Motor Oil
MOTOR OIL
Motor oil is a composite blend of two fundamental elements: base oils and additives. The core composition is predominantly formed by base oils, ranging from 70-90 percent, derived from either natural gas or crude oil. The remaining 10-30 percent is complemented by a variety of additives. This additive mixture encompasses essential components such as dispersants, detergents, anti-wear additives, friction modifiers, antioxidants, anti-foam agents, corrosion inhibitors, viscosity index improvers, and pour point depressants. This intricate combination ensures the optimal performance and longevity of the motor oil in a range of applications.
Motor oils are complex compounds that consist of base oil and various additives. Every car needs the right engine oil to function properly. In fact, engine oil is an essential element for the car engine. As the age of the engine increases, the importance of using high-quality oil is felt more and more. In general, motor oils, sometimes called lubricants, are a group of oils that are used to reduce friction, heat, and wear between the mechanical components of the engine that are in contact with each other. Having a healthy engine with a longer life requires feeding the engine with a suitable engine oil. Failure to use the right oil will cause the car engine parts to be damaged and eventually the engine will be seriously damaged. Since replacing engine parts is very difficult and involves a lot of costs, it is better to use the right engine oil so as not to incur additional and staggering costs for repairing or replacing the car engine.
HISTORY OF MOTOR OIL
The history of the use of oils and lubricants goes back to the fourth millennium BC, that is, right when the wheel and chariot were invented. At that time, the axles of the chariot wheels would burn out after a while due to friction. At first, they tried to use water to cool the axles and prevent them from eroding, but after a while and in line with the efforts of the Egyptians, it became customary to use vegetable oils such as olive oil. In the Middle Ages and with the arrival of copper and iron machines, they tried to use other oils such as; Use almond oil, whale oil and other animal oils. But the use of these oils was not appropriate, because vegetable and animal oils had low resistance and decomposed or spoiled very quickly. After the start of the first modern oil extraction well, in the 19th century and with the advancement and development of technology, in the late 19th century, lubricants based on crude oil were produced and replaced vegetable lubricants. In the 20th century, with the increasing expansion of industries and the expansion of the use of automobiles, the need to use lubricants and higher quality engine oils was felt more. Engine oils that had better quality and longer lifespan and were able to meet the needs of complex car engines. Today, different types of engine oils are produced with different qualities and functions, which perform different tasks in the car engine.
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF ENGINE OIL?
The main job of oil in a car engine is to lubricate and minimize friction between engine components. Of course, motor oil has other very important functions in the car engine. Preventing rust and corrosion of the engine, cleaning the engine and suspending the materials resulting from the wear of the parts, sealing the engine, protecting the metal surfaces of the engine, increasing the efficiency of the engine and some other features, are all the duties of the engine oil. However, note that not all oils perform these tasks. If the oil you use is not suitable for your car engine, besides it will not be beneficial for your engine, it may also cause problems in the engine’s performance. Therefore, in the following, we will describe the types of engine oil and introduce the best type of oil for all types of cars.
TYPES OF MOTOR OIL
As it was said, today engine oils are produced and marketed in different types. The difference in the production method of different types of engine oil will lead to the difference in their performance. This vital vehicle fluid is divided into three important categories, based on the type of production, which are:
FULLY SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL
Fully synthetic motor oils are completely manufactured in a laboratory with chemicals. These oils are pure and will increase the performance of your car engine to the highest level. This type of engine oil reduces vehicle fuel consumption and is more efficient than other engine oils; Of course, their cost is also higher than other types of oils.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC OIL:
- Reducing car fuel consumption
- Prevent wear of car parts
- Less impurity than other oils
- Maintaining the properties of the oil and requiring less replacement
- Increase engine life
- Heat and heat resistance
SEMI-SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL
Semi-synthetic engine oil is a combination of synthetic and conventional oil. These types of oils also protect the moving parts of the engine well and their performance is much better than mineral oils. Of course, you should also pay attention to the fact that these oils do not have all the characteristics of fully synthetic oils and they have a lower price compared to them.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SEMI-SYNTHETIC OIL:
- A mixture of fully synthetic and mineral oils
- Cheaper price than all synthetic oils
- Poorer performance than fully synthetic oils
- Better performance than mineral oils
MINERAL ENGINE OIL (REGULAR)
The main base of this type of oil is crude oil and they are produced from the combination of hydrocarbon base oils, polyinternal olefin and polyalpha olefins. This engine oil has the most basic protection criteria for the car engine and due to its low viscosity, it causes leakage in the car engine. Therefore, this oil is used for cars with a simple engine design or for sealing the car’s engine. The price of this type of oil is cheaper than other types. Conventional oils cannot protect the car engine in extreme cold or heat and lose their efficiency in very high or very low temperatures. In addition, normal oils should be changed after 4000 km, which is not very economical.
