Is the higher the quality grade of the oil, the better?
In the minds of most car owners, the higher the oil quality grade, the better, and it is easy to ignore the adaptability of the oil and the engine.
The quality grade of the oil is based on the American Petroleum Institute (API) standard, from SA to SP, the higher the grade of the oil and the more expensive it is. However, this does not mean that the car will perform better with the highest grade of motor oil. Generally speaking, the higher the grade of the oil, the more additives it has to ensure that the machinery runs efficiently. But for engines, a high-quality oil may not deliver better results if you use a less adaptable oil.
Just like the Highlander I drove, when using Idemitsu IFG5 0W-20 low viscosity fully synthetic engine oil (SP grade motor oil), when using SP grade low viscosity fully synthetic engine oil of other brands, the fuel economy and acceleration are better than SP grade Idemitsu IFG5 fully synthetic engine oil. Replace the light IFG500 kilometers with lower fuel consumption of 05L, the acceleration smoothness is also better.
Generally, car owners believe that the same quality level and the same viscosity of the engine oil in terms of active ingredient adhesion, wear resistance, cleanliness, fuel economy, acceleration, durability is similar. But this is not the case, you can think about why among the many engine oil brands, only Idemitsu IFG series 0W-20 low viscosity fully synthetic engine oil can monopolize nearly half of the Japanese car maintenance market? Are there other brands that don't produce fully synthetic motor oils? Or do other brands not produce 0W-20 fully synthetic motor oil? Apparently neither, right? Although it is very "fantastical" to say, you have to admit that there is a high compatibility between Idemitsu and Japanese engines.
How to choose the right oil
Choosing the right oil is key to keeping your engine up and running and extending its life. First of all, car owners should refer to the vehicle's instruction manual or engine manufacturer's recommendations to find out the right oil grade and specifications for their model. At the same time, car owners also need to pay attention to the oil replacement cycle and maintenance requirements, and change the engine oil in time to ensure that the inside of the engine is always clean and lubricated.
When choosing an engine oil, car owners should also pay attention to the performance indicators of the oil, such as viscosity, pour point, flash point, etc. Viscosity is an indicator of oil fluidity and is essential for lubrication and cooling of the engine. The pour point is an indicator of the fluidity of the oil at low temperatures, which determines the starting performance of the oil in a cold environment. The flash point is the stability index of the engine oil at high temperatures, which determines the oxidation resistance of the engine oil in a high temperature environment.
Novice car owners can directly refer to the oil usage of old car owners when choosing engine oil, and the most used engine oil products of the same series of car owners will be relatively high in terms of adaptability. After all, the oil experience of most old car owners is to step on the "pit" to improve steadily.