Car engine oil and its types

In all mechanical systems that work under high pressure, lubricant should be used to be placed between the parts and prevent them from wear and corrosion by reducing friction. Engine oil is also a lubricant used in internal combustion engines, a thin layer of which is placed between the parts and lubricates them to prevent their wear. Of course, different types of engine oil have other functions, which include helping to cool and clean the engine.

Engine oil is used as a lubricant for the internal parts of the engine. The internal parts of the engine work with a very small distance from each other, if they are not properly lubricated, severe wear will occur between them and will cause the engine to fail. The first part to be damaged by improper lubrication is the bearings, followed by the crankshaft. Also, oil as a fluid has an effect on engine cooling. Because it exchanges the heat received from the engine with the air that hits under the engine and crankcase. Collecting pollution caused by combustion from the cylinder wall is also one of the other functions of engine oil. A good engine oil increases the useful life of the car despite increasing the performance.

Engine oil of any type, apart from the ingredients that are based on crude oil or hydrocarbon compounds, also has additives to increase efficiency and improve its properties. These additives in the products of different companies can be different and low and high. But some of them have somehow become one of the permanent components in oil. Cleaner: This additive increases the oil's cleaning properties to better collect soot and dirt in the engine. Increased stickiness: The stickiness of the oil should not be such as to increase the friction between the parts. On the other hand, it should not be in a form that quickly slides out of the parts. Therefore, by adding a series of additives, they increase the viscosity of the oil in a good way so that it has a greater effect in lubrication and does not cause double friction. Anti-rust and anti-corrosion: One of the functions of engine oil is to prevent the pipes inside the engine from rusting due to the presence of moisture in the air. Engine oil should also prevent corrosion and rusting of internal parts. Anti-wear: By creating a nano protective layer, the contacting surface of the engine parts is more resistant to wear. Restorative: like the anti-wear mode, by adding a protective layer on the surface of the parts, it covers the lines and small scratches created on their surface and repairs them, so to speak. This feature is very useful for cylinder walls. This removes even mild oil burns. Leakage: By repairing and restoring the properties of leakproof parts such as felt bowls, it can greatly help to restore their properties and prevent oil leakage due to the drying of these parts. Smoke removal: This additive can reduce to some extent the smoke caused by oil burning, weak rims and valve stem gasket failure. Stabilizer: This additive keeps the amount of expensive oil stable in the long run and is suitable for engines that work at high speeds or an engine that has weaknesses in some parts. Antioxidant: This additive largely prevents the formation of sludge in the oil. The presence of sludge is a big obstacle in the proper lubrication of the engine. Viscosity adjustment: This additive allows the oil to flow easily even at low temperatures and perform lubrication, but does not deviate from its standard grade and fluidity range.

Motor oil has different types and it can be classified based on different factors. One of the most common categories of motor oil is based on its grade, which is divided into mono grade and multi grade. In addition, in terms of structure, it includes mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic as well as flushing oil.

Mineral oil or mineral or organic base is the simplest type of motor oil that is made from crude oil. This oil does not have special additives and may be single grade or multi grade.

This type of oil is a combination of mineral oil with a series of additives. This oil is neither fully synthetic nor simply mineral. The additives of this oil make it have a higher ability and tolerance against the heat caused by high work in high temperature and hard conditions such as high engine speeds.

This oil is not obtained from crude oil like mineral oil. Rather, it is made from a combination of hydrocarbons and chemicals and additives are added to it to make it perform better. For example, additives for better flow in the engine ducts, anti-corrosion, better adhesion during lubrication, reducing the amount of oil evaporation, increasing the life of the oil, etc. Synthetic oil has a higher price than other types of oil and it can be said that it is currently the best engine oil in terms of construction and composition.

This type of oil is not used for lubrication at all and is actually a liquid for cleaning the engine. When it is necessary to clean the engine due to mud, flush oil is used. In addition, when the type of oil is to be changed in terms of mineral, semi-synthetic or fully synthetic, flush oil is used to completely drain the remaining oil from the engine. According to the instructions of this type of oil, after adding it to the engine and running the engine for about 5 to 15 minutes in situ, the entire oil should be drained. It is better to consult with a skilled car expert or mechanic when using.

Oil viscosity, which is commonly known as oil grade, represents and expresses the amount of stiffness and resistance of the oil to flow. Single-grade or mono-grade oil, which usually has a viscosity between 10 and 50, has only one grade and viscosity and is suitable for two-stroke engines and old engines, industrial engines such as sprayers, water engines, etc.

These engine oils are made for a certain temperature range, and therefore, with the change of the engine temperature during operation, they maintain a specific and appropriate amount of viscosity, which makes the oil not stiffer or smoother than a certain amount, and as a result of lubrication to maintain itself optimally by changing the temperature of the engine. To display this factor, two numbers are used on both sides of the letter W. For example, we can mention 5w30, 10w40, etc.

The right engine oil for the car must match the viscosity recommended by the car manufacturer. Also, the quality of the oil, which is indicated by the API standard, must be in accordance with the recommendation and order of the car manufacturer. Do not pour the oil into the engine neither more nor less than the standard volume. It is better to change the engine oil filter at most in both stages of oil change. Of course, car manufacturers may have other instructions based on the engine type and engine filter technology. Be sure to use well-known and high-quality oils and also buy oil from reputable centers so as not to be caught by fake engine oils. If mineral or synthetic or semi-synthetic oil is ordered for the engine, we must provide the same special type. Let's not forget that increasing the quality of the used oil can have benefits. But reducing its amount has problems that are dangerous for today's cars with high complexity. In addition, in many cases, such as simple engines with old technology, upgrading the oil to semi-synthetic or full synthetic, which is not required by the car, only increases the cost, and it is better to change the oil in shorter terms instead. It is also better to use oils for which the manufacturer has announced more functions to reduce costs.