FEATURES OF MINERAL OIL (NORMAL):
- Cheap price
- Need to replace in the short term
- Suitable for old and simple engines
- Inability to reduce engine heat
IS IT POSSIBLE TO USE A COMBINATION OF SEVERAL ENGINE OILS?
Note that you should never mix engine oils together. Since the way each engine oil is made and works is different, mixing them together will damage your car engine and make it difficult to function properly. To have the best performance in the engine, it is better to use the right engine oil for your car. In the rest of the article, we will examine how to determine the best type of engine oil for a car.
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF OIL FOR CARS
The volume of engine oil and the amount of oil used are different for each car. This volume will vary based on the oil change, the type of engine, the type of your car and some other factors. In the car oil manual, the right amount of oil needed for your car is listed, which you can refer to to determine the right amount.
ADDITIVES IN ENGINE OIL
Modern motor oils have several chemical compounds that improve their performance and help keep the engine clean by cleaning out impurities.
THE COMMON ADDITIVES IN ENGINE OIL ARE:
- Foam inhibitors to prevent foaming and bubbles in the oil
- Corrosion inhibitors to protect against rust by forming a protective band
- Antifreeze to improve oil fluidity in cold temperatures
- Dispersants and antioxidants to prevent the formation of impurities and accumulation on engine parts
- Anti-wear agents to aid in immediate lubrication when the engine is started and to minimize wear on engine parts
- Improve viscosity index to improve oil performance at extreme temperatures
HOW DOES ENGINE OIL PROTECT THE CAR ENGINE?
As we mentioned, the right engine oil is responsible for protecting the car engine and it does this by using different methods. In addition to preventing the accumulation of thick sludge in the car engine, oils clean the pollution and particles caused by sediments from the surface of the engine and in this way they prevent the car engine from closing.
Also, using the right oil takes the heat created in some parts of the engine, such as the piston ring, whose temperature reaches 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and prevents the engine from overheating. Some of the ways that engine oil protects the car engine are:
- By cleaning the car engine
- Through heat removal and increasing engine efficiency
- By preventing car engine corrosion and rust
- By reducing friction and reducing wear
BENEFITS OF ENGINE OIL
Engine oil has very important functions in the car engine, and for this reason, it is considered a very essential substance for the health of the car. In the following, we will examine some of the important functions and benefits of the right car engine oil:
- Reducing friction between engine components
The car engine is made of moving parts and between these parts during movement, friction and wear occurs. If this friction is too much, the engine components will wear and the engine will overheat. One of the main functions of the right engine oil is to reduce the friction between the engine components and prevent the engine from overheating and the wear of its components.
- Prevent heat from reaching the combustion cycle
A car engine works by producing controlled explosions or combustion inside the cylinders. If the heat caused by friction is added to this heat, the engine components will stick together due to high heat and the performance of the car engine will have problems. One of the important functions of engine oil is to prevent heat from reaching the combustion cycle like an insulator.
- Minimizing the rusting of parts
To carry out the combustion process, air, which contains oxygen, must be mixed with fuel. On the other hand, oxygen is one of the factors that causes corrosion and rusting of metals; Therefore, using a suitable engine oil minimizes the effects of oxidation and prevents engine damage.
