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Choosing the Right Oil for Your Car in Grand Rapids, MI

Tom Ham • March 13, 2025

What factors determine the right oil to use in your car? Good question and one that many people simply leave to their auto repair shop to figure out, which is fine.

The best oil for your car is the one that matches your manufacturer's specifications for viscosity grade and meets the recommended quality standards. You can find the right oil in your owner's manual.

However, driving conditions, the Grand Rapids climate, and your vehicle's age all influence which engine oil will work best. Modern engines often require synthetic oils that offer superior protection and longer-lasting performance, while older vehicles may run fine on conventional oils.

Determining the Right Oil for Your Car

Check Your Owner's Manual

The owner's manual lists the specific oil viscosity grades and quality standards required for your vehicle. Most modern cars need 5W-30 or 0W-20 synthetic oil for optimal performance.

Oil viscosity ratings have two numbers - the first shows cold temperature flow (W for winter), while the second indicates high-temperature thickness. A 5W-30 oil flows like a 5-weight oil when cold and a 30-weight when hot.

Check the API service rating on the oil container to ensure it meets your manufacturer's requirements.

Considering Driving Conditions

Extreme temperatures affect oil performance significantly. Cold climates need lower viscosity oils like 0W-20 for easier cold starts. Hot climates may require thicker 10W-30 or 15W-40 oils.

Frequent towing or hauling heavy loads demands higher viscosity oils for better protection under stress.

Short trips and stop-and-go traffic cause more oil contamination. These conditions often benefit from synthetic oils due to their superior stability and resistance to breakdown.

Evaluating Engine Age and Performance Needs

Performance vehicles often require thicker oils like 10W-40 or specific synthetic formulations to handle high RPMs and temperatures.

Newer engines generally need thinner synthetic oils to meet efficiency and emissions standards. These oils also provide excellent protection while improving fuel economy.

Fundamentals of Motor Oil

Motor oil creates a protective barrier between moving metal parts to prevent wear and friction. It carries away heat and debris while neutralizing acids from combustion.

The base oil makes up 70-90% of motor oil composition, while additives provide the remaining 10-30%. Common additives include:

Detergents to prevent deposits
Dispersants to suspend contaminants
Anti-wear agents to protect metal surfaces
Antioxidants to prevent oil breakdown

Oil deteriorates over time due to heat, pressure, and contamination. Regular oil changes remove accumulated debris and replenish protective additives.

Synthetic vs. Conventional Oil

Synthetic oil offers superior performance through engineered molecular uniformity.

Conventional oil comes from refined crude oil. It provides adequate protection for many engines but breaks down faster than synthetic oil.

Cost represents the main trade-off. Synthetic oil costs 2-4 times more than conventional oil but lasts longer.

Synthetic Blend Oil Attributes

Synthetic blend oils combine the best of conventional and synthetic base oils. They deliver enhanced protection at a moderate price point.

These oils provide:

Better high-temperature performance than conventional oil
Improved cold-weather starting
Enhanced protection against engine wear
Reduced oil consumption

Synthetic blends work well in most passenger vehicles and light trucks. They offer a practical middle ground between conventional and full synthetic oils.

The semi-synthetic formulation helps resist breakdown better than conventional oil while costing less than full synthetic options. If you have any questions about which oil you should use for your vehicle, call us or stop by 5355 Plainfield Ave NE in Grand Rapids. We'd be happy to help.

Written by Tom Ham

Tom has been in the automotive industry since 1970 and has over four decades of experience in auto repair. He has owned and operated Auto Centric since 1978.

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What Happens if You Don't Change Your Engine Oil in Grand Rapids?

