Engine oil acts as a lubricant between internal engine parts, reducing friction and wear of metal objects. It also helps to cool engine parts, prevent rust, corrosion, and oxidation reactions, as well as prevent accumulation of dirt and metal powder that may clog internal engine parts. Choosing the right engine oil viscosity is crucial for effective engine lubrication. Engine oil that is too viscous or too liquid will not circulate properly, affecting engine performance. Thus, it is important to choose the right engine oil to ensure your vehicle runs efficiently.
Understanding engine oil grades and types
Engine oil grades indicate the viscosity or resistance to flow of engine oil. The number set “XW-XX” shows the viscosity suitable for the temperature range of the environment, where the number in front of W represents the engine oil viscosity at low temperatures, and the number after W represents high temperature viscosity. Most motor oils are multigrade motor oils that help the engine work well in both low and high temperatures. Single-grade motor oils, such as No. 40, are not commonly used as they affect starting the car while the engine is cold, and result in higher fuel consumption and lower acceleration. It is recommended to use them only if the car manufacturer has set them as a standard.
There are three main types of engine oil:
- Mineral oil is produced by distillation of crude oil and is usually priced lower than other types of engine oil.
- Full synthetic oil is produced by chemical processes and refined with advanced technology, making it more effective and priced higher than other types of motor oils.
- Semi-synthetic engine oil is made from a mixture of mineral oil and synthetic oil to improve performance over mineral oil, but the price is not as high as synthetic oil.