- Absorption of unwanted combustion products
During the combustion process, some unwanted products such as acids and silicon oxide are produced. If these products enter other parts of the engine, the car engine will be damaged. One of the important functions of engine oil is to absorb and suspend these substances.
- Car engine sealing
By creating a thin layer between the cylinder and the piston, engine oil acts as an insulator and prevents water penetration. In this way, it can be said that the oil acts like a sealing system.
- Has cleaning properties
Motor oils have great cleaning power, but they are less known as cleaners. After long-term operation of the engine, microscopic sediments accumulate in it and remain suspended. These deposits are formed from dust or combustion residues. Without oil, these substances and deposits clog the engine and reduce its performance. The oil flow continuously transports these impurities to the oil filter and traps them so that the car engine can perform its duties properly.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RIGHT OIL FOR THE ENGINE
Using high-quality and suitable engine oil will have a great impact on the better efficiency of your car engine. The right engine oil has features that you should pay attention to when buying. In the following, we will examine some of the characteristics of suitable oil for the engine:
Reducing fuel consumption: One of the most important functions of engine oil is reducing fuel consumption in a car. For example, Paranox engine oil will reduce fuel consumption by 5-10%, depending on the type of your car. These cost savings will be significant in the long run.
It has high lubrication properties: motor oil is a type of industrial lubricant and is used to lubricate car engines. Suitable engine oils have very high lubrication properties and minimize vehicle friction.
Reduction of noise pollution: Friction between car engine parts and the collision of these parts causes noise in the engine. The right engine oil eliminates all these noise pollutions and makes the movement of parts on each other possible easily. For example, Paranox engine oil completely destroys the sound of your car’s engine; So that in some cases, the sound of the car is reduced so much that the drivers do not notice if their car is turned off or on!
Reducing car depreciation: One of the best ways to reduce car engine depreciation is to use high-quality and suitable oil. The use of high-quality engine oil reduces car engine wear and tear.
Strengthening the car engine: The main task of the right engine oil is that it leads to the strengthening of your car engine by making positive changes in the performance of the car engine.
No harm to the environment: Every day, millions of cars travel across the country and each of them emits some toxic gas into the environment. Some high-quality motor oils are not dangerous for the environment and prevent the production of toxic gas in the car engine. Using this engine oil will be an effective help in preserving the environment and reducing pollution.
ENGINE OIL EXPIRATION DATE
On the packaging of motor oil, its production date is often written, but there is no information about the expiration date of motor oil. This makes many people think that car oil has no expiration date. In response to this group of people, we must say that motor oils, like other chemicals, have an expiration date and the possibility of spoiling. Normally, for natural oils, the expiration date is considered to be about 2 years and for synthetic oils, about 4 years, of course, this is in the condition that you have not opened the oil door, because after opening the door, this period Time will be shorter. Note that using engine oils after this date has no practical and economic justification and may even lead to damage to the car engine.
CAUSES OF ENGINE OIL BREAKDOWN
There are many reasons that can cause the oil to go bad, for example, when you open the engine oil door, oxygen and other gases enter it and cause the base oil to oxidize. Gradually and with the passage of time, and due to the creation of materials from oxidation, the viscosity of engine oil also decreases and as a result, its efficiency decreases. Other factors such as humidity, environmental stress and even the type of engine oil used have an effect on its expiration date. Therefore, when buying engine oils, pay attention to buy the best type of oil for your car.
SUITABLE OIL VISCOSITY FOR THE ENGINE
Motor Oil Viscosity
The degree of resistance of liquids to flow is called viscosity. Viscosity depends on how thick or thin the liquid is. The thicker a liquid is, the higher its viscosity, and the thinner the liquid, the lower its viscosity.
For an oil to work well, it must have the right viscosity. In the SAE rating, they use a series of numbers to show the degree of viscosity, which we will explain below.
- Single grade
As we said, numbers are written on the engine oil label. Now, if the number written on the oil label is only one, it means that the oil in question has been tested only in cold or hot weather and does not have a four-season viscosity. In such a way that if the number written is between 0 and 25, it has been tested only in cold weather and if it is between 30 and 60, it has been tested only at the boiling temperature of the engine; Therefore, it can be said that single grade motor oils are only for one type of weather conditions and cannot be used for all four seasons.
