic and synthetic blend oils are typically more viscous than conventional oils. Check out this article for more on the differences between conventional vs. synthetic oil.
Typically, mixing different-viscosity oils isn’t a problem, but don’t mix synthetic and conventional oils together. This can diminish your car’s performance and even damage the engine.
Your owner’s manual will also specify how many quarts of oil your engine needs.
When and how to do an oil change
Once you know what kind of oil you need, you need to know how often to change it. Not changing your oil regularly can decrease your fuel efficiency and even lead to engine failure.
Your owner’s manual will state how often to change your oil. Most vehicles will need an oil and oil filter change every 5,000 to 8,000 km or every six months, but this can vary depending on your driving conditions and the oil type (i.e., synthetic oils last longer than conventional).
A professional oil change in Ontario usually costs between $35 and $75 for conventional oil. If you use synthetic oil, the price can go up to $65 to $125. If you’re getting your oil filter changed, too, expect to pay a bit more.
To save some money, you can learn how to do your own oil change by following these steps. Don’t forget to grab your oil, filter, gloves, and jack and jack stands before starting this task. It’s also wise to keep some towels and a first aid kit nearby, in case of any accidents. When you’ve completed your oil change, do not dump the used oil down the drain or the nearest sewer. Most municipalities forbid this, and oil is extremely harmful to the environment.
For any questions about choosing motor oil, visit a NAPA Auto Parts store to ask an expert.
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