Know Your Car Engine Oil

Engine oil is the most important thing in car service. Engine oil plays a major role in the combustion cycle. It helps keep the engine cool and seals the IC engine’s piston rings. Let’s look at what this miracle liquid does for our car.

Lubrication

Motor oil reduces friction between the different components of the engine in the combustion cycle. The engine’s parts do not rub against each other because of a thin oil layer. This reduces wear and tear.

Neutralizes Acids

Acids are formed during combustion. The engine oil neutralizes these acids.

Removes Sludge

Engine oil is an essential component in keeping the engine block clean and free of residue. Blockage can occur if engine sludge has not been removed properly.

Prevents corrosion and oxygenation

Engine oil also prevents corrosion. Motor oil prevents rust from the cylinder blocks.

We now know that engine oil is crucial for smooth engine operation. However, all engines don’t work with the same engine oil.

Different engines need different engine oils to operate properly. The car manufacturer will recommend the right engine oil based on your vehicle’s specifications. It is important to determine the type of engine oil that your car requires. This will allow you to get the most out of your engine. Good oil can also prolong the engine’s life.

What engine oil grades are there?

Different grades are available for engine oils. The SAE has graded them based on their viscosities. The fluid’s internal friction is measured in viscosity. Different engine oils have different viscosities at ambient temperature. They also react differently when exposed to temperature variations.

What does 20W-40 in engine oil mean?

An alpha-numeric code is used to indicate the engine oil grade. Let’s find out what each character in the code means.

• The first number is followed closely by a “W” The W is for Winter. It represents how oil will react to cold starts.
• The parameter is simply the number before W. This tells us how oil will flow under cold conditions.
• The flow rate will be better if the number is smaller. A 5W-30 oil will have a higher cold flow than a 10W-30 oil.
• The following section shows how finely the oil flows at normal operating temperatures.

The 10W-30 engine oil will flow better at normal operating temperatures than the 10W-40 oil.

Motor Oil Grades

Check out these internationally-used engine oil grades.

1. 0W-20 The engine oil becomes thinner when the engine is started. The viscosity is 0 for cold motors. The oil’s viscosity increases to 20 when the engine reaches normal operating temperatures.
2. 0W-30 The engine’s 0W-30 oil behaves as a 0-weight oil at the start temperature and a 30-weight oil once it reaches its normal operating temperatures.
3. 0W-40 The engine of the 0W-40 oil has been engineered to operate as a 0-weight oil at the start temperature and a 40-weight oil when it reaches its normal operating temperature.
4. 5W-305W-30 This is the most widely available and extensively used engine oil on the Indian market. This is the recommendation of most Indian car manufacturers.
5. 5W-405W-40 This fully synthetic engine oil performs as a 5-weight oil during cold starts. Once the engine reaches normal operating temperatures, it acts as a 40-weight oil.
6. 10W-4010W-40 engine oil offers a 10-weight performance at cold temperatures. It provides a 40-weight performance at normal operating temperatures.

What types of engine oils are there?

Before buying any engine oil, make sure you know the type of oil your hatchback, sedan, or SUV needs. It is important to know what goes into your car. This is the key to ensuring that your engine runs smoothly, efficiently, and with minimal friction.

There are generally three types of engine oils: Synthetic, Semi-Synthetic, and Mineral.

Mineral Oil

This is the most basic type of engine oil. This is the source of modern engine oils. Mineral oil is refined petroleum oils that are subject to temperature treatment to work under extreme temperatures. Mineral oil is also cheaper than the other two types. Today, mineral oils are used in older vehicles and motorbikes.

Mineral oil has a problem. They offer very little protection from friction-induced heat and lubrication. They also perform poorly at lower temperatures. They also have a higher risk of vaporization when exposed to high temperatures. Mineral oil also requires frequent replacement. They won’t last more than 5000km.

Semi-Synthetic Oil

It is right between Full Synthetic and Mineral oil. Semi-Synthetic oil has the benefits of both synthetic and mineral oils. This type of oil offers three times the protection as mineral oils.

Semi-synthetic oils are also called synthetic blend oil. A small amount of synthetic oil is mixed with mineral oil. This improves the engine oil’s properties and doesn’t increase its cost. Synthetic oil can be added to improve the viscosity of engine oil and its wear resistance at higher temperatures and under stress conditions. Synthetic-blend oil can offer higher performance at lower temperatures than mineral oils.

Semi-synthetics are not as protective as full synthetics.