Engine Oil Correct Use

Motor oil in vehicles play a big role in keeping an engine operating under the right temperatures. The viscosity numbers will tell immediately the range of temperatures it should be ideally used. Lower numbers, especially those with a "W", means those are for extreme cold weather like winter which the "W" represents after the number. Normally, those in the cold regions where they have winter season, they use motor oils between "0" to 15 or 20 variable viscosity. The "0" means the oil will be in this viscosity during cold starts. The oil turns more viscous as the engine runs to operating temperatures on that weather condition. The lower viscosity allows for the engine to crank with ease under extreme cold weather. It follows, therefore, that in warmer climates or regions, motor oils being used range between the variable viscosity of 10 to 30 or 40. Engines that operate under higher temperatures should be using higher viscosity oils.

Another consideration to be noted when using motor oil is the letters that you find, sometimes before or after the viscosity numbers. Commonly, two letters that would either start with an “S” or a “C”. The letter “S” stands for spark combustion, meaning it is for vehicles that have Spark Plugs that make for spark combustion in Gasoline Engines. The letter “C” stands for Compression Combustion which is the case for Diesel Engines. Diesel engines do not have spark plugs but instead compresses air then injects diesel to initiate combustion. Why is there a distinction between gasoline and diesel engine motor oils? Generally, diesel engines run hotter and a little bit ‘dirtier’ than gasoline engine. Diesel engine motor oils have more ‘detergents’ or cleaning agents in them. So using gasoline engine motor oil for diesel engines is not advisable. You can only do this under emergency situations.

As for the letters after the first “S” or “C”, depends on the cleaning ability and protection ingredients with the motor oil. Usually, those with an “A” are the least, like SA or CA, has the least ingredients. Those with B, C, D, and the succeeding letters after, will mean having better cleaning and protection ingredients in them.

How do you deal with High gas prices
Driving with Automatic Transmission

The Chinese Zodiac

When I came to learn about the Chinese Zodiac signs, it seemed that it was more believable than the Western Zodiac, except for some observations difficult for me believe in. The Chinese Zodiac signs are as follows with the corresponding years they would fall or fall into:

1. Rat - Born in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
2. Ox - Born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
3. Tiger - Born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
4. Rabbit - Born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
5. Dragon - Born in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
6. Snake - Born in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
7. Horse - Born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
8. Sheep - Born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
9. Monkey - Born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
10. Rooster - Born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
11. Dog - Born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
12. Pig - Born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Then the numbers ending for each year has a corresponding element, and it would be as follows for the last digit of each year:
For years ending 0 to 1: Metal; 2 to 3: Water; 4 to 5: Wood; 6 to 7: Fire and 8 to 9: Earth (reference: http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_zodiac.htm)

What I have observed is all the 12 zodiac signs are animals, except for one where I have doubts, if it is or were a real animal, the Dragon. Some say there is the Komodo Dragon but I am not convinced that it is the kind of dragon most people have in mind. Many people who would see a Komodo dragon might still refer to it as a large lizard.
Another thing that aroused my curiosity is that a Chinese Zodiac birth year sign comes only every 12 years. Also for the element corresponding to the years ending digit comes on two consecutive years every 10 years! So if a person does not live until 9 years old, he or she does not get to the first anniversary of the element. The same thing with the Chinese Zodiac sign if a person does not live to the age of 12.

It is very amusing to read the legend about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac sign and why the Rat is the first in the 12 year cycle with the Ox coming in second.

Asking a person's Chinese zodiac, if you know the years they fall on, would give a good idea on their age because of the 12 year cycle.

Your Chinese Zodiac