Most people look forward to hot weather because they can shed those heavy winter coats. However, summer can play havoc on your vehicle's engine, especially relating to oil changes. Make sure you schedule an oil change before you head out on a long summer road-trip.
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Here are a few tips on how to help your engine survive summer's high temperatures.
* Have regular oil changes. This will keep the engine's moving parts from overheating. When oil is cold, it thickens; when it heats up, it becomes less viscous, or more watery. The differences are crucial when it comes to protecting your engine against extremes in weather. While it needs to be thick enough to seal tiny gaps in the engine and properly lubricate metal-against-metal surfaces, it also has to be thin enough to circulate easily where your engine needs it the most. Extreme hot weather can cause it to get too thin, thereby losing its cooling efficiency.
* Oil Viscosity. Viscosity is measured using two numbers and a letter. Use 10W-40 for example; the first number (10) refers to the thickness at cold temperatures (0ºFahrenheit), and the second number refers to the thickness at high temperatures (212º Fahrenheit.) While the first number is crucial for the cold months of winter and you want to make sure your engine is protected at startup, the second is more important once your car is warmed up and purring down the road. In general, thicker oils are recommended for warm weather since they start at a higher viscosity and don't become too thin as the engine heats up while driving.
* Types of engine oils. The different types of oil offer varying degrees of protection. Synthetics maintain a more consistent viscosity over a broad range of temperatures, but they're also significantly more expensive, and sometimes incompatible with certain older engines. Synthetic blends include a combination of both natural and synthetics, and offer many of the benefits of the pricier oil without the high cost. Premium conventional oils are of higher quality natural with increased levels of protection.
Your selection of oil type and viscosity will depend on the climate in which you drive, compatibility with your vehicle, and your budget. The most important source of information about oil changes for warm weather for your specific engine is your car's owner's manual. Read it carefully, and follow the recommended oil change schedule.
Looking for affordable and quality oil changes? Contact the ASE Certified Technicians at Precision Automotive today by calling (406) 248-2838, or go on-line to
www.pricesprecisionauto.com for more information. Our Tech-Net professional auto center in Billings, MT, also services vehicle owners in the areas of Shepherd and Laurel, MT.
