You know that you need to make sure that your car has enough oil in it. The oil makes sure that all of the moving parts of your engine continue to move smoothly so that your car will run. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to motor oil and a lot of misinformation out there. So, what are some actual facts about motor oil and your car?

Switching to Synthetic

A lot of people will tell you that once you switch to synthetic motor oil, you are going to have to stay with synthetic motor oil for the rest of your car's life. However, that isn't the truth. You can switch back and forth from synthetic to regular motor oil as many times as you would like. The important part of your choice in motor oil isn't what kind of motor oil you are using, it's the weight and viscosity of the motor oil that you are using. As long as the weight and viscosity are the ones recommended by the car manufacturer, you should be OK. 

Synthetic Oil Damages Your Seals

You may hear that using synthetic oil will damage the rubber and the seals in your engine. That isn't true. What the synthetic oil does is clean up some the deposits and gunk that can build up in your engine. That gunk can cover up damage that is already there, so when you put in the synthetic oil, it cleans all that stuff off. So when you start looking at your engine, it looks like the synthetic oil has caused the damage when in all actuality, it has helped you by showing you the existing damage, which will let you get your car fixed before the damage gets too bad and you end up having to replace your engine. 

Change Your Oil When it Gets Black

When you put the oil in your car, it's a nice amber color, but as the oil starts running through your engine, it starts to turn black and look disgusting. You may think that it's time to change your oil as soon as it gets black, but you don't want to do that. The engine oil is supposed to get black. It is picking up contaminants and other crud in your engine, which is what turns it black. Refer to your car's owner's manual and the recommendations of the motor oil manufacturer as to when your car should have its oil change. 

You need motor oil in your engine to make sure that it runs well. Make sure you have all the facts when it comes to motor oil. Contact a shop, like Jensen Tire & Auto, for more help.