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12 Bonehead Basics of Car Maintenance
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You know, That Guy who thinks that the best way to keep a car from overheating is to roll down the window. That Guy who hires the neighborhood kid to wash his car 'cause he’s allergic to “going outside and doing things.” There are lots of ways to be That Guy, but only one way not

to be: by regaining your self-sufficiency and learning the basics about car care. Using STP® is a good first step. And while we can’t do the rest for you, we'll give you a few pointers. Check out the tutorials. Take a look at the videos. And get under your hood. Good luck, and Don't Be That Guy.

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  • Jan
    11
    1 Comment

    All About Oil

    Posted in: This Guy Wisdom, Tips and Tricks: Under the Hood, Car Knowledge
    Shaq Diesel
    Not that Oyl.

    Hola, chief. Today I want to talk to you about oil. Not the kind you mix with vinegar and drizzle over your arugula and field-greens lady-salad. I’m talkin’ motor oil, chief. It’s the lifeblood of your vehicle. The slippery stuff that lubes your parts. Black gold, as Jed Clampett might say. So first, let’s cover the basics.

    What does motor oil actually do?

    •    It Lubricates
    Motor oil reduces friction, preventing the metal surfaces in your engine from grinding together and tearing themselves apart. Also, motor oil creates a film between moving parts to make them slippery. This increases power, performance, and efficiency.

    •    It Protects
    By keeping engine components slippery, motor oil protects against wear. Motor oil must also protect against the corrosion of engine components, which occurs from oil oxidation and contamination caused by condensation and combustion byproducts. Without this protection, the result is often premature component failure. I suffered from premature component failure on my wedding night, but that’s a story for another day.

    •    It Cleans
    If an engine isn’t clean, it isn’t efficient. Deposits in an engine can gum up its parts and reduce fuel efficiency while robbing the engine of performance. Engine oil helps prevent deposits from forming by holding contaminants in suspension until they can be removed by the oil filter.

    •    It Cools
    If you thought the radiator and antifreeze cooled your entire engine, you’d be wrong. While certainly important, this system only cools the upper portion of your engine. It’s your motor oil that cools everything else, including the crankshaft, camshaft, Shaft’s Big Score, timing gears, pistons, and other crucial components.

    Viscosity, Cyborgs, and other Cool-Sounding Stuff

    Before we go any further, let’s talk some science. Despite what you may think, Viscosity is not the new Jean-Claude Van Damme movie where he fights a time-traveling cyborg who looks a lot like Eric Roberts. Nor is it the name of Dr. Dre’s first child. Viscosity refers to how easily oil pours at a specified temperature. Thinner oil (low viscosity) works well in cold temperatures but doesn’t provide good engine protection in hot temperatures. And thicker oil (high viscosity) provides engine protection at high temperatures but can make it difficult to start the car at low temperatures. Multi-grade oil provides the best of both worlds.

    It’s All in the Numbers

    Let’s say your car requires a multi-grade oil such as 15W-40.  What exactly do those numbers mean? The number before the “W” is the cold viscosity rating, and the number after the “W” is the hot viscosity rating. So 15W-40 oil is one that acts like 15-rated single-grade oil when cold, but doesn’t thin more than a 40-rated single-grade oil when hot. The lower the “winter” number (the “W’”), the easier the engine will turn over when starting in cold climates.

    So how do you know what kind of oil to put in your car? Check your owner’s manual or ask your mechanic. Be sure to use the exact grade specified so you don’t void any warranties provided by the car dealership. Also, please note that the following are not types of motor oil, so please don’t put them in your car: UB40, WD-40, 1040EZ, R2D2, 38DD, CHUCK D, and SPF 30.

    One final tip: With each oil change, add a bottle of STP® Oil Treatment. This high-viscosity formula is specially formulated to help fight metal-to-metal friction by providing a thicker cushion between moving engine parts. It’ll help your car run better, longer.

    That’s it for today, amigos. Until next time: Travel safe, live smart, and get your hands dirty. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to hit the Auto Zone and pick up a few quarts of CHUCK D.

    —RC, STP® blogger

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  • Andrew
    01.11.11

    visit bob is the oil guy forums

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