How to choose engine oil by car brand?
Content
The correct choice of engine oil determines how long and trouble-free your car engine will last. The range of commercially available oils is very large and can confuse an inexperienced motorist. Yes, and experienced drivers sometimes make mistakes when trying to pick up something better.
You should not succumb to intrusive advertising that offers a universal solution to all problems at once. You need to select the oil that is best suited for your engine, taking into account operating conditions.
What is the function of motor oil?
Engine oil performs not one, but several important functions:
- cooling of hot engine parts and its moving parts;
- reduced friction: engine oil improves engine efficiency and reduces fuel consumption;
- protection of mechanical parts from wear and corrosion: which guarantees a long service life and engine efficiency;
- keeping the engine clean by removing contaminants through the oil filter and when changing the oil.
What types of motor oil are there?
According to the chemical composition, motor oil is divided into three types - synthetic and semi-synthetic, mineral.
Synthetic. Obtained by organic synthesis. The raw material is usually processed and thoroughly refined petroleum products. Can be used for all types of engines. It has a high resistance to oxidation and, as it is worked out, leaves almost no deposits on the parts of the unit. Synthetic grease maintains a stable viscosity over a wide temperature range and significantly outperforms mineral grease in heavy duty applications. Good penetration ability slows down engine wear and facilitates cold starts.
The main disadvantage of synthetic oils is the high price. However, the need to use just such a lubricant does not often arise. Synthetics should be used in extreme frosts (below -30°C), at constant extreme engine operating conditions, or when a low viscosity oil is recommended by the unit manufacturer. In other cases, it is quite possible to get by with a lubricant on a cheaper basis.
It should be borne in mind that switching from mineral water to synthetics in older engines can cause leakage in the seals. The reason lies in the cracks in the rubber gaskets, which, when mineral oil is used, become clogged with deposits. And synthetics during operation intensively washes away dirt, opening the way to oil leaks and simultaneously clogging oil channels. In addition, the oil film created by synthetics is too thin and does not compensate for the increased gaps. As a result, the wear of the old engine can accelerate even more. Therefore, if you already have a fairly worn-out unit with a mileage of 150 thousand kilometers or more, it is better to refuse synthetics.
Semi-synthetics. Suitable for carburetor and injection engines, gasoline and diesel. Produced by mixing mineral and synthetic bases. In this case, the mineral part is usually about 70%. High quality additives are added to the composition.
It is superior in cost to “mineral water”, but cheaper than pure synthetics. Semi-synthetic oil is more resistant to oxidation and separation than mineral oil. It has a high penetrating power and helps to slow down engine wear. Well cleans parts from dirt and deposits, provides protection against corrosion.
Disadvantages - does not tolerate severe frost and extreme operating conditions. Semi-synthetics can serve as an intermediate option if you want to switch from mineral lubrication to synthetics. Suitable for both new and worn powertrains.
Mineral. Suitable for cars with carburetor engine. It has an affordable price due to simple manufacturing technology. It has good lubricating properties, creates a stable oil film and gently cleans the engine from deposits.
The main disadvantage is a significant increase in viscosity at low temperatures. In frost, the “mineral water” is poorly pumped and makes a cold start very difficult. The thickened lubricant in insufficient quantities enters the engine parts, which accelerates their wear. Mineral oil also does not perform well under high loads.
During operation at normal and elevated operating temperatures, additives burn out rather quickly, as a result, the oil ages and requires frequent replacement.
In terms of price / quality ratio, mineral motor oil will in many cases be the best choice, especially in regions with mild winters. The main thing is not to forget to change it in time.
How are motor oils different?
So, we have decided on the types of oils, now let's talk about an equally important characteristic - viscosity. When the engine is running, its internal components rub against each other at great speed, which affects their heating and wear. To prevent this from happening, it is important to have a special protective layer in the form of an oil mixture. It also plays the role of a sealant in the cylinders. Thick oil has an increased viscosity, it will create additional resistance to parts during movement, increasing the load on the engine. And enough liquid will simply drain, increasing the friction of the parts and wearing out the metal.
Taking into account the fact that any oil thickens at low temperatures and thins when heated, the American Society of Automotive Engineers divided all oils by viscosity into summer and winter. According to the SAE classification, summer motor oil was simply designated by a number (5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60). The indicated value represents the viscosity. The larger the number, the more viscous the summer oil is. Accordingly, the higher the air temperature in the summer in a given region, the higher the oil had to be bought so that it remained sufficiently viscous in the heat.
