MOTOR OIL

What Motor Oil Does?

Motor oil lubricates all the moving parts of the engine, providing a protective film that reduces wear and friction, meaning more power is transferred to the wheels. Motor oil also helps keep engine parts clean and free from harmful deposits, protect against rust and corrosion. Finally, car motor oil cools the engine, by removing excessive heat from the combustion area and down into the oil pan.

Motor Oil Bases

Mineral Motor Oils

Mineral motor oils are conventional oils that man used for decades, which are produced by crude oil distillation and then mixed with some additives like detergents, viscosity improvers and anti-wear agents. They are relatively inexpensive and deliver average performances.

Synthetic Oils

Synthetic oils are completely man-made at the laboratories by complex chemical processes, and they are more expensive. Synthetic oils have better thermal strength, meaning they are capable of maintaining their viscosity for longer periods of use and under much greater temperatures than conventional mineral oils.

Semi-Synthetic Oils

The other type of motor oil is semi-synthetic, the blend of the two (usually 70 to 80% mineral oil and 20 to 30% synthetic oil).

What is Viscosity and Viscosity Index?

Viscosity is, simply the measure of an oil's thickness and ability to flow at certain temperatures. Generally, the thicker an oil, the higher its viscosity and the thinner an oil the lower its viscosity. This property of oils is represented with a grade called Viscosity index (VI). The Viscosity Index tells us how much the oil will thin when it is subject to heat. The higher the index, the less an oil will thin when it is subject to heat. Lower numbers indicate thinner oil (low viscosity) and higher numbers indicate thicker oil (high viscosity). The Viscosity Index of an oil determines how it reacts under certain conditions. An oil with a too high viscosity may not pump to the proper parts of your engine especially at low temperatures, and the film may tear at high RPM. An oil with a too low viscosity can lose its film strength at high temperatures.

Single (Mono) and Multi-Grade (Multi Viscosity) Motor Oils

There are two grades of motor oils, single grade and multi-grade. Mono grade oils are usually used when the operating temperature is relatively stable (or for specific applications), meaning they can not meet both winter and summer requirements.

Multi-Grade motor oil is that we use today, which are suitable for use at different temperatures, meaning they are able to meet both winter and summer requirements. A heavy base oil would turn to jelly in cold temperatures if some polymers are not added. To prevent this, multi viscosity oils are produced by adding some polymers to a lighter base, thus these oils are thin enough to work at cold temperatures, and safe enough to work at high temperatures.

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