- Multi-grade
It can be said that most of the motor oils produced today are multi-grade. Multigrade oils are made using a series of polymer additives and are suitable for all four seasons. In this type of oil, they use two numbers and one letter W (for example 5W-30). The letter W in this phrase is the first letter of the word Winter meaning winter.
The number next to W indicates the viscosity of the oil at cold temperatures, and the next number indicates the viscosity of the oil at the highest engine temperature (100°C, or 212°F). For example, if the number 5W-30 is written on the car oil label, it means that the viscosity of this oil will be 30 in hot seasons and 5 in cold seasons.
MOTOR OIL CHANGE TIME
In order for the engine oil to perform all its functions correctly, you should check the oil level regularly so that the oil is changed at the right time. If the life of your car oil is over, it will not have the necessary efficiency; Therefore, it is better to always change the oil on time so as not to incur heavy costs later.
MOTOR OIL PRESSURE SENSOR
The engine oil pressure sensor has a very important task in recording and continuously monitoring the internal oil pressure. This sensor is placed in the path of the oil passage and the engine oil enters through a small hole in the head of this sensor and its pressure is measured. When a change in oil pressure is detected, a thin membrane on the sensor deforms and alerts the ECU (Engine Control Unit) that there is an oil pressure problem. In this case, the warning light on the dashboard is lit and the driver is warned. To regulate the oil flow and temperature in the car, the oil pressure sensor must work properly. This sensor is placed in the right place according to the model and engine type of the car. This sensor is usually placed in one of the engine cylinder blocks or next to the oil filter.
If the oil pressure sensor is damaged, the oil pressure warning light will still be on. By replacing the oil pressure sensor, this problem can be easily solved. Diagnosing and testing a faulty oil pressure sensor is a very simple task for a mechanic. Normally, mechanics test this sensor before changing the oil; Because several conditions such as leakage in the oil path or other cases, may activate the warning of the engine oil pressure sensor.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE
Most people think that the right time to change the engine oil is after covering a distance of about 5000 km or once every three months. It is better to say that this thinking is not correct, but oil change depends on various factors. In the following, we will examine the effective factors in changing the oil.
Engine manufacturing technology: Engine manufacturing technology is very effective in determining the right time to change engine oil. For example, engines that use a turbocharger system usually need to change the car’s oil sooner than other engines.
How to drive a car: One of the influential factors in changing car engine oil is the way you drive and the distance you travel each month. Therefore, it cannot be said that all cars should change the oil every 3 months or 6 months.
Type of engine oil used: The type of engine oil used by you is effective at the time of oil change. Therefore, using the right engine oil will make your car’s oil need to be changed later.
SIGNS THAT IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THE ENGINE OIL
Knowing some characteristics and signs will help you to recognize the right time to change the engine oil. In the following, we will examine some signs of changing car oil:
Hearing a ticking sound when the car engine is started: After working for a while, the engine oil will become very dirty and black due to the heat and absorption of soot from combustion. Dirty oil becomes heavy and hard to move inside the engine. Therefore, when starting the car engine, if the engine is cold, a ticking sound can be heard from the valve assembly.
High idle engine speed: Another sign that it’s time to change your engine oil is that your engine idles high. This condition occurs due to increased friction between pistons, rims and bearings, and is one of the signs that it is time to change the engine oil.
Continuous knocking sound from the engine: If the oil in the engine is old and dirty, you will hear a knocking sound from the car engine while working. Hearing this sound usually means that your car has been damaged and neglecting it will lead to many problems and increase the amount of damage.
Turning on the check light: The turning on of the check light means that the oil pressure inside the engine has dropped to a great extent and the car cannot work properly. Therefore, if your car’s check light comes on, make sure to change your engine oil as soon as possible.
Decreased acceleration of the car: When your car’s oil is dirty and old, the engine parts will not work well and as a result, the acceleration and power of your engine will decrease.
