A McHenry winter challenges engine oil to do its job

More important than ever to have timely oil changes with proper oil

What would happen if your drove your car, truck or SUV without oil in the engine? It’s unlikely you’ll find anyone in McHenry who doesn’t know the answer to that question. But, for those who aren’t as familiar with how motor oil works in an engine, they may not know about the additional challenge that oil faces in the winter.

The cold of a McHenry winter makes timely

oil changes all the more important.

One website suggested that an “engine can run without oil for less than 30 minutes.” But that’s not really true. It depends on a lot of factors, such as the air temperature, the amount of load placed on the engine and more. But, what is true is the remainder of the quote above: “but it will suffer severe damage in a very short time.”

In a relatively short amount of time, the engine will lock up meaning that medal parts will weld together because of the heat and high degree of heat-causing friction. The level of damage before it turns itself into a block of metal depends on how long it runs without oil and the other factors listed above.

In any case, it’s not a good thing to do to your car, truck or SUV’s engine even if it’s only sitting in your McHenry driveway.

The unfortunate reality is that, when you first start your vehicle, it is virtually running without oil.

While the car, truck or SUV was sitting, the oil drained down into the oil pan. When you start turning the engine over to start it, the oil pump begins to pump the oil up into the engine. Until it gets there, it’s virtually running without oil.

This condition is exacerbated by cold weather.

In the winter, such as a McHenry winter, the temperature falls, the oil cools more than in the summer, and it takes longer for the oil pump to pump that thicker cold oil up into the engine. And it takes longer for the oil to reach optimal operating temperature.

This is why you want the proper oil in your car, truck of SUV engine. You want oil that will withstand the highest operating temperatures of summer. And, you want an oil that will flow easier when cold on those frigid days and nights of winter.

You also want oil that is relatively clean – overburdened with dirt and particles makes it more difficult to pump the oil up into the engine. You also want engine oil with healthy additives that enhance its ability to do its job.

No one would want to drive their car, truck or SUV without engine oil. But, when another McHenry winter sets in, drivers want to know their engine oil is changed on schedule and is the proper viscosity for the cold that comes with the season.