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How to Determine Engine Oil Quality

Many car owners today find it daunting to choose the right engine oil for their vehicles. This is understandable when you consider the number of different motor oil options available to car owners today. The variations exist not just in the types of motor oil, but they are also evident in the difference in quality.

Many car owners today find it daunting to choose the right engine oil for their vehicles. This is understandable when you consider the number of different motor oil options available to car owners today. The variations exist not just in the types of motor oil, but they are also evident in the difference in quality.

Firstly, you need to choose between the three types of motor oil available today. The motor oil types that you can choose from for your car are fully synthetic, synthetic blend, and conventional motor oil. What is the difference between these three types of motor/engine oil?

The main difference between them is the way they are produced. While fully synthetic engine oil is carefully formulated and produced in a lab, conventional oil is extracted naturally from crude oil and then purified. Synthetic blend is the middle ground between fully synthetic and conventional motor oil.

If we talk about the output, then fully synthetic engine oil is known to enable fuel economy savings. It is also known to improve engine performance and power and provide better protection against engine wear than both synthetic blend and conventional oil. Finally, a fully synthetic engine oil, such as Polaris full synthetic oil, can reach moving parts of an engine quickly and ensure that it works optimally at extreme temperatures.

With the three types of motor oil and the main differences between them understood, you may want to know how you can determine the quality of your preferred engine oil. Luckily for you, the ways to determine engine oil quality are detailed next.

3 Ways to Determine Engine Oil Quality

Although all motor oils produced today need to abide by specific industry standards, their general quality can vary greatly based on how they are produced. Despite quality standards being in place, engine oils of low-grade quality frequently make it to the market due to the greed or ignorance of those in charge of this. As a result, the responsibility of determining the quality of an engine oil fall on your—the car owner’s—shoulders. So, how can you determine engine oil quality, such as the quality of a synthetic oil like Polaris full synthetic oil? You can evaluate it in the following three ways.

1. Read the Labels

On every reputable motor oil’s container, you will find labels that indicate that the oil meets the current standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API) for engine oil. Therefore, the API donut on the right-hand side of the container is the very first thing you should look at when determining the quality of engine oil.

The API donut shows the oil’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) viscosity grade and other important performance parameters such as suitability of the oil for gasoline engines, which is indicated by the letter ‘S’ followed by another letter at the top of the container. The SAE viscosity grade of the oil is mentioned at the center, while resource-conserving properties of the oil are indicated at the bottom.

2. Consider Engine Oil’s Properties

In order to support a car’s engine, engine oil needs to have certain chemical and physical properties. The long-term ability of the oil to consistently perform at a high level is adversely affected by the several operating stresses generated by the engine.

Additionally, depending on the environment and how the car is used, the service conditions may vary greatly. Therefore, you must have complete knowledge of an engine oil’s important properties before you choose it for your particular conditions and service needs.

3. Ensure the Basic Engine Oil Quality Requirements

This is the least complicated but useful way to determine the quality of engine oil. Whether you want to determine the quality of Polaris full synthetic oil or another engine oil, make sure that:

  • The engine oil is designed for your specific vehicle type (gasoline or diesel)
  • The oil can provide the needed engine performance
  • The oil meets the recommendations of your car’s manufacturer

By ensuring these three things, you are more likely to choose a quality motor oil for your car.

Final Word

While determining engine oil quality can be daunting, you can make this easier for yourself by using the ways to assess engine oil quality mentioned in this guide.

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