Engine Oil Quality Evolves With Engine Technology

The history of lubrication can be traced back as far as the very beginning of transportation.  Until the 19th century, lubricants were primarily composed of animal fats and vegetable oils, but a new means of lubrication and a whole new industry were born when the first crew successfully drilled for oil in 1859.

Engine technology has improved dramatically over the years, increasing the protection and performance required of motor oils.  In order to meet public demand for vehicles with greater fuel economy during the oil embargo of the the 1070's, automobile manufacturers produced smaller, lighter cars powered by smaller and more efficient engines.

When fuel injection became common on gasoline-fueled engines, it placed even greater demand on the vehicle's engine oil as it was required to flow and reach critical components as quickly as possible.

So what kind of oil should you be using? Did you know in Europe there is really only one "kind" of oil made by just a few oil producers?  In Europe you will never find a bunch of quick lubes scattered all over the place.  Most of Europe has been on 1-year oil changes for well over two decades now.  For the most part Europeans drive on average 15,000-25,000 miles a year.

So why are Americans being told to visit the local quickie lube every 3,000-miles?  Just follow the money and you will find the answer.  Americans fall prey to just about every form of advertising there is and we have brained washed into thinking these oil changes are necessary when in fact they're not.

It's odd to notice that the two biggest suppliers of motor oil in Europe have very visible marketing going on right here in the U.S.  Castrol and Mobil are the primary suppliers of lubricants in Europe, however for reasons unknown (probably money) they don't want to offer more cost affective lubricants to their customer base here in the U.S.

Why aren't all of us changing our oil just once-a-year?  Until the big oil manufacturer's starat educating us instead of spending millions of dollars sponsoring race car driver's who don't even use the stuff you and I can buy then this dog and pony show will continue on.

One U.S. based company called Amsoil has been manufacturing synthetic lubricants since 1972.  A lot of people are familiar with Mobil 1 because of their high advertising budgets and multi-million dollar sponsorships, but Amsoil was actually the first company to gain approval for an API certified synthetic oil.  Mobil followed in  1976 and in fact on their label were the words 25,000-miles or 1-year drain interval duplicating what Amsoil had already done 4 years earlier.

Start doing your own research and the facts will speak for themselves.  Thanks for reading my article and you have any comments please let me know.

Article Source: Link

Steve Tarini-Lubrication Specialist
30-year career in automotive and light truck maintenance.
Past Aviation Mechanic and Off-Road Competitor.
Specializing in Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants
http://www.bestsyntheticoilandfilters.com/Home.aspx