Car Engine Oil Buying Guide in 2023. Know Best Engine Oil for Car

Car Engine Oil Buying Guide as Best Oil for Engine. Differences in between Synthetic and Mineral Oil with Best Brands and Prices among Castrol, Mobil One and Shell Helix Brands

Car Engine Oil Guide : Best Engne Oil

Engine Oil is what the Lifeline of your Car Engine as it provides sufficient lubrication required for protecting Engine components at even 100 to 120 Degree Celsius. Choosing Incorrect Oil or Lesser Quantity will lead to

• Friction among Engine Components, leading to quick Wear & Tear among Engine Parts

• Performance of Car as choosing thicker or thinner Oil basis Viscosity can have huge impact on Car Performance

In case of Oil Leaked - it can cause Engine Seizure, causing several Lakh in repairs or complete replacement even. Thus is utmost essential to choose Best recommended Oil for your Car Engine

How to Choose Best Engine Oil for Car 

Before Choosing Engine Oil - its recommended to check your Car Owner Service Manual to check Engine Oil Viscosity been recommended

» For API standard such as API SL, SM, SN or SJ - API Standard basically is benchmark set by American Petroleum Institute about performance and power of Engine Oil. Its recommended to check your Service Manual for API Standard recommended for your Car Engine Oil

» Viscosity grade - Viscosity Grade is basically the thickness been defined for Engine Oil and defines the stress holding capacity. A thin Engine Oil may well be recommended for Winters, while Engine Oil with higher Viscosity is recommended for Summers Environment. For example - Water has lowest Viscosity as its the thinnest.

Viscosity Grade comes in 2 numbers :- Like 10W-30, 0W-40 or 15W-40 or 5W-30 . 

First Part Winter Grade (0W, 5W, 10W etc.)

• 5W-30 - Here W is Winter Grade. 5W is Viscosity Grade of Cold Start

• 0W- 40 indicates that Vehicle can start easily in even Coldest or Freezing Conditions. The Oil is relative thin enough to free flow across all components

• 10W-30 - it would have implied 10W for conditions where temperature remains a bit higher. The Oil is relative thick

Low Winter (W) viscosity lets Oil flows in Engine in colder conditions much quickly with lesser dry running. Less dry running means much less engine wear.

Second Part Temperature Grade (20, 30, 40)

• 5W-30 - Here 30 determines the thickness of Oil at Engine Temperature of 100 Degree C. Its best to follow the recommendation as per Owner Manual on thickness on maximum operating temperature. 30c is a thin Oil than 40 in maximum operating temperature of Engine

• 0W- 40 indicates the thickness of Oil on maximum Operating Temperature. 40 means that oil turns relative thick against the scenario of 5W-30

To make it simple to understand - a lower Viscosity means Oil is thinner. When Oil reaches full temperature - the weight is thus determined which is 30 or 40.

» ACEA Rating - The Lubricant Properties are determined in ACEA Rating and one can find ACEA rating as A3/B4, A5/B5, C2 etc. The properties are determined basis Wear, Sludge, Soot Thickening, Oxidative thickening, Fuel Economy and lot other factors to determine the best oil type for your car.

Essentially not to miss on ACEA Rating of Oil especially in Diesel Cars

Myth about Buying Engine Oil: How to Buy Engine Oil

Although thin oil has many advantages like

• Reduce friction in engines,
• Easy one start on cold freezing weather too including free flow and easier to move

But the slight thicker oil can help

• Protect engine bearings and engine Sealing especially with thicker Oil layer

Its thus important to know that Correct Engine Oil Grade is utmost important as it determines the free flow of Oil to several Components. Incorrect Viscosity grade can lead to premature wear and tear of several small engine parts.

Do check your Car Owner Manual for Recommended Engine Oil Viscosity Grade, and never divulge from it as this Engine Oil grade is what tested by Car Manufacturer after doing extensive R&D and no workshop mechanic or Engineer or Expert can challenge the recommended Oil Grade as what referred in Car Manual.

Type of Engine Oils with Prices

There are 3 Types of Engine Oil available - Synthetic, Semi Synthetic and Mineral Oil. Difference in Performance is :-

» Synthetic oil : Here the Molecular property of Oil is engineered to give best protection to car from regular braking, clutch, acceleration - i.e if you commute daily and faces traffic will produce lesser sludge and wear and tear to Engine. Its the best Suited Performance Oil for Cars and can even lead to slight mileage improvement too.

Due to Oil Molecular property been developed and arranged - this Oil leads to lower NVH Levels and best suited for those who drive long distance, drive in heavy traffic, start-stop drive or in Diesel Engines looking for best performance along with optimal protection

Synthetic Oil Cost in around Rs 1100 to 1200 per Litre (with 18% GST additional) and at any given day is considered superior over Regular Mineral Oil basis Molecular Properties as arranged.

» Semi Synthetic Oil (costs much less) can be used in cars, as cost effective solution. Especially, where one your annual running is not more than 10,000 Kms.  Semi Synthetic Oil costs in range of Rs 600 to 700 per Litre (with 18% GST additional)

» Mineral Oil - Cost Effective solution for cars with smaller engine and less driven. Mineral Oil is priced just 1/3rd against Synthetic Oil . To our view - It may be used, if looking for cost effective solution for cars, with less driven (under 500 Kms a month) or not to commute in daily bumper to bumper traffic.

Mineral Oil Costs in range of Rs 400 to 450 per Litre (with 18% GST additional)

Replacement Cycle of Engine Oil:

Though - for changing Engine Oil - its best to again refer to Owner Manual. But - for a common understanding (as extracted through Engine Oil Makers) - it can just prove to be ideal to replace Oil as below:-

» Mineral Oil: Ideally after 5000 Kms or 6 Months of Usage which ever earlier. 0W-20, 5W-30 or 10W30 : For Modern Petrol Engines - looking for Mineral or Semi Synthetic Oil - yet Light and Optimum Engine Performance. Cost Effectiveness and Low Viscosity makes Oil Performing Well on Modern Age Petrol Cars with Good Fuel Efficiency.

» Semi Synthetic : Ideally at 6000 to 7500 Kms or 12 Months which ever earlier

» Synthetic Grade : Ideal at 10,000 to 15,000 Kms or 12 Months which ever earlier. Generally is 0W-40 in Petrol and 5W-40 Oil in Diesel Cars comes in category of Synthetic. 

Synthetic Oil Grade offers best life to Engine, Prevent Sludge from Daily Traffic Drive with Lowest Noise Levels and Optimal Performance for Mileage and Pickup. Using any Grade beyond its Life will tend to break in Viscosity Molecules and may enhance friction to Engine Components for quicker wear & tear along with deterioration in Performance.

Should you Replace Engine Oil if driving Car for Less Kms

For some who drive less like 2500 Kms or say 5000 Kms a year, while the Owner Manual mention replacement as 10000 Kms or a year - its important to replace Engine Oil on time (within a year max) as

Engine Oil is made up of Viscosity Molecules. When Oil is poured in Engine - with usage and time shelf as suggested - there is a high probability that Molecules tends to breakup over period of time and oil tends to be thinner beyond its shelf life (and if continued) leads to friction of engine components with faster wear & tear

Ideally Engine Oil change is best when followed in Manufacturer Schedule which is based on

> Kms Driven

> Time Factor

as whichever earlier for best upkeep of Car Engine.