Lubrication; HOW TO KNOW THE RIGHT OIL VISCOSITY AND TYPE to
use
ž WHY
SO MANY OILS
ž Look
on the shelves in auto parts stores and you'll see oils labeled for all kinds
of specific purposes: high-tech engines, new cars, higher-mileage vehicles,
heavy-duty/off-road SUVs. In addition, you'll see a wide selection of
viscosities. If you read your owner's manual, you'll know what the car
manufacturer recommends for a brand-new vehicle. The manual may include a
reference to Energy Conserving oils, which simply means that the oil has passed
a lab test against a reference oil. It's no guarantee of better fuel economy,
but most of the leading brands have at least some viscosities that are so
labeled. Let's take a look at the different types.
ž Types
of oil used on vehicles
ž Premium
Conventional Oil: This is the standard new-car oil. All leading brands have
one for service level SL, available in several viscosities. The carmakers
usually specify a 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for lower temperatures, with
a 10W-30 oil as optional, particularly for higher ambient temperatures. These
three ratings cover just about every light-duty vehicle on the road. Even more
important, though, is changing the oil and filter regularly. A 4000 miles/4
months interval is good practice. The absolute minimum is twice a year. If your
car has an electronic oil-change indicator on the instrument cluster, don't
exceed its warning.
ž Full
Synthetic Oil: The oils
made for high-tech engineThey flow better at low temperatures and maintain peak
lubricity at high temperature. THIS OIL HAS ADVANTAGES OVER THE OTHER OILS
WHICH ARE
ž SLUDGE
CONTROL ABILITY
ž COMPATIBLE
WITH SEALS
ž HIGH
THERMAL STABILITY WITH GOOD EMISSION CONTROL
ž Synthetic
Blend Oil: These have a dose of synthetic oil mixed with organic oil, and
overall are formulated to provide protection for somewhat heavier loads and
high temperatures.THEY ARE LESS VOLATILE AND USED FOR HEAVY LOAD ENGINES.
ž HIGHER
MILAGE OILS
ž CHOOSING
THE RIGHT TYPE OF MOTOR OIL
THE QUEST FOR THE RIGHT TYPE OF OIL IS ONE THAT HAS LEFT
MANY CAR MANUFACTURERS WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK.THE MAIN REASON BEING THAT
ENGINES NEED VARYING VISCOSITY BASED ON OPERATING CONDITIONS. THE KNOWLEDGE OF
VISCOSITY WILL HELP US GET CLOSER TO KNOWING HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF
OIL.
ž VISCOSITY;THIS
CAN BE DEFINED AS THE RESISTANCE OF A FLIUD TO FLOW.NOT TO WASTE OUR TIME, THIS
CAN BE ILLUSTRATED AS ‘aW-xt’. The coefficient of ‘w’ is the rating for oil
flow at 0 degrees farenheit. The ‘w’ stands for winter guage.THE LOWER THE
NUMBER,THE LESSER IT THICKEN eg 0W-30 WILL THICKEN LESSER THAN 5W-30 AND SO
ON.HENCE, SELECTION CAN BE ON CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. The second COEFFICIENT OF
“T" indicates the oil's viscosity measured at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100
degrees Celsius). This number represents the oil's resistance to thinning at
high temperatures. FOR EXAMPLES
ž A
5W-20 OIL WILL THIN FASTER AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN 5W-30 SO ALSO 5W-30 TO
5W-40. THE ADVANTAGES OF AN OIL WITH LOWER VISCOSITY RATING IS QUICK START UP
OF ENGINES. THE QUICKER AN ENGINE OIL FLOWS, THE LESS DRY RUNNING OF THE
ENGINE.
ž OIL
PROPERTIES
ž THE
FOLLOWING LISTED PROPERTIES ARE THE COGENT QUALITIES REQUIRED OF ANY
OIL/LUBRICANT.
ž 1.VISCOSITY
INDEX; the higher the v.i rating, the better the oil durability.
ž 2.CLEANSING
PROPERTY/CLEANING
ž 3.CUSHIONING
ABILITY
ž 4.ACT
AS SEALS
ž 5.LUBRICATING
ABILITY
ž 6.COOLING
EFFECT
ž 7.CORROSION
RESISTANT
ž 8.OXIDATION
RESISTANT
ž 9.THERMAL
STABILTY
OIL ADDITIVES
Ø VISCOSITY
INDEX IMPROVERS
ž DETERGENTS
ž DISPERSANTS
ž ANTI
WEAR AGENTS
ž POUR
POINT DEPRESANT
ž ANTI
OXIDATION AGENT
ž CORROSION
INHIBITORS
ž DRAWBACKS
OF VISCOSITY IMPROVING ADDITIVES
MULTI-GRADE MOTOR OILS PERFORM A GREAT SERVICE NOT BEING TOO THICK AT COLD STARTUP TO PREVENT ENGINE WEAR BY PROVIDING MORE INSTANTANEOUS OIL FLOW TO CRITICAL ENGINE PARTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DRAW BACK. THESE ADDITIVES SHEAR BACK IN HIGH HEAT OR DURING HIGH SHEAR FORCE OPERATION AND BREAK DOWN CAUSING SOME SLUDGING. WHAT'S WORSE IS ONCE THE ADDITIVE BEGINS TO BE DEPLETED THE MOTOR OIL NO LONGER RESISTS THINNING SO NOW YOU HAVE A THINNER MOTOR OIL AT 210 DEGREES. YOUR 10W-30 MOTOR OIL CAN EASILY BECOME A 10W-20 OR EVEN A SAE 10 (10W-10) MOTOR OIL. THE MORE VI ADDITIVES THE WORSE THE PROBLEM WHICH IS WHY AUTO MANUFACTURERS DECIDED TO STEER CAR OWNERS AWAY FROM MOTOR OILS LOADED WITH VI ADDITIVES LIKE THE 10W-40 AND 20W-50 VISCOSITIES.
MULTI-GRADE MOTOR OILS PERFORM A GREAT SERVICE NOT BEING TOO THICK AT COLD STARTUP TO PREVENT ENGINE WEAR BY PROVIDING MORE INSTANTANEOUS OIL FLOW TO CRITICAL ENGINE PARTS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A DRAW BACK. THESE ADDITIVES SHEAR BACK IN HIGH HEAT OR DURING HIGH SHEAR FORCE OPERATION AND BREAK DOWN CAUSING SOME SLUDGING. WHAT'S WORSE IS ONCE THE ADDITIVE BEGINS TO BE DEPLETED THE MOTOR OIL NO LONGER RESISTS THINNING SO NOW YOU HAVE A THINNER MOTOR OIL AT 210 DEGREES. YOUR 10W-30 MOTOR OIL CAN EASILY BECOME A 10W-20 OR EVEN A SAE 10 (10W-10) MOTOR OIL. THE MORE VI ADDITIVES THE WORSE THE PROBLEM WHICH IS WHY AUTO MANUFACTURERS DECIDED TO STEER CAR OWNERS AWAY FROM MOTOR OILS LOADED WITH VI ADDITIVES LIKE THE 10W-40 AND 20W-50 VISCOSITIES.
Researched and compiled by MADUKA ANTHONY N.
Ooshaynaz.com
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