What's the difference between car oil and motor oil?

1 Answer

Answer :

I don’t think there are any differences between the two except for the titles. I’ve heard it called motor oil, engine oil, and car oil. Apart from those mentioned above, you could look at other fluids for your car, whether they be oil based substances or not, and include them under the category of car oils. Examples of these would be automatic transmission fluid (ATF), brake fluid, and power steering fluid.

Related questions

Description : My mechanic overfilled the motor oil; will this be a concern?

Last Answer : http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=692869

Description : How often should you change the oil in your car?

Last Answer : Most cars these days tell you when they want their oil changed; mine seems to be about every 10,000 miles. I know we used to figure every 3,000.

Description : Why would a city have a bylaw against changing the oil in your car on your driveway?

Last Answer : Because the oil is often not disposed of properly.

Description : Dealer did not put enough oil in car?

Last Answer : answer:Personally, I think your boyfriend is screwed. I once took my car to a Valvoline store in the city, about 2 hours away. The oil light started coming on, almost before I got home. I drove it that way for ... I don't mean to be harsh I just don't think there's reason to give you any hope, here.

Description : How often should the brake fluid in your car be changed? How about the differential oil?

Last Answer : Oops, please move this question to “General”. Thanks!

Description : What does putting oil in a car, without draining the old oil do?

Last Answer : From Tom & Ray: When you overfill the crankcase by a quart or more, then you risk foaming the oil. If the oil level gets high enough, the spinning crankshaft can whip the oil up into a froth, like ... 's not much left in the glass-what you get is mostly air. And air can't lubricate your engine.

Description : What's the difference between a "regular" hybrid car and a "plug-in" hybrid car?

Last Answer : The plug in can be charged at a charging station while the car is idle and parked; then one can go fully electric for a while without having the gas engine started. Since electricity is cheaper than gasoline, it makes running it a lot cheaper.

Description : Windshield wipers dont work tried motor etc. Any ideas? 97 Ford Taurus?

Last Answer : Have you checked to see if there is power from one end of the system to the other?

Description : Does my 2003 Isuzu Rodeo have an interference or non interference motor?

Last Answer : Isuzu did put out a TSB that the timing belt on the 2.2L should be replaced every 60Kmi due to early failures. They are an interference engine.

Description : How long should I wait between oil changes?

Last Answer : answer:What does your owner’s manual say? Mileage is the most usual suspect.

Description : When I make sharp turns my oil light pops on, what could this mean?

Last Answer : Sounds like you have a slow leak in a gasket somewhere and your oil is escaping, or your oil filter is dirty and not picking up from the pump insode the pan.

Description : What are your thoughts on changing the oil viscosity to a higher grade as an engine wears more?

Last Answer : answer:If anything It’ll just reduce your estimated MPG by a fractional amount. HOWEVER, upon further research, it might not be too GOOD for an engine. Because if it’s consuming a lot of oil, it could be signs of a deeper problem. You could try one of those “high mileage” oils.

Description : Will one year between oil changes wear the engine excessively?

Last Answer : Yes. It’s the single worst thing you can do. You should be changing the oil every 3,000 miles without fail.

Description : Anybody know what a capricious oil light means?

Last Answer : Adequate or normal? Are you checking the oil when the car is off or when started?

Description : Who should change the oil in my Prius?

Last Answer : hmmm you could call him and ask him? I’d imagine the oil change isn’t that different on the hybrid since its still a gas engine. You could probably youtube “oil change on a prius hybrid” and get a video on how to do it yourself.

Description : What kind of oil do i need?

Last Answer : Oil is rated in weight, which determines its viscosity - and in a more detailed analysis API rating - which has to do with its endurance over time. For example: 10W/30 is an oil ... on tolerances and pumps used within the engine. You should check your owners manual for a specific recommendation.

Description : Why are people stupid enough to drive around burning oil? Can't that mess up the engine?

Last Answer : because we are becoming a welfair state poeple are giving to much to easy and don’t have to work for it so they do not take care of things

Description : Have you converted your car's engine to use waste vegetable oil from restaurants?

Last Answer : In the UK you’re still obliged to pay the fuel duty which is most if the price over here. Also I thought if the car had a diseal engine it didn’t need converting to run on vegtable oil?

Description : Oil spots on driveway.

Last Answer : This worked for us.

Description : What is the difference between a car and a gun when it comes to having them registered and and licensed?

Last Answer : Some? Almost all do and for good reason. Why should they be registered like cars?

Description : Is there really a difference in car waxes? Which would you recommend?

Last Answer : Holy crap. I just waxed my car with Turtle Wax Ice, and I can't tell you how amazing it is. I used to use just the regular old Turtle Wax (the stuff that dries to a white film), and it was good ... it was worth it. I lurve waxing my car. It is one of the things I look forward to every summer.

Description : Car-savvy jellies: what's the optimal $ cutoff for buying a used car?

Last Answer : I have bought a number of used cars. I would never buy any car that I knew needed work. I always buy a Toyota or Honda. They run forever.

Description : What's in the trunk/boot of your car?

Last Answer : Right now…golf bag

Description : What's a car tire manufacture date of 'V4B3'?

Last Answer : I don’t know for sure but those 4 characters could identify the exact tire mold and location where the tire was made. Usually more numbers will follow that are hand stamped in the tire the day it is pulled from the mold that will identify the date per this article

Description : What's your recommendation for a post college graduation car purchase?

Last Answer : I don’t think I would be averse to buying a used Honda as my SIL has a driveway full of Hondas and a couple are well over 100,000 miles and runs like new.

Description : What's your policy on car horn usage?