EFFECTIVE FACTORS IN EARLY ENGINE OIL REPLACEMENT
The presence of some factors or not following some tips while driving, will make you change your engine oil early. By knowing these tips and following them, you can prevent premature oil changes in your car. Some of these points that prevent early oil change are:
- Driving at high speed
- Carrying heavy loads
- Driving uphill and continuous towing
- Staying in heavy traffic and running the car engine a lot
- Too much starting in cold weather
- Continuous driving in wet or dusty weather
CAN WE CHANGE THE ENGINE OIL OURSELVES?
Changing engine oil is not a difficult task and does not require much equipment; But you should note that this should be done correctly. Because as we said, the right engine oil will play a very important role in the health of your car engine.
Necessary tools for changing engine oil
To change the car oil, we need some tools. These tools include:
- Rubber and plastic gloves
- Drain screw washer
- clean funnel
- Oil filter wrench
- Master keys
- jack
- New oil filter
- Container for draining oil
PROCEDURES FOR CHANGING MOTOR OIL
The steps to change engine oil are as follows:
1. Park your car: To change the car oil, you must first park the car on a non-slope environment. Note that to change the oil, you must let the car engine cool down or if your car is off, let the engine warm up a little.
2. Use a jack: Using a jack, raise the part where the car engine is located. Of course, note that if your car has a long chassis, you will not need to use a jack.
3. Open the drain screw: Next, place the oil drain pan under the car and, using a suitable wrench, loosen the drain screw counterclockwise and allow the old oil to drain completely.
4. Check the drain screw gaske: After the previous engine oil has been completely drained and before you close the drain plug, check the drain plug gasket for rotting or tears. If the drain screw gasket is damaged, replace it first and then close the drain screw.
5. Replace the oil filter: Before changing the car oil, you must first change the oil filter. To do this, open the hood of the car and then open it using a special filter wrench and remove the filter along with its washer. After that, put some oil on the edge of the new filter and replace it with the old filter.
6. Add engine oil: After changing the oil filter, it is time to add the right oil for the engine. To do this, remove the engine oil cap and then add oil using a clean funnel. Pay attention that there is no leakage from the drain screw and oil filter. If you see oil dripping from the bottom of the car, you should fix it.
7. Check the car engine oil level: In the last step of changing the engine oil, you should check the oil level of the car. To do this, you should leave your car on for 30 seconds and during this time, check the drain screw and drain filter to make sure they are not leaking. After that, pull out the rod that is located next to the engine and has a red ring and clean it with a tissue. Then put it back in place and pull it out again. If the oil level was higher than the level line, it means you should reduce the oil and if the level was lower than the level line, it means that you should add some oil.
THE BEST ENGINE OIL FOR YOUR CAR
Today, there are many oils in the market, and this variety of products has caused many people to hesitate in choosing the right oil for their car and cannot choose the right oil for their car engine. To choose the best engine oil for your car, you should consider several factors, which we will discuss below:
Standard: To buy a good oil, check the standards listed on the container. API standards or ACEA ratings are the standards used by high-quality motor oils.
API standard: API standard is an abbreviation of the American Petroleum Institute and for gasoline engines they use the letter S and the letters A to N next to it. Also, for diesel engines, the letter C is used, along with the letters A to J. The higher the letters used, the higher the quality of the engine oil.
ACEA standard: This standard stands for the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers. An oil that meets this standard will have the ACEA symbol on its label. Besides this symbol, they also use letters A to E and numbers 1 to 8. The letter A is for gasoline vehicles, the letter B is for light diesel vehicles, the letter C is for gasoline and diesel vehicles compatible with a catalytic converter, and the letter E is for heavy diesel vehicles.
Viscosity: One of the most important factors in choosing the best type of engine oil is viscosity. As we mentioned earlier, based on this characteristic, oils are divided into single grade and multi grade.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SN AND SM ENGINE OIL
As we mentioned, the quality of engine oil is determined by various indicators. The API index is one of the most important indices that shows the quality of oil. This indicator is shown using two English letters; The first letter indicates the type of fuel (diesel or gasoline) and the second letter indicates the quality of the oil.