By Tom Ham • March 26, 2025

Have you ever postponed an oil change, thinking it's no big deal? Many Grand Rapids car owners delay this simple maintenance task without realizing the consequences. Regular oil changes aren't just a recommendation—they're essential for your vehicle's health and longevity. Simply put, if you don’t change your car's oil regularly it leads to engine damage, reduced performance, and potentially costly repairs that could have been avoided. When oil becomes old and dirty, it can't properly lubricate engine parts, causing increased friction and heat. This extra stress accelerates wear on critical components. The effects aren't always immediate, which is why some drivers ignore this maintenance. However, over time, dirty oil creates sludge that clogs passages in your engine. This restricts oil flow and can ultimately lead to engine failure—a problem far more expensive than routine oil changes. Consequences of Irregular Oil Changes Skipping regular oil changes creates a chain reaction of problems that can severely impact your vehicle's performance and lifespan. These issues often start small but quickly compound into serious problems. Accelerated Engine Wear and Tear Engine oil naturally breaks down over time, losing its lubricating properties. Extreme temperatures such as Grand Rapids winters don’t help. When oil ages, it becomes thicker and forms sludge that clings to engine components. This sludge prevents proper lubrication between metal parts, causing them to grind against each other. The resulting friction generates excessive heat and damages vital engine components like pistons, cylinders, and bearings. These parts develop scoring marks and begin to deteriorate rapidly. Contaminants like dirt, metal shavings, and combustion byproducts accumulate in old oil. These particles act like sandpaper, further abrading internal engine surfaces with every mile driven. Reduced Fuel Efficiency Dirty oil makes the engine work harder to perform its normal functions. When engine components encounter greater resistance due to inadequate lubrication, they require more energy to operate. This increased resistance directly translates to higher fuel consumption. Drivers may notice they're filling up more frequently than before, sometimes seeing a 1-2% decrease in fuel economy with very old oil. The engine's decreased efficiency comes from multiple factors: Thickened oil creating more resistance Sludge buildup restricting oil flow Increased friction between moving parts Poor heat dispersion requiring more energy Potential for Engine Failure Continued operation with degraded oil significantly increases the risk of catastrophic engine failure. As oil breaks down completely, metal-on-metal contact can cause parts to seize or warp under extreme heat. The oil pump may struggle to circulate thickened oil, leading to oil starvation in critical areas. This can result in sudden bearing failure or connecting rod damage. Engine overheating becomes more common as old oil fails to transfer heat properly. This can lead to warped cylinder heads, blown head gaskets, or even cracked engine blocks. The repair costs for these severe issues often reach thousands of dollars, far exceeding what regular oil changes would have cost over the vehicle's lifetime. Best Practices for Oil Maintenance in Grand Rapids Maintaining consistent oil changes keeps your engine running smoothly and extends the life of your vehicle. This is the key that can save you from costly repairs down the road. Understanding Oil Change Intervals Most manufacturers recommend changing your oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles for syntheic oil. However, this interval can extend to 10,000-15,000 miles with high-quality synthetic oils like Mobil 1 or Shell's fully synthetic options. Driving conditions significantly impact these intervals. Vehicles operated in "severe" conditions need more frequent changes. Severe conditions include: Short trips (under 10 miles) Extreme temperatures (very hot or cold) Dusty environments Stop-and-go traffic Towing or hauling heavy loads Modern vehicles often have oil life monitoring systems that track your driving habits and alert you when an oil change is needed. These systems are quite reliable and can help optimize your maintenance schedule, so don’t ignore them. Choosing the Right Oil for Your Engine Selecting the proper oil type impacts engine performance. Always refer to your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended viscosity grade and specifications. Conventional oils are less expensive but require more frequent changes. They work well in older engines with simple designs and moderate driving conditions. Synthetic oils offer superior protection across temperature extremes. Mobil 1 and other premium synthetic oils provide better flow in cold weather and maintain stability in high heat conditions. The viscosity rating (like 5W-30) indicates how the oil flows in different temperatures. The first number shows cold-weather performance, while the second indicates hot-weather performance. How Important is it to Replace the Oil Filter? Very important. Oil filters should be replaced with every oil change. They trap harmful particles and contaminants that would otherwise circulate through your engine. A quality filter from brands like Mobil or FRAM can capture particles as small as 25 microns – smaller than half the width of a human hair. This level of filtration prevents premature engine wear. As filters collect contaminants, they gradually become clogged. A clogged filter restricts oil flow, potentially leading to: Reduced engine lubrication Increased engine wear Poor performance and fuel economy Engine overheating Using a premium filter designed for your specific vehicle ensures proper fit and optimal filtration. The small additional cost compared to budget filters pays dividends in engine protection and longevity. If you have any questions or need an oil change, stop by Auto Centric. We're located at 5355 Plainfield Ave NE in Grand Rapids .