What brand to choose?

Opt for globally recognized brands such as Mobil and Rolf for increased reliability. Additionally, the choice of where to purchase the oil is crucial.

Which type to buy - mineral, semi-synthetic, or synthetic?

Synthetic oil is more expensive due to its incorporation of the latest cutting-edge technology and has a longer lifespan, lasting between 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers. Mineral oil has an average use period of 5,000 to 7,000 kilometers, and for semi-synthetic oil, it is 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers. However, these quantitative measures are relative. For instance, if your car engine is old, subtracting up to 30% from this number is advisable. Considerations should also be given for those who drive at higher speeds.

If you wish to address the issue of starting your car in the winter, choosing synthetic oil is recommended due to its lower viscosity. Unfortunately, this information is not always displayed on the oil packaging. It should be common practice to change your oil before and after winter.

The number before the letter ‘W’ on the oil container indicates its viscosity. For example, 15W means it can flow in temperatures as low as -20°C, 10W in -25°C, 5W in -30°C, and 0W in -35°C.”

The higher the number after ‘W,’ the more viscous the oil becomes, ranging from -20, 30, 40, to 50. This provides better protection for the engine, especially during higher workloads. However, increased friction among engine parts can lead to reduced capacity and higher fuel consumption.

Another helpful guideline is to use 40 for new engines, 50 for engines with average wear, and 60 for old engines. Remembering this can assist non-professionals.

What should you do if the engine oil turns black? The best thing for your engine is to use reliable oil, but remember to add oil as soon as you notice it has depleted.

By the way, do you need mineral oil? It is suitable if you drive your car for less than 4-5 thousand km per season, have an old engine, or want to save money. However, you must change your oil more frequently. If your engine underwent major repairs, use mineral oil for a period before replacing it. Marks SM and SL indicate the quality classification of the oil, with the better oil having a later second letter in the alphabetical order.

New oils make older ones obsolete. For example, you can use SM instead of SJ.

How to determine if an oil can be used in a diesel engine:

If there are letters ‘CF’ after the slash sign, you can use it in a diesel engine. If there isn’t any slash sign, you can use it only in a petrol engine. However, in the future, there will be no distinctions, as oil is expected to become universal.