The old indexes were SA, SB, SC, SD, SE and SF. Of course, these oils were of low quality, and for this reason, their use is obsolete today. Currently, most motor oils are indicated using SN, SM, SL and SJ index. To know what oil and with what index is suitable for your car, look at your car manual.
Oils with SN and SM index are the best option for your car engine. Of course, the quality of SN engine oils is higher than SM oils. Engine oils with SN index not only do not harm your car, but also have a much better quality.
OIL VISCOSITY INSIGHTS
Oil viscosity is a critical parameter gauging an oil’s resistance to flow. Two defining numbers encapsulate this property. The initial number concludes with ‘W,’ symbolizing Winter, correlating with how the oil behaves in cold conditions, like during engine start-up. The second number characterizes its flow at higher temperatures during normal engine operation. Smaller numbers indicate better flow, illustrating that a 5W-30 flows more readily than a 10W-30 at start-up and a 10W-30 surpasses a 10W-40 at regular engine temperatures. This aspect is pivotal because oil thickens as it cools and thins as it heats. Low viscosity oils flow more easily, safeguarding engine components in chilly conditions, while high viscosity oils excel at maintaining film strength for hot-temperature engine protection.
Motor oil, also known as engine oil, plays a crucial role in lubricating internal combustion engines. Comprising base oils enriched with additives like anti-wear agents, detergents, and viscosity index improvers, it aims to minimize friction and wear on moving engine parts. Additionally, it cleanses the engine from sludge and varnish, neutralizes acids, enhances piston ring sealing, and dissipates heat from moving components. Beyond the primary components, most motor oils include corrosion and oxidation inhibitors. They can consist solely of a lubricant base stock or a blend with additives to enhance detergency, extreme pressure performance, and corrosion inhibition. Today’s motor oils are crafted from base oils, featuring petroleum-based hydrocarbons, polyalphaolefins (PAO), or their mixtures, occasionally incorporating up to 20% esters for improved additive dissolution.
MOTOR OIL APPLICATIONS
Motor oil serves as a vital lubricant in internal combustion engines, propelling a diverse array of vehicles and machinery, including cars, motorcycles, lawnmowers, and engine-generators. Within engines, moving parts interact, inducing friction that transforms kinetic energy into heat, dissipating otherwise useful power. This friction also causes wear, potentially diminishing engine efficiency and performance, leading to increased fuel consumption and decreased power output, and, in extreme cases, engine failure.
The primary role of lubricating oil is to establish a protective film between adjacent moving parts, mitigating direct contact and minimizing friction-induced heat, thereby reducing wear and safeguarding the engine. During operation, motor oil efficiently transfers heat through conduction as it circulates through the engine. In engines featuring a recirculating oil pump, this heat dissipation is facilitated by airflow over the oil pan, circulation through an oil cooler, and the evacuation of oil gases through the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. While contemporary vehicles generally utilize recirculating pumps, smaller engines often opt for total loss oiling, emphasizing design flexibility across various engine sizes.
MOTOR OIL GRADES
Explore internationally recognized engine oil grades:
0W-20: This engine oil exhibits lower viscosity during cold starts, with a viscosity of 0 when the motor is cold. As the engine reaches its normal operating temperature, the viscosity transforms to 20.
0W-30: Engineered to function as a 0-weight oil at startup and transition into a 30-weight oil at normal operating temperature.
0W-40: Engineered to operate as a 0-weight oil during startup and shift into a 40-weight oil when the engine reaches its normal operating temperature.
5W-30: Widely available and extensively used in the Indian market, recommended by most Indian car manufacturers.
5W-40: A fully synthetic engine oil that mimics a 5-weight oil during cold starts and performs like a 40-weight oil at normal operating temperatures.
10W-40: An engine oil delivering 10-weight performance during cold starts and shifting to a 40-weight performance at the engine’s normal operating temperature.
TYPES OF OIL ADDITIVES
Motor oils typically incorporate various additives, constituting between 5% and 30% of the oil, to enhance performance.
These additives include:
- Antioxidants: Slows oxidation and deposit formation in motor oil, maintaining engine cleanliness and extending oil life.
