Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Even experienced drivers can learn a thing or two
Experience behind the wheel goes a long way. So does getting basic tips on driving and car maintenance. Let's start with something really basic - an oil change. A well maintained engine can help your car's performance, maximizes fuel economy and reduces harm to the environment. Now, for a few other tips you may want to consider.
Motor oil is essentially a mixture of base oil and additives used to lubricate engine parts, reduce friction, clean, cool, and protect the engine. Engine oil is comprised of two basic components—base oils and additives. These additives include dispersants, detergents, anti-wear additives, friction modifiers, antioxidants, anti-foam additives, and corrosion inhibitors, viscosity index improvers, pour point depressants, and more. Modern synthetic motor oils are a complex mixtures of base oils and additive components designed to perform a variety of tasks: separating and lubricating moving parts, reducing engine wear, helping to prevent deposits from forming on internal engine components, removing and suspending dirt and contaminants in the oil until these contaminants can be removed at the next oil change, cooling engine parts, enhancing engine fuel economy, providing protection over a wide temperature range, operating hydraulics in variable valve timing, and even helping to protect the emissions system. In other words, modern synthetic motor oil does a lot more than just lubricate.
By-products from combustion contaminate your engine oil and if the contaminants build up in the oil, they can settle and create sludge and deposits in the engine. If engine components and oil passages are dirty vehicle performance, efficiency, and fuel economy will suffer. Deposits can also trap heat inside the engine. This is why it is important to use a motor oil like Caltex Havoline® ProDS™ Full Synthetic Motor Oil, specially formulated to provide unbeatable, nonstop protection to keep today’s modern engines going. It even exceeds the industry’s newest and toughest protection standards, including GM’s dexos1™ Gen 2 specification.
In a word, yes. It really is that simple. Synthetic oils protect better than the best conventional, mineral-based oils can, particularly at temperature extremes. You can find lots of explanations online about why synthetic oil molecules outperform conventional oil molecules, but the simple answer is: Yes. Synthetic oils protect better.
A lot of people are shocked to find that their new vehicle requires synthetic oil. That’s because the engines in newer vehicles are asked to deliver a complex balance of fuel economy, performance, low emissions, long engine life and — just to make it even more challenging — longer intervals between oil changes than years gone by. Our recommendation? Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation. If they specify synthetic oil, it’s for a reason. And not doing so could void your vehicle’s warranty and shorten the life of your engine. Find the right motor oil for your vehicle.
Start by consulting your vehicle’s owner’s manual – or try our Havoline® Recommendation Tool.
Ask for Caltex Havoline® by name. If your mechanic doesn't have it, you can find the nearest Havoline® xpress lube to service your vehicle or you can purchase Havoline® products at one of our Retailers and bring your own supply of Havoline products for your mechanic to service your vehicle.
You’d be surprised how many auto parts retailers, repair facilities and quick oil change places will accept your used oil and filter for free. One of the easier ways to find them is to go to www.recycleoil.org, enter your zip code and look for the locations nearest you.
The Chevron family of brands includes Texaco and Caltex. Under these brands, Chevron sells and distributes Havoline® lubricants, motor oils, antifreeze, and coolants. In North America, Latin America, and Europe, Havoline® products are distributed under the Texaco brand. In Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, Havoline® products are distributed under Chevron’s Caltex brand. Learn more about the Chevron family of brands.