It is customary to refer products according to SAE from 0W to 20W to the group of winter lubricants. The letter W is an abbreviation for the English word winter - winter. And the figure, as well as with summer oils, indicates their viscosity, and tells the buyer what lowest temperature the oil can withstand without harming the power unit (20W - not lower than -10 ° С, the most frost-resistant 0W - not lower than -30°C).
Today, a clear division into oil for summer and winter has receded into the background. In other words, there is no need to change the lubricant based on the warm or cold season. This was made possible thanks to the so-called all-weather engine oil. As a result, individual products only for summer or for winter are now practically not found on the free market. All-weather oil has a type designation SAE 0W-30, being a kind of symbiosis of summer and winter oil designations. In this designation, there are two numbers that determine the viscosity. The first number indicates the viscosity at low temperatures, and the second indicates the viscosity at high temperatures.
How to choose oil by wine code?
When it becomes necessary to choose a specific brand for an oil change, only the manufacturer of your car can be the best adviser. Therefore, first of all, you should open the operational documentation and carefully study it.
You will need to find out the following characteristics for selecting lubricant by VIN code:
- car brand and specific model;
- year of manufacture of the vehicle;
- vehicle class;
- manufacturer's recommendations;
- engine volume;
- duration of the machine.
The service manual must specify the manufacturer's tolerances and requirements for two main engine oil parameters:
- Viscosity according to the SAE standard (Society of Automotive Engineers);
- API (American Petroleum Institute), ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) or ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee) operating class;
In the absence of service documentation, it is better to consult with representatives of the dealer service station that services cars of your brand.
If you do not want or do not have the opportunity to purchase the original branded oil, you can buy a third-party product. Preference should be given to one that has been certified by the relevant car manufacturer, and not just has the inscription "meets the requirements ...". It is better to purchase from authorized dealers or large chain stores so as not to run into counterfeit products.
How to choose oil by parameters?
SAE viscosity - this is the main parameter in the selection of engine oil. It is no coincidence that it is always highlighted on the canister in large print. It has already been mentioned above, so let's just say the main rule for choosing oil according to the SAE standard. REMEMBER -35 and add to it the number before the letter W. For example, 10W-40: to -35 + 10 we get -25 - this is the ambient temperature at which the oil has not yet solidified. In January, the temperature can drop to -28 sometimes. So if you pick up a 10W-40 oil, there's a good chance you'll have to take the subway. And even if the car starts, the engine and battery will get a lot of stress.
API classification. Examples: API SJ/CF, API SF/CC, API CD/SG, API CE, API CE/CF-4, API SJ/CF-4 EC 1.
This marking should be read as follows: S - oil for gasoline, C - for diesel engines, EC - for energy-saving ones. The letters below indicate the quality level for the corresponding engine type: for gasoline from A to J, for diesel engines from A to F. THE FURTHER THE LETTER IN THE ALPHABET, THE BETTER.
The number after the letters - API CE / CF-4 - means for which engine the oil is intended, 4 - for a four-stroke, 2 - for a two-stroke.
There is also a universal oil that is suitable for both gasoline and diesel engines. It is designated as follows: API CD / SG. It's easy to read - if it says CD / SG - this is MORE DIESEL oil, if SG / CD - it means MORE PETROL.
Designation EC 1 (for example, API SJ / CF-4 EC 1) - means the percentage of fuel economy, i.e. number 1 - at least 1,5% savings; number 2 - at least 2,5%; number 3 - at least 3%.
ACEA classification. This is a summary of the stringent requirements for the operation and design of engines in Europe. ACEA distinguishes three classes of oil:
- "A / B" - for gasoline and diesel engines of cars;
- "C" for gasoline and diesel engines of cars with catalysts and particulate filters;
- "E" - for diesel units of trucks and special equipment.
Each class has its own categories - A1 / B1, A3 / B3, A3 / B4, A5 / B5 or C1, C2 and C3. They talk about different characteristics. So, category A3 / B4 oils are used in forced gasoline engines.
Usually, the manufacturer indicates all three classes on the canister - SAE, API and ACEA, but when choosing, we recommend focusing on the SAE classification.
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