Why Does My Vehicle’s Engine Burn Oil? John Baker|Aug 29, 2016 8:13 AM The simple answer: It’s probably wearing out. Over time, the piston rings have likely become worn or stuck in their grooves, preventing them from sealing tightly against the cylinder wall. The tiny gap that has formed between the ring and cylinder wall […]
I Have No Idea How Many Quarts My Car Needs. Help! John Baker|October 8 9:10 AM The answer seems simple: probably about five quarts. But, if you drive a small car with a four-cylinder engine, it’s likely closer to four quarts. However, the V-8 engine in your truck could require about seven quarts. My in-laws’ […]
Why You Should Be Wary About Using Break In Oil in Powersports Equipment John Baker|Sep 25, 2017 1:32 PM Marco Navarro asks on our Facebook page about break in oil, with attention paid to powersports engines. Thanks for the question, Marco. Let’s get to it. Maintaining an engine is a constant fight against wear. Over time, wear not […]
The Pros and Cons of Semi-Synthetic Oils and Synthetic Blends Andy Arendt|Sep 22, 2017 9:20 AM Scott D. Galbreath asks via our Facebook page about the pros and cons of synthetic blend motor oils. Thanks for the question, Scott. Making sense of motor oil can be confusing and frustrating. Choosing among full synthetics, synthetic blends, semi-conventional, conventional, […]
Where Oil Goes and What it Does A typical engine contains hundreds of parts, none of which could function properly without oil. Far from a simple commodity, oil is a dynamic enabler of performance. It must lubricate, cool, protect, seal, actuate components and more. And it must do it all while exposed to tremendous heat […]
Winter’s over but Let’s Review Winter Lube Requirements Extreme cold can cause conventional motor oil, transmission fluid and gear lube to thicken, starving vital moving parts of necessary lubrication. In many cases, thick motor oil will prevent vehicles from starting. Cold, thick transmission fluid results in delayed or sluggish shifts and inadequate protection for bearings, […]
The Effects of Turbochargers and Gasoline Direct Injection These increasingly common features of modern engines heighten power and efficiency, but also present serious challenges to motor oil. The push toward smaller, fuelefficient, yet powerful engines has driven the development of several key technologies. Gasoline direct injection (GDI) and turbochargers are now common features of passenger […]
