The Facts about Engine Oils
How important is engine oil? If you compared it to human life, you could say engine oil is to the motor what water is to the body. When your engine is running, there are differnet parts created from steel and other metals that are clashing, meshing and interacting with one another. Without some form of lubrication, these parts would get hot quickly, stick together and eventually seize up completely. In the mean time, you would notice a definite lack of power and the internal parts would begin wearing out. Engine oil is necessary as it coats all moving parts with a fine thin film to reduce internal friction and protect your engine.
The types of engines that use oil range from the large ones in semi trucks and automobiles to the small engines designed to trim lawns and hedges or the kind that power go-karts. For each type of engine, there are various grades of engine oil, specific to different engine types as well as the different working or environmental conditions that cause the need for a heavier or lighter weight and thickness of oil needed to help the engine work at maximum efficiency.
Oil ratings are a direct reflection of how well the oil will flow to other parts of the engine when different temperature conditions are present; this is the engine oils viscosity. Engine oil is a byproduct of the petroleum refining and development process. How an oil reacts when being used under different conditions is referred to as its viscosity index. The higher this rating the better the oil will perform, less change under various outdoor temperatures.
The lowest temperature your engine oil will experience is a critical rating. Under these conditions, the oil must freely flow to all parts, even when the temperature drops on the coldest day of winter. Your engine needs to be adequately protected under all operating conditions. This in one of the basic qualities that defines engine oil and is commonly called the pour point.
If you are going to be, handling engine oil another piece of information you need to keep in mind is the flash point. Ignition happens at a specific point, this is where hydrocarbons release vapors and this is what is known as flash point. Flammable gases and or oils are released from the engine oil at a specific temperature, the higher this temperature has to be the higher the flash point.
Single and multiple grade motor oils are different types used for motor vehicles. The main difference between multiple and single grade oil is that the single grade does not have additives like the multiple grades oil does. The main uses for single grade motor oils are in lawn mowers, vintage and classic cars and various industrial applications. Multiple grade motor oils have an ability to have a greater tolerance from the cold operating to warm operating temperatures, this makes them easier to use with different makes of automobile engines.
Reciprocating and turbine motors also require different engine oils; turbine motors need oil with additives that can handle the higher temperatures that arise after the turbines are shut down. While the turbines are in operations, the heat is leached away from the engine, once the turbines are off the heat then stays within the turbine.
Along with the many additives that are mixed in engine oil to increase viscosity many oils will also contain detergents that help reduce oil buildup in the engines. In order to keep the engine free of unwanted debris and dirt, which can harm the inside of your engine, oil filters are also installed. Engine oil is the simplest and cheapest way to protect your engine and prolong motor life. You should use the manufacturer recommended engine oil for your car to increase your time between repairs. Each time you change your engine oil take a few moments to consider just how important oil is and what it can do for your vehicle.
Robert Blignaut is Manager at Atlas Oil & Chemical, a Engine Oil Supplier located in Boksburg, South Africa. We supply Shell engine oils to countries in Africa. For more info, visit Engine Oils
July 21, 2011 | Posted by Robert Blignaut
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