There are many different types of oil. The grade of oil for your vehicle is determined by the vehicle manufacturer based on the size, type, working conditions and operating temperature ranges of the engine.
At National we only use top quality oil and the correctly specified oil filter for your vehicle. Understanding the difference between a synthetic oil and a standard multigrade oil is important for your car's performance.
Oils can be differentiated by their viscosity (or thickness) – as oil is heated, it becomes thinner which can impair its protective properties. Making the oil thicker would mean that a cold engine would be difficult to turn over and start because of the drag of the thicker liquid. To overcome these problems multigrade oil was developed; thin enough to enable easy starting but resistant to thinning too much when the engine is hot.
Many modern engines with a greater efficiency and higher performance are specified with an enhanced oil i.e. synthetic oil. Synthetic oil provides the same level of hot/cold protection as a multigrade but contains special additives to enable the performance thresholds to be reached more quickly. Synthetic oils also have greater detergent properties and better carbonisation controls than multigrade oils.
Choosing the right oil for your car isn’t straightforward so National are happy to advise you on the correct type of oil for your car.