Warranty

How to Idendify Quality Motor Oil?

LB Walker's Motor Oil & Filter Lineup

   Motor oils play an important role in keeping your car’s engine running. Oil affects engine life, maintenance schedules, fuel economy and more, so it’s important to make the right motor oil decision for your car.

   But don’t let motor oils overwhelm or confuse you. They really aren’t that mysterious. With some basic information in mind, you can keep your car running smoothly for a long time.

   From various viscosities and grades to conventional or synthetic formulations, oil filters, and beyond, get the facts about how motor oils work in your vehicle.

Learn about standards

   When choosing oil for your vehicle, you should always look or ask for API-licensed oil. API has made it easy to find these oils: licensed oils display one or both of the API motor oil quality marks—the API Service Symbol "Donut" and the Certification Mark "Starburst." These marks are part of API's Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS), a voluntary licensing and certification program that authorizes engine oil marketers meeting API requirements to display the API quality marks.

API Service Symbol ''Donut''

   The API "Donut" identifies oils that meet current API engine oil standards. It includes the SAE viscosity grade of the oil, API 
   standards met by the oil, and other important performance parameters.

• The top of the "Donut" displays the motor oil's API performance standard. The letter "S" followed by another letter (API SN) refers to oil suitable for gasoline engines, and the letter "C" followed by another letter and number (API CJ-4) refers to oil suitable for diesel engines.
• The center of the "Donut" shows the motor oil's SAE viscosity grade. Viscosity is the measure of an oil's ability to flow at certain temperatures.
• The bottom of the "Donut" tells whether the motor oil has resource-conserving properties when compared with a reference oil in an engine test. Motor oils labeled as "Resource Conserving" have passed this test.

   API Certification Mark ''Starburst''

   The API "Starburst" signifies oils which meet the latest International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) standard.
   The ILSAC standards are developed by vehicle and engine manufacturers, oil and additive companies and industry trade associations 
   such as API, ACC, ASTM and SAE. These oils provide engine protection while also delivering improved fuel economy and emission
   system protection.

 To learn more about API's EOLCS program and quality marks visit API's website.

Motor Oil guide.pdf

Synthetic or conventional?

 Most customers know that synthetic motor oils typically perform better than conventional motor oils in providing protection for your vehicle, but they might not know why.

   What’s the real difference between synthetic and conventional oil? Pretty much everything.Conventional and synthetic oils begin in the ground. But that’s where the similarities end.

    Synthetic oil is not only refined but also distilled, purified and broken down into its basic molecules. This process not only removes more impurities from the crude oil but also enables individual molecules in the oil to be tailored to the demands of modern engines. These customized molecules provide higher levels of protection and performance than conventional oils. But the synthetic base oil is only half the story. The correct blend additives must go into the mix to create the oil.

Not all types of synthetic oils perform the same

Motor oils aren’t created equal. You might already know that synthetic oils typically outperform conventional oils, but you might not know the difference between synthetic blend oils and full synthetic oils. If you don’t, then pull up a chair.

First, let’s define “synthetic.” If it sounds high-tech or advanced, it’s because it is.

Where traditional mineral or conventional use refined crude oil (that stuff you find in the ground), synthetic oils consist of chemical compounds that are artificially made by breaking down and then rebuilding petroleum molecules. The end result is an oil containing specific molecules that are tailored to provide optimal lubrication properties.

Types of synthetic oil
There are different types of synthetic oil: synthetic blend oil and full synthetic oil. Here’s the difference.

Synthetic blend oil is a mix of conventional motor oils and synthetic base stocks. Because of the added synthetic base stock, you’re going to get more performance and protection than you would by using a conventional oil alone.

Full synthetic oil uses a synthetic base stock mixed with a variety of additives that boost the performance of the oil. While all synthetics on the market may offer a higher level of protection than conventional or synthetics blends, not all synthetics are equal. Each synthetic brand uses a mix of high-performance fluids and additives. How these formulations come together results in various protection levels and attributes.

To determine which synthetic is best for you, consider what type of protection you need. Is it better wear protection? Cleaner engine? Durability?