- Anti-wear agents: Protects engine parts vulnerable to high temperatures, such as cylinder walls, lifters, cams, and piston rings, by forming a protective layer to minimize friction in metal-on-metal situations.
- Detergents: Prevents deposits, rust, and corrosion in areas prone to overheating, like the piston ring area and piston under-crown.
- Dispersants: Enables the oil to absorb and retain solid contaminants, preventing engine damage.
- Foam inhibitors: Prevents the formation of foam and bubbles in motor oil, ensuring effective coating of vital engine parts for cooling.
- Friction modifiers: Reduces friction during high-temperature and heavy-load engine operations, contributing to improved fuel efficiency.
- Pour-point depressants: Prevents wax particles in the oil from hardening in cold conditions, ensuring smooth oil flow even in low temperatures.
- Rust and corrosion inhibitors: Forms a protective film over internal engine parts to prevent rust and corrosion caused by exposure to acids and moisture.
VISCOSITY-INDEX IMPROVERS
Viscosity-index improvers play a crucial role in ensuring the optimal performance of engine oil across varying temperatures. Engine oil serves multiple essential functions for proper engine operation over time, including lubrication and cooling. As energy loss through combustion raises the engine temperature, lubrication provided by the engine oil assists in heat dissipation through the lubrication circuit, complementing the coolant’s role in cooling specific engine parts.
Another vital but less acknowledged function is cleaning—engine oil’s cleaning power is fundamental in preventing the accumulation of microscopic deposits in the engine, such as dust or combustion residue. Without engine oil, these residues could impede engine performance, but the continuous flow of oil carries them to the filter for trapping.
Engine oil also acts as a protective shield against corrosion caused by the corrosive acid generated during fuel combustion. The modern additives in engine oils slow down corrosion; however, regular oil changes are essential as oil, over time and in contact with oxygen, may oxidize and lose its corrosion-inhibiting capabilities.
Moreover, engine oil contributes to sealing, particularly for pistons and cylinders. It deposits a protective layer between various engine parts, sealing any clearances that might arise. The primary benefits of quality engine oil for vehicle owners include preventing costly repairs, ensuring a longer engine lifespan by reducing friction and cleaning, promoting proper engine functioning, and decreasing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. An oiled engine performs more efficiently, requires less maintenance, and contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing polluting discharges.
THE MOST USED MOTOR OIL GRADES CURRENTLY ARE:
SAE 5W-30: This is a versatile oil that is suitable for a wide range of vehicles and climates. The “5W” indicates that the oil has a low viscosity at cold temperatures, which allows it to flow easily and lubricate engine parts during startup. The “30” indicates that the oil has a medium viscosity at high temperatures, which helps to protect engine parts from wear and tear.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF MOTOR OIL
| Properties | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kinematic Viscosity @40°C cst | ASTM D445 | 63.02 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @100°C cst | ASTM D445 | 10.77 |
| Viscosity Index | ASTM D2270 | 163 |
| Dynamic Viscosity @-30°C cp | ASTM D5293 | 4 890 |
| MRV @-35°C cp | ASTM D4684 | 16 000 |
| Density @15°C kg/m3 | ASTM D4052 | 840.1 |
| Flash Point °C | ASTM D92 | 244 |
| Flash Point °C | ASTM D93 | 226 |
| Pour Point °C | ASTM D97 | -45 |
SAE 40: is a thick, single-grade motor oil (think: older engines) ideal for hot climates due to its high-temperature protection. While good for heat, it hinders cold starts and isn’t generally recommended for modern cars.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF MOTOR OIL
| Properties | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Viscosity Grade | SAE J300 | 40 |
| Service Category | SN | |
| ILSAC | N/A | |
| ACEA | N/A | |
| Density kg/m3 | ASTM 04052 | 880 |
| Flash Point °C | ASTM 093 | 235 |
| Pour Point °C | ASTM 097 | -27 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @40°C cst | ASTM 0445 | 165.0 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @100°C cst | ASTM 0445 | 14.0 |
| Viscosity Index | 14.0 Viscosity Index | 100 |
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