Last Answer : I don't drive yet, but I imagine I'll only honk if I need to alert someone to my presence (like if someone's moving into my lane and I don't think they see me). I am afraid of what ... more nervous and drive worse. I don't want to do that to someone and possibly create a more dangerous situation.

Description : What's the maximum load for an older 4-cylinder car?

Last Answer : I would check the owner's manual or get ahold of a copy which would then tell you what the GVW is or I could make something up and sound very authorative,liiiiike .-that year could only tow Bea ... weekend makeup kit and a pomeranian,along with one medium-sized Slurpee (diet,no straw)- Have fun! :)

Description : [Fiction question] What's a moderately conservative sporty car for a middle-aged guy who can afford it?

Last Answer : Mustangs don’t seem overly flamboyant. Maybe a nice BMW or Audi would suffice too.

Description : What's the reasonable and fair thing to do when you were in the possession of someone else's car, and it was stolen?

Last Answer : Cease payments immediately. It is not the son’s fault that someone stole the keys and then the car.

Description : Whats the most affordable way to get a car to commute for two weeks?

Last Answer : where do you live?

Description : What's that weird flutter in air when only one window is down in a car?

Last Answer : when there are 2 windows open, the air can move in and out of the 2, but with one it circulates around the car, back out tge same window. It’s called airflow.

Description : Car problems, what's going on?

Last Answer : Whenever I do this to my car I always wind up going to the repair shop and say “Please install the stereo and reassemble the car.”

Description : My car is overheating and I have no heat - any ideas what's wrong?

Last Answer : Your coolant is either low or leaking (cabin heat comes from blowing air across hot antifreeze in the heater core). Worst case scenario, your head gasket is blown. If your car isn't ... can warp and resurfacing is really expensive, let alone the labor involved in removing and reinstalling it.

Description : What's the best value hybrid car (including any tax offset) ?

Last Answer : How do you define value? Or would you prefer us to provide our own? For example, a hybrid SUV isn’t going to get the best mileage, fastest acceleration, smallest size, lowest price, or least pollution… but it’s capable of many things the “typical” hybrid is not.

Description : If you're worried that your car is going to run out of gas before you get to the gas station, what's the best way to drive to get the most out of the last drops of gas?

Last Answer : The thing that uses the most gas is rapid acceleration, so you want to avoid that and drive at a constant, low speed (obviously coasting as much as you can), trying to break as little as possible) ... the last drops of gas out of their tanks. you can listen online at http://www.sierraclubradio.com

Description : What's the best way to sell my car? Dealer? Craigslist? Other?

Last Answer : depends on the time you have. If need to do quickly and it is a late model, 2000 or newer, then go to a CarMax store. Other national used car sales companies also will buy your car even if ... because refineries are not making fuel oil for home heating = more diesel = too much supply= lower price.

Description : Whats your favorite color car

Last Answer : I would love to have a black car because it makes it look sleek, but hard to clean. So until I stop being lazy ill have a silver car because it doesn’t look as dirty when it is.

Description : Whats the best sport car?

Last Answer : answer:In terms of? Performance? Styling? Personally, I’m a fan of the BMW M3 or M Roadster.

Description : What's the most practical electric car in the market today?

Last Answer : answer:Well, they are not that many choices. A bunch of the ones from the 90s have been killed. According to this Consumer Reports blog entry on the industry, there are two reasonably good choices. They ... stiff suspension seems to pull it off. The eBox costs $55,000, not including the Scion xB.

Description : What's the best way to avoid scams and/or death when selling a car on Craig's List?

Last Answer : Sell it on eBay. They have protections in place already.

Description : What's wrong with my car? Overheating and no A/C?

Last Answer : answer:Typically your air conditioning and your cooling systems are separate. It sounds to me like you have two different problems. I've never seen air conditioning go out that caused a cooling system problem. I ... , where is it going? If not, what part in the (engine) cooling system has gone bad?

Description : What's a good small luxury car?

Last Answer : Alison loves her Mazda 6 hatchback. (She had to buy expensive snowtires for BC, however>)

Description : What's the difference between "winter" and "summer" tyres?

Last Answer : Yes, the special design is the design/width/depth/position and design of the treads in the tire, that allow them to contain more ice and snow (or mud) before losing their stability, and also ... more factors that are much more likely to have contributed to the accident than the build of your tires.

Description : Whats the difference between a BMW 745 '03 and '04?

Last Answer : about a year.

Description : When stranded in a car on the highway, in the winter, can you run out of gas idling?

Last Answer : Yes you can, sorry to say. Rule is don’t go anywhere in the winter with less than a half a tank of gas. Have blankets and snacks, maybe a couple bottles of water too!

Description : Cheapest option for moving my car to a diff. State...

Last Answer : You could drive it.

Description : The car has not gone for a long time, what should I check before rolling?

Last Answer : I would have the tire pressure checked, the oil, and battery charge. Also make sure you have gas. Welcome to Fluther!

Description : How can I look up a used car by VIN?

Last Answer : CarMax charges $19.99 for a vehicle history. If you are buying a car though Carmax, they give you a free report, but if you are just looking for the history of a specific car, you have to pay.

Description : Any car experts that can help me figure this out? -- What is this thing that broke in my car?

Last Answer : Just a thought…If nobody here can adequately name your part, could you take the part to a BMW dealer and ask a mechanic what the part is? They might be able to tell you right away.

Description : I think a business card slid down the side of my car window and is stuck down there, can I get it out?

Last Answer : Doors come apart to allow working on the window and lock mechanisms. Basically all the soft parts on the interior can be peeled open. If you don’t want to do that, I would forget it. Or have a pro do it. Without experience and the right tools, it’s hard to put it back together well.