Did you know that two gallons of properly-recycled oil can power the average home for a full 24 hours? Additionally, it only takes one gallon of used oil to produce 2.5 quarts of new, high-quality oil. Oil is an important substance that is used in all combustion engines, but not all motor oils are the same. Fortunately, there are two useful ways that will help you determine which motor oil is right for your car.

– American Petroleum Institute. The API uses a strict rating system to help you find the best motor oil for your car. In fact, the API rates oils based on how well they perform in certain vehicles, the duration of their functionality, and their ability to prevent rust and corrosion. Since API standards are designed to be exceptionally high, you can rest assured knowing that you are using the right oil when it is approved by the API.

– Society of Automotive Engineers. Unlike the API, which rates oils based on their overall performance, the SAE grades oils based on their viscosity characteristics. These viscosity gradings are determined using a numerical scale, and the numbers are suffixed with the letter W. Additionally, many viscosity gradings include two numbers that represent the temperature range in which the oil will function properly. For example, 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-20 are all SAE grades. Fortunately, many car manuals recommend oils based on their SAE grades, so it is relatively simple to discover the right oil for your car by following SAE standards.

Although all automobiles need oil, not all motor oils are the same. Fortunately, the API and SAE both provide oil recommendations based on their own sets of quality standards. By following the ratings set forth by the API and SAE, you will be able to find the best motor oil for your car. See this link for more references.