Engine oil is responsible for the reliability of the engine. It must be selected taking into account that its properties correspond to the mechanical, chemical and thermal effects to which it will be exposed in the engine system.
What are motor oils
There are oils for gasoline and diesel engines. There are also universal oils that will suit both types of engines. Multipurpose engine oil is beneficial for owners of several cars with different engine designs.
Depending on the temperature at which the oil will be used, you can choose winter, summer or all-season. These oils have different viscosities. For the manufacture of multigrade engine oil, polymers are used that prevent it from becoming excessively fluid at high temperatures and hardening when cooled.
Any engine oil is made from base oil with the addition of additives that improve its properties. Oils are synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral. Synthetic oil has a high level of stability, which cannot be said about mineral oil. It is not afraid of high and low temperatures, it retains its properties longer. But for engines with high mileage, mineral oil or partially synthetic oil, which includes synthetic and mineral components, will be optimal. Only mineral or semi-synthetic oil will have to be changed more often.
What functions should engine oil cope with?
In order for an engine oil to contribute to engine cleanliness, it must be able to cope with a variety of insoluble contaminants, i.e. have high washing and cleaning abilities.
The oil should have high antiwear properties, which are provided by the density of the oil film. Such oil is able to chemically modify the metal surface during boundary friction and neutralize acids that appear from the products of fuel combustion. It is also necessary that the oil withstands external influences and at the same time degrades its properties to a minimum. It should prevent corrosion of parts both during engine operation and during standstill.
High thermal and thermo-oxidative stability of engine oil allows it to be used for piston cooling. Under high loads in extreme conditions, the oil must provide good pumping and reliable lubrication during cold starts.
The oil should not foam too much at high or low temperatures. Also important is the environmental friendliness of engine oil, which is ensured by its low volatility and low waste consumption.
If you correctly select the engine oil in accordance with the car engine, then it will perform its functions for a long time and reliably.
