Car Oil

Car Oil

How Rising Oil Prices Will Impact Your Car Maintenance Habits

A car is for many a complex, mysterious beast. The majority of drivers limit their maintenance to filling up with petrol and do not concern themselves too much with what is under the bonnet. However, with rising fuel costs an increasing concern for motorists, it may well prove worthwhile to learn some good maintenance habits. Following these few simple tips could improve your car's fuel efficiency by up to 40%.

Check your tyre pressure every month and follow the loading advice as per your car maker's recommendations. This can improve your fuel economy. A tyre loses air at a rate of about 1 psi per month and at a rate of 1 psi for every 10 degree drop in temperature. Under-inflated tyres have more rolling resistance and this drag causes a vehicle's mpg to decrease, by an average of 3.75%.

Have frequent oil changes. An oil and oil filter change is one of the best things a motorist can do to prolong the life of their car. Oil lubricates and cleans the engine, meaning it uses fuel far more efficiently. Regular oil changes can ensure the happy running of a car for decades. Most car manufacturers recommend cars have their oil filter changed roughly every 3000 miles but motorists often ignore this, or forget it.

Check the owner's brochure and see what the recommended grade of motor oil is. Using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol, as this contains friction reducing additives.

Check the state of your air filter, a dirty filter harms performance and economy. To see if you need a new filter take it out and hold it up to the sun, if you cannot see light coming through it then you need a new one. If you do need to replace your air filter it may be worth considering a "permanent" filter. These can simply be cleaned and put back in and are also environmentally sounder thereby potentially saving you more money in the long run.

Other simple steps such as cleaning your car and removing unnecessary dead weight and rubbish can also help. After all, why pay extra for lugging rubbish and various unused odds and ends around?

Following these simple few steps should help improve your car's mpg and reduce the cost of driving. You are then left free to enjoy the view through your windscreen and years of worry-free motoring, no matter what the cost of oil may be.

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

About the Author

Isla is a part of the digital blogging team at shoutingindigital.com who work with brands like Belron. For more information about me, or to keep up to date with the latest in retail news, check out my posts at shoutingindigital.com or visit my Twitter account, @shoutingID.

Can you mix different brands of car oil?

I got my car oil changed by a mechanic, I don't remember what kind of oil they put in it.

If the oil level drops a bit and I want to top it off, does it matter what brand/type of oil I put in it now?

only if you mix the natural (old type) of oil with synthetic oil

running my car on vegetable oil