Best way to take care of your car engine is to monitor your engine oil. We have treated this issue on different occasions and from different points of view, but we wanted to know if we had something left in the inkwell asking those who know more about lubricants.

What if. Although we know a little about cars and their maintenance, we have discovered endless things.

1. If I have to refill oil, the more the better

Who else or who less, knows that taking the car with little oil is the worst thing that can be done to a car? Stop it you should check the oil level, an operation for which you only need a completely flat place, the engine of your cold car … and a cloth to clean the rod of the car. In TOTAL they have made a very nice video where they explain how to do it correctly.

And this is where we reach the myth. Although the rod perfectly marks the maximum and minimum levels, many people believe that if the oil is good, the more, the better. Error. Filling the crankcase too much can cause excess heat due to increased resistance, which will shorten the life of your car’s engine. Not only that.

2. If the engine oil is too black, something fails

It is very common. When the oil change is done (if you do not know how to do it yourself, it is best to go to a trusted workshop) many people see the black oil and believe that something is wrong. Well, it is exactly the other way around, since that means that the oil is doing its job.

The manufacturers of modern lubricants add detergent additives and dispersants, whose function is to clean the internal parts of the engine, eliminating the carbon. That dirt is suspended in the oil (hence its color), and it is better that it is there than not that it is deposited in the engine, where it would be really harmful.

3. It doesn’t matter what oil you pour

All lubricating oils are not the same. There are different types of engine lubricants, with physical characteristics, technology and additive content. Each lubricant is different … and serves different cars. We already tell you how to choose the best oil for your engine. Heed the manufacturer’s recommendations (look for oils with the same viscosity index as indicated) and the experts in your workshop.

4. I must not mix oils

It is necessary to know what is mixing. Different brand oils can be combined, as long as the equivalence in its viscosity index and its quality is maintained. And mix a synthetic oil with a mineral one? It is not advisable to do so, except in an emergency, as it will end up losing viscosity and additives, which will cause poor engine lubrication.

5. If I add additives, the lubricant will do its job better

It is not necessary to add anything to lubricants. A lot of researchers, after time and effort, have determined what are the necessary additives for that oil to work perfectly. There are no miraculous products that are capable of reducing the consumption of old cars or extending the life of used lubricants.