What Happens If You Put Wrong Oil In Car?

Engine oils may seem like a minute detail in car management, but they can make a world of difference. Using the wrong type of oil can put you in a sticky situation. But you might be wondering, ‘What happens if you put wrong oil in car?’

If you put the wrong type of oil in your car’s engine, you may face the following issues- trouble during colder or warmer weather, low fuel economy, unexpected leakages, burning smells, loud noises, and worst of all, a reduction in the engine’s protection and hence, lifetime. 

But we think it is imperative to know a lot more about motor oil to make an informed decision. That’s why before talking about the consequences of using incompatible oil, we’ll cover-

1. How Engine Oils Are Differentiated

2. How To Make An Informed Decision On Engine Oil Selection 

Ways To Classify Engine Oil

Before we get into why choosing the wrong type of oil is bad, we first need to answer the question- what is the wrong type of engine oil? 

Read Also: Does Engine Oil Brand Matter?

1. By Viscosity

Most commonly, the engine oil will cause hiccups if you don’t pick the right viscosity. Viscosity is the density or how easily the oil flows at any given temperature. 

The way this is shown is in the format ‘0W-20’. The number before the W tells the oil’s viscosity at 0 degrees Celsius whereas the one after it indicates its viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius. 

Here are the most common viscosity options you need: 

• 0W-20
• 0W-30 
• 0W-40 
• 5W-30 
• 5W-40 
• 10W-40

2. By Composition

Next up, you can separate oils by what they are made of. This creates three distinctions-

1. Synthetic Oil 

2. Conventional/ Mineral/ Regular Oil

3. Synthetic Blends

The key difference between synthetic oil and conventional oil is that synthetic oil is made of chemically manufactured components whereas regular oil is made of natural minerals. Synthetic blends are a mixture of the two. This table should help navigate through the option. 

Type Of Oil	Best For
Synthetic Oil	Premium protection at a premium cost
Mineral Oil	Good protection at a reasonable price range
Synthetic Blend	A middle ground between synthetic and mineral

3. API Certification

This is the one distinction where we can clearly state one type of oil is better than the other. If your oil has any sort of API certification, either an API donut or an API/ISLAC starburst, it is the right type of oil. Otherwise, chuck it in the bin!

3. Brand

This distinction doesn’t even really matter. As long as you are using a renowned brand, it is completely fine. Castrol, Shell, Mobil, and Valvoline are the best brands of motor oil from our experience. 

How To Choose The Right Oil?

Choosing the right oil is no DIY project, refer to any one of the two following options when picking the oil-

1. Manufacturer’s Instructions/Recommendations

2. An Experienced Or Trusted Mechanic

The Effects Of Using The Wrong Oil

Now that you know how to pick the right oil for your car, it finally makes sense for us to cover why picking the wrong oil is bad news for your engine– 

1. Engine Will Be Prone To Weather Issues

Ever been stuck in the garage on a cold winter morning because the engine just won’t start? This is a result of the viscosity being too high in the winter. The cold weather thickens your oil ironically causing engine overheating. 

2. Fuel Economy Will Take A Hit

This is pretty obvious. If you don’t use the motor oil that gives maximum efficiency, your engine won’t operate at its best. This will result in it using up more fuel for shorter distances. 

3. Plenty Of Oil Leakage 

Thinner oils just won’t stay in some oils. If you don’t follow the manufacturer’s specifications or consult the best mechanic in the area regarding this, don’t be surprised by puddles under your car. 

5. Unpleasant Odor And Sounds

As your engine oil isn’t going to take care of your engine well enough, the car may just act up physically. The sounds and the burning scent are very visible warning signs. 

5. Long-term Damage

Unfortunately, all the previous effects pile up and take a toll on your engine. The wrong oil simply doesn’t offer adequate protection and your engine undergoes wear and tear in the long run. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why Do I Need To Use Engine Oil? 

Engine oil is one of the most overlooked, yet one of the most important areas of car maintenance. Because oil changes are so infrequent, people forget just how much this lubricant does. The reduction of friction between the metal parts is crucial for your engine. 

The wrong type of engine oil can cause long-term damage to your engine.

2. Where Do I Buy Engine Oil? 

This is a good question as all vendors cannot be trusted. We’re lucky to be living in the time of the internet. You can get reliable options from one quick search on Amazon. Make sure that the motor oil matches your car’s engine and you’re good to go. 

If you still can’t trust the online medium, there are a lot of auto-repair shops that sell motor oil. You’ll find it at any service station as well. Scams are unlikely at any of these locations. 

3. How Often Should I Change My Oil?

That depends on the type of oil you are using. We recommend a change every 5000 miles for conventional oil and around 10,000 miles for synthetic oils. It’s a little difficult to estimate for synthetic blends, but we’d say 7,500 miles is a good point. 

4. Can I Mix Different Types Of Oil? 

If you are talking about brand or composition, yes. Oils from different brands should work together with no issues. Mixing synthetic and conventional oil should also be fine as that’s essentially what synthetic blends. Never mix oils with different viscosities, however. 

Final Words

With that, you know what happens if you put wrong oil in car. We hope this article was able to stress the importance of picking the right oil for your car and how much damage negligence can do to your beloved vehicle.