Oil is used in a car engine to ease the movement of various parts. The oil is very crucial to driving because it increases the efficiency of the engine. First, it acts as a technical liquid that greatly reduces friction between the moving parts. Friction occurs when two engine parts are rubbing against each other. It is very undesirable because it slows down movement and causes the engine parts to wear out easily. Engine oil acts as a barrier between car parts and prevents them. from touching directly during movement. That way, friction is reduced.
As a result, the life limit of the engine increases, because the parts suffer from less wear and tear. With engine oil as a lubricant, the car parts are also less likely to break down. The car can go for a lot of miles before the engine parts are replaced. This means more cost-saving for the car owner.
Lubricating oil also means that the engine will operate more efficiently. With easy movement between the engine parts, the engine will require less power to operate. This operational efficiency is what leads to less fuel consumption by the car engine. This is why motor oil is a key ingredient to efficient driving. It also cleans the car parts by removing dirt and unwanted particles and reduces corrosion by protecting the car parts from rusting. For further details, you can refer to Motor oil on buycarparts.co.uk.
Classification
Before settling on what engine oil to use, it is important to know the various categories of engine oil in the market. The first category system is SAE. Under this system, oils vary depending on how viscous they are at different temperatures. For example, some oils are more viscous than others when the temperature is warm. Under the SAE method of categorization, there are 3 different types of engine oil. These are summer lubricants, winter lubricants, as well as all-season lubricants. The oils are named according to what weather they are best suited for.
The next categorization method is the API system. Here, the lubricant is named according to the power unit it is best suited for. Power units are of two types, namely petroleum or diesel. The lubricants are named S for petrol power units, and C and F for diesel power units. To define them further, the lubricating oils are then named using letters depending on when they are brought into the market. For example, SN is the latest lubricant for the petrol engine. On the other hand, CK-4 and FA-4 are the most recent diesel engine lubricants. The newest lubricants are those that have complied with the latest car technology requirements. The lubricants are improved every time a new engine is released into the market.
The last category system is the ACEA method. This method is used to classify car engines depending on the operating system they are used for. Under the ACEA method, there are 3 categories of engine oil. A/B lubricants are those lubricants that are manufactured for diesel and petrol engines. They are meant to be used with a wide range of engine configurations. Category C lubricants are a more recent lubricant type which is suitable for engines that have catalysts in the power units. They are also used for engines with particulate filters and are modified to suit this function. Category E lubricants are used with more powerful vehicles. They are created for the diesel engines of cargo vehicles as well as other special cars.
Categories Based On Oil Composition
Aside from the power unit the oil is manufactured for, lubricants are also named according to what they are made from. There are 5 main types of engine oil as classified in terms of composition. The first group is engine oils made through the distillation of petroleum. After that, no additional treatment is done. The second category of oils is those oils that have undergone further treatment after the first distillation. These engine oils are purer than those in the first category.
The third category is comprised of oils that undergo structured refinery. Before that, the oil also undergoes multiple hydrocracking. This is done using hydrogen. These types of oils are modified to fit specific power units. Next, there are oils made by chemical synthesis. The last two types of engine oils fall into this category. There are chemically synthesized oils that are made up of short chains of polyalphaolefins. On the other hand, there are synthesized oils that are based on polyether products.
Depending on these types, each lubricant then contains a mixture of two or more of the motor oil types. For example, there are oils that contain a mixture of single refined petroleum as well as hydrocracked oil.
Conclusion
There are key things to bear in mind when it comes to the proper use of engine lubricants. First of all, the oil used should always be the specific lubricant for that engine type. This is because the oils differ in terms of content and operation. The oil components can affect the engine adversely if the oil is not used for the right engine type. Also, there is no guarantee that the oil will work as desired. That is why diesel engine lubricants should always be used with a diesel power unit. The same also applies to petrol power unit lubricants.
In addition, the oil should be changed regularly. As mentioned earlier, engine oil serves the purpose of cleaning up dust and dirt particles from the engine parts. This clean-up means that the motor oil will begin to accumulate dirt after some time. The accumulation will start to inhibit the proper movement of the engine parts, so it will need to be changed after a while.
Most importantly, an oil change should always be done by a professional. Not only is this faster, but it is also a much safer option. It is vital to keep in mind that engine oil is a flammable substance that increases the risk of accidents during an oil change. A professional is also in a good position to make sure that the oil is of the right amount and is suitable for that specific engine.