Did you know that the EPA reports that two gallons of properly recycled oil can run the electricity of a typical home for 24 hours? However, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 200 million gallons of motor oil are illegally dumped each year, and just one gallon of used oil can ruin one million gallons of fresh water. Although oil can be both helpful and dangerous, every vehicle with a combustion engine needs oil in order to run properly. But what is the best motor oil? There are two main ways to find the best motor oil, and each option is beneficial in its own way.
1. Society of Automotive Engineers. The Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, utilizes a numerical grading system in order to classify motor oils based on their viscosity characteristics. For example, 10W-30, 20W-20, and 5W-30 are all different grades set by the SAE. Your car manual will usually suggest the best motor oil to use based on its SAE grade, and this will help you find the right motor oil for your car. Once you have determined which SAE grade is right for your car, you will then have to discover where to get oil changes in order to put this oil in your vehicle.
2. American Petroleum Institute. The American Petroleum Institute, or API, sets performance standards for motor oils. API standards are based on oil ratings, and these ratings help you find the best motor oils available. However, even though API sets high standards for motor oil, it is still important to find out where to get oil changes. This is because using too little oil in your car, no matter which type of oil it is, can cause excessively high oil temperatures.
There are two main ways to find the best motor oil. SAE and API both set high standards for oil grading, so each one can lead you to the right oil for your car. After you find the best motor oil, it is important to figure out where to get oil changes so that you can put this oil in your vehicle.