How to choose car maintenance oil
In car maintenance, the choice of engine oil is crucial. It not only affects the performance of the engine, but is also directly related to the life and fuel economy of the vehicle. Recently, the topic of engine oil selection continues to be hot on major automotive forums and social media. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide you with a structured guide to selecting engine oil.
1. Basic knowledge of engine oil

The main function of engine oil is to lubricate the internal parts of the engine and reduce friction and wear. At the same time, it also has cooling, cleaning and anti-rust functions. The choice of engine oil depends on the vehicle model, driving habits and environmental conditions.
| Oil type | Features | Applicable models |
|---|---|---|
| mineral oil | Low price, average basic performance | Old models or low load use |
| Semi-synthetic oil | High cost performance and balanced performance | most family cars |
| Fully synthetic oil | High performance, high temperature resistance, long lasting | High-performance vehicles or harsh environments |
2. How to choose engine oil based on viscosity
The viscosity of engine oil is usually marked in the form "5W-30". Among them, the number before "W" represents the low-temperature fluidity. The smaller the number, the better the low-temperature performance; the number after "W" represents the high-temperature viscosity. The larger the number, the stronger the high-temperature protection.
| Viscosity grade | Applicable temperature range | Recommended areas |
|---|---|---|
| 5W-30 | -30°C to 35°C | temperate zone |
| 0W-20 | -40°C to 30°C | cold areas |
| 10W-40 | -20°C to 40°C | hot areas |
3. Engine oil certification standards
The certification standards of engine oil are an important basis for selection. Common certifications include API (American Petroleum Institute), ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) and ILSAC (International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee).
| Certification standards | Representative meaning | Common grades |
|---|---|---|
| API | American standard, suitable for most models | SN,SP |
| ACEA | European standards, focusing on environmental protection and long-term effectiveness | A3/B4, C3 |
| ILSAC | International standards, energy saving and environmental protection | GF-6 |
4. Recommended popular engine oil brands
According to recent netizen discussions and e-commerce platform sales data, the following engine oil brands have attracted much attention:
| brand | Popular products | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Mobil | Mobil 1 fully synthetic | Long-term protection, high performance |
| Shell | Heineken Extraordinary Synthetic | Strong cleaning ability, silent |
| Castrol | Extreme protection fully synthetic | Anti-wear, cold start protection |
5. Recommended engine oil replacement intervals
The oil change interval needs to be adjusted according to the type of oil and driving conditions. Here are common suggestions:
| Oil type | Replacement cycle (km) | Replacement cycle (time) |
|---|---|---|
| mineral oil | 5000 | 6 months |
| Semi-synthetic oil | 7500 | 9 months |
| Fully synthetic oil | 10000-15000 | 12 months |
6. Summary
When choosing an engine oil, consider your vehicle manual recommendations, driving environment, and personal budget. Full synthetic motor oil, although more expensive, provides better protection and longer replacement intervals in the long run. In recent hot topics, many car owners have shared their fuel economy experience of using low-viscosity engine oil, but they need to pay attention to whether it meets the vehicle requirements.
Finally, it is recommended to check the engine oil status regularly and replace it in time to ensure that the engine is always in optimal working condition.
check the details
check the details