A Guide to Engine Oils Choosing the right engine oil for your vehicle YOUR LOGO
Contents Letter from the author First and foremost This is the title of the second chapter Fourth chapter is also fun Is it fifth chapter already? Sixth chapter Seventh chapter, right here! Eighth chapter for the end 3 4 5 8 11 14 18 19 2
A Detailed Look at Choosing the Right Engine Oil for Your Vehicle There are numerous options for consumers when it comes to selecting the right engine oil for their vehicle. In fact, the majority of people will pick up the first engine oil they see without understanding the suitability and performance of the product. Engine oil choice can affect not only overall performance but can also be detrimental to your vehicles long-term health. As the requirements set out by equipment manufacturers are so unique and with so many engine oils available, choosing the right engine oil can be a complicated process. To help make this decision easier, Finol has created an in-depth and detailed guide that will not only break down the critical information for you but will provide the necessary knowledge you need to choose the right oil for your vehicle. Why are Engine oils so Important for your Vehicle? Without oil to lubricate engine parts and perform essential, an engine would run for only a few seconds before grinding to a cataclysmic halt. Oil is so critical that using the right oil will not only keep your vehicle running smoothly, but will also extend engine life. 3
The Key Functions Performed by Engine Oil When we think of engine oil, our first thought is oiling and rightly so as this is its primary function and the main reason for its purchase. But other than essential lubrication, engine oils perform some other tasks that you may not be aware of but are an integral part of the performance and health of your engine. 1. Corrosion Inhibitors contained in the oil protect the engine against corrosion and wear and tear as the oil begins to oxidize, ensuring an increased engine life and better performances. 2. Reduces metal to metal contact between the moving parts of the engine by separating them with a film of oil. This effect dramatically decreases friction and increases engine performance and reduces fuel consumption. 3. Detergents found in the additive packages remove impurities to the oil filter and clean out current deposits and foreign substances in the engine, resulting in improved engine cleanliness and preventing damage. 4. Engine oils act as a sealed space between the piston and cylinder because these are not entirely smooth. Oil fills into this spacing, increasing the performances and efficiency of the engine. 5. Engine oil helps to cool the engine, preventing energy loss and engine deterioration 4
Understand Information on the Labels Label information will enable you to view the properties and performance levels of a lubricant. The following points will break down the critical data found on the label and its relation to oil application. Brand & Product Name: Being able to identify the product name (or code) means once you find the correct product for your vehicle it becomes much easier to find again when required. Oil Quality: There are three main types of oils, with each categorized dependent on which base oil the product is manufactured initially. 1. Mineral Oils: Consist of base oils made from petroleum-based products in their primary formulation. 2. Synthetic Oils: These base oils consist of chemical compounds refined from petroleum, favoured above mineral oils due to the superior qualities that they contain compared to mineral oils. 3. Semi-synthetic oils: Are made up of blends of both mineral and synthetic oil. Product Description, Benefits & Applications: This area points out the description of the products, the benefits you will see from using it and the different applications for the product. International Standards & Manufacturer Approvals: The international standards are levels with which the performance of the lubricants must meet and are set out by authorities such as API, ACEA, JASO & ILSAC. These standards ensure oils have high technical performance. Also, in addition to seeing these standards on the label, you may also look at some OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) approvals. These OEM approvals are where the particular manufacturers have set their standards which are usually more stringent than international standards. The OEM will put the engine oil through some rigorous tests to ensure that it is of high quality and can cope with the strain that the engine will experience. They will also recommend the use of specific engine oil; highlighted in your vehicles maintenance guide. Viscosity: This is primarily an oil s resistance to flow. It is by far the most critical consideration of the oil as it affects both the wear and tear rate of the engine and its performance as related to fuel consumption. For example, a liquid such as water is a low viscosity fluid, while a fluid such as syrup is considered a high viscosity fluid. If we increase the temperature of syrup, the viscosity of it lowers, meaning that it will flow faster. 5
Mineral & Synthetic Engine Oils: Main Differences Synthetic oils are refined, distilled and broken down into their base molecules. This purification process removes impurities and allows for the oil to be tailored to suit modern engines. Semi-synthetic oils are a blended oil that is made up of no more than 30% synthetic base. Synthetic oils provide less friction and are more stable, frequently lasting longer than a non-synthetic oil. Mineral engine oil, on the other hand, is a lubricant that is formulated directly from crude oil. It has excellent properties that allow it to provide lubrication at high temperatures, all the while maintaining its stability over more extended periods of time. Some synthetic oil blends are formulated specially to increase the life and performance of highmileage cars. Other oils are designed directly for high-performance engines while a further portion is created to improve fuel efficiency. Advantages of Using Synthetic Oil Increased Lubrication: The majority of synthetic oils start lubricating engine parts immediately, keeping them slick, particularly at high temperatures. In the long term, this will decrease wear and could make your engine last even longer. Better Stability: Synthetic oils are specifically designed to retain their viscosity at higher temperatures and over more extended periods of time, helping to reduce engine wear in several ways. It allows the oil to stick to engine parts more efficiently, increasing wear protection, as well as doing a better job protecting your engine during dry starts. Dry Start s: This happens when your car has been sitting for an extended period. Gravity pulls the oil down to the bottom of the engine, which causes components at the top of the engine to lose lubrication and leaves them to run unprotected. By helping the oil maintain viscosity, synthetic additives decrease the effects of dry starts. Reduced Degradation: Synthetic oils are less susceptible to break down, meaning change is required less often as with conventional oils. The more resilient properties of synthetic oil also result in better engine protection throughout service intervals. Lower Deposits: As conventional oils suffer from degradation or break down, they frequently leave deposits on engine components, referred to as sludge. This sludge is especially typical in engines that run for long periods of time or driven under harsh conditions. As these oils break down, they stick to different surfaces in the engine. Synthetic oils are less likely to do this, with some conventional oils having the ability to remove some of these deposits. 6
Top Tips 1. It may be appealing to go for the oil grade with the broadest rating, but it is always best to choose one with the narrowest range that still suits the ambient temperatures you re likely to experience, ensuring an optimised performance over that range. 2. If changing from a lower grade oil to a synthetic grade, be sure to change the oil filter soon after. It is possible that carbon deposits and other detritus could be cleaned out by the new oil. 3. Using synthetic oil does not mean you can extend the amount of time between oil changes. The detergents and other chemicals deteriorate over time and reduce the oil s effectiveness. 4. Always change your oil filter at the same time as your oil, as it catches unwanted material before it s circulated to the rest of the engine. 5. You should never drive your vehicle when the oil light is on. This light indicates that the oil pressure is dangerously low, which could lead to catastrophic engine failure in a really short amount of time. 6. An excellent habit to get into is checking the oil level of your engine on a regular basis once a month for newer vehicles used infrequently, or even weekly for older ones or those used for high mileage. Finol provides thego-to app for choosing theright engine oil. Visit Finol Which Oil App today and select your vehicle and fill in your details. Within seconds this app will direct you to the best oil suited for your vehicle. View our full product range here. You can also speak directly to one of our specialised team members by clicking here 7
CLICK HERE TO CONTACT FINOL TODAY 8