How to check the quality of engine oil?

Quality directly affects the normal operation of the engine, its service life, as well as the dynamic characteristics of the machine. Especially when buying a used car, it is difficult to determine how the previous owner treated it. And the worst thing is if the oil is changed very rarely. With poor quality oil, parts wear out more quickly.

The need for verification may arise for various reasons. The driver may doubt the original quality of the technical fluid, because no one is immune from buying a fake. You also need to check engine oil when the manufacturer of this product is unfamiliar or has not been previously used in a particular engine (for example, if you switched from mineral to synthetic).

Another need for quality control may be due to the fact that the owner has purchased a specific product, taking into account any individual operating characteristics and wants to make sure how the lubricant “works”. And of course, such a check is needed in order to determine whether the oil has lost its properties, etc.

What are the signs that it's time to change the oil?

There are a number of signs by which we can conclude that it is time to check the condition of the engine oil in the engine:

1. Difficulty starting the engine.

2. Indications of the indicator and control devices. Modern cars are equipped with sensors that facilitate motor diagnostics. The need to change the engine oil may be indicated by the "Check engine" indicator ("Check engine").

3. Overheat. If there is a lack of lubricant or if it is contaminated, engine parts that are not properly lubricated suffer. This leads to an increase in motor temperature during operation.

4. The appearance of unusual noises. After some time, engine oil loses its qualities, becoming thicker and dirtier. As a result, the operation of the motor begins to be accompanied by additional noise, indicating poor lubrication of its parts.

The life of the car is directly determined by the careful handling of its engine. One of the key components of the proper care of this unit is the timely replacement of the technical fluid.

The sequence of actions for checking the quality of engine oil in the engine

There are three ways to check the quality of engine oil. They give a reliable result and for their implementation it is not necessary to have a garage or a viewing hole.

Oil spot test. In order for the test results to be as informative as possible, the following algorithm of actions should be adhered to:

• we start the engine and warm it up for 5-10 minutes, then turn it off.

• to take a sample, you will need paper, preferably white, about 10 * 10 cm in size.

• using an oil dipstick, put a drop of liquid on paper, the diameter of the drop should not exceed 3 cm.

• We wait about 2 hours until everything dries, after which we visually evaluate the stain on paper.

The fluid needs to be replaced if the following signs are present:

1. the oil is thick and dark and the drop has not spread - the lubricant is old and not suitable for further use;

2. the presence of a brown halo around the edges of the drop indicates the presence of insoluble particles. They get into the oil in the process of oxidative reactions;

3. the presence of small metal particles indicates poor protection of parts during friction.

4. the light middle of the spot indicates that the oil has not lost its working qualities.

If a small amount of unused engine oil remains in the canister, you can take it for comparison with a used sample. Also, a spot on paper can be compared with the readings of a special table “Scale of drop sample samples”. Based on the results of such a test, the following conclusions can be drawn: with a score of 1 to 3, there is no cause for concern, from 4 to 6 points is considered average, and with a value of 7 points, an urgent oil change is necessary.

Checking with a paper test. To check this method, you only need a regular newspaper. It is placed at an angle, oil is dripped and watched as it drains. A quality product leaves almost no streaks. Dark spots mean the presence of harmful components, so it is better not to use such a liquid.

We check the oil for viscosity. To check in this way, you will need a funnel with a small hole measuring 1-2 mm (you can make it with an awl in a bottle). We take the already used lubricant and the same oil, but new from the canister. First, pour the first one and see how many drops poured out in 1-2 minutes. And for comparison, similar actions are carried out with the second liquid. Depending on how much the oil has lost its properties, they decide to replace it. 

Knowing how to check the engine oil yourself, in many cases, in many cases, allows you to timely determine the fake and the compliance of a particular type of lubricant with a particular engine, as well as understand in a timely manner that the lubricant has expired and needs to be replaced.