What happens if you use the wrong engine oil in your car?

When it comes to the engine oils alternatives your engine can utilise, car manufacturers give you a little flexibility. Depending on the engine and its manufacturer, a variety of oil alternatives for the motor will be available. A short glance at your owner's handbook will reveal the many types of oils that may be used, as well as the particular weights that are suitable for your vehicle.

Keep in mind that some of these oil choices are climate-dependent, since colder climates may demand thinner oil than hotter climates. With that in mind, as long as the oil used in your car is within the recommended range, it should run smoothly.

If after reading your owner’s handbook you are still unsure, search online for a full car service near me garage and speak to your local car mechanic. Depending on the make, model, age and mileage of your car, the car mechanic will be able to recommend the engine oil best suited for your car.

Symptoms that the incorrect engine oil was used

If improper oil has been used in your car's engine, it will emit a few warning indicators that you should be aware of. These can include anything from a burnt oil smell to strange engine sounds, oil leaks and even a minor loss of power and efficiency.

It is highly recommended that if you are a novice when it comes to vehicle repair and maintenance, look for a car service near me garage and leave it in the hands of the professionals.

Having said that, the following are 3 signs and symptoms that the wrong engine oil was used in your car:

1. Burning smell

Your engine oil, like any other component of your car, has a fixed lifespan. If you use the incorrect viscosity engine oil for your car, it may break down considerably more quickly than usual. The oil may then thin out, degrade, and burn as a result of the increased friction caused by its inability to adequately protect the engine. If this occurs, it is essential to replace the oil with one that meets the specified standards in order to better preserve your car's engine and avoid further damage.

2. Oil leaks

These are other indicators that your car has been treated with improper engine oil. If your vehicle wasn't leaking oil before but has now started following an oil change, it's possible that the wrong type of oil was used or that your gaskets and seals are old. Using synthetic oil in a vehicle that normally operates on ordinary engine oil is one example of this. When compared to conventional engine oils, synthetic oils have distinct flow properties. This implies that synthetic oil can "squeeze" into tiny gaps more easily than ordinary oil. As a result, some oil may leak out of your car after passing through specific seals. While oil leaks aren't dangerous, failing to repair them right away might result in costly repairs or extra trips to the fuel station for more oil.

3. Lower efficiency

Using engine oil with a viscosity greater than recommended will reduce the efficiency of your engine. This is due to the fact that heavier oil might produce more resistance between moving parts. Despite being “lubricated” and protected; this makes it more difficult for them to move. A delicate balance must be struck in order to safeguard a moving element while still allowing it to function normally.

Using the incorrect oil viscosity

When you use the incorrect viscosity of engine oil, you're doing one of the most common mistakes. If you use oil that is too thick for your car, it may be unable to reach the deeper and tighter regions within the engine block, preventing it from lubricating components. When the engine is still cold and has just started up, this is true.

However, if the oil you use is too thin, it may degrade faster than typical due to the heat of the engine, which may lead it to break down prematurely depending on the type of oil you use. Once the oil begins to degrade, it loses its capacity to protect and lubricate the engine's moving parts.

If you mix heavier oil with thinner oil in the engine, it will not cause your car to break down. However, it may cause the oil to deviate from the manufacturer's suggested viscosity requirements, which isn't a good thing.

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