Popular brands of oil - advantages and disadvantages

Any internal combustion engine needs high-quality lubrication. parts that are included in the powertrain device are subjected to high mechanical and thermal stresses. So that they do not wear out so quickly, engine oil must not lose its properties.

Due to these factors, the lubricant needs to be replaced periodically. Nevertheless, the brands of oils available on the market are presented in such a wide assortment that sometimes even people with great experience can be difficult to choose.

Consider the most popular brands of oils, as well as their features.

Popular brands of oil - advantages and disadvantages

There are really a lot of oils on sale, so we will focus only on those that are popular in Europe and the CIS countries.

Total

Total is one of the most famous and preferred oil brands in Europe, and in recent years has begun to gain popularity in the United States. Great interest in Total oils is due to the fact that ERG (part of Total Corporation) develops and offers high-quality oils that are environmentally friendly and reduce fuel consumption.

The new generation Total oils are designed to save fuel and improve engine performance.

Recently, Total became the main sponsors of the racing series of the International Motorsport Association, and since 2009 they are sponsors of the Red Bull racing team and the official sponsor of Citroën for each rally championship from the 1990s to the present.

The active use of Total lubricants in motorsport is due to one of the biggest advantages of these oils - to maintain their properties even in the busiest components.

Total is the brand that guarantees fuel economy and the best engine performance, regardless of the conditions and load it is subjected to.

CASTROL

Castrol offers lubricants for all types of vehicles, so it is no coincidence that they are among the five most purchased oil brands in the world.

One of the biggest advantages of Castrol is that they are designed to keep the oil on the engine parts longer, even if the engine hasn't been running for a long time. The latest technologies developed by Castrol - MAGNATEC have made a real revolution in the automotive industry.

Castrol motor oils are the preferred choice of a number of prestigious car brands such as BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Jaguar and Land Rover.

MOTUL

The French brand of Motul oil has not only more than 100 years of history, but is also the first brand in the world to develop 100% synthetic oil.

The brand is very popular all over the world, as it offers a wide range of products - from engine oil to coolant, brake and transmission fluids.

Motul products are preferred by millions of people around the world because oils provide longer engine life.

Mobil 1

Mobil 1 oils have long been an integral part of motorsports. The brand is the official engine oil of NASCAR and sponsors McLaren-Honda in Formula 1 racing.

Mobil 1 synthetic oil is one of the best oils for maintaining low viscosity at low temperatures. A few years ago, Mobil 1 focused on adapting oils to provide higher performance turbocharged engines, further increasing interest in their products.

PARAGRAPH

Comma is an English brand of motor oils that has been on the world market for over fifty years. Comma is a highly regarded brand, both by private consumers and by many leading automotive companies, due to the high quality of the products it offers.

One of the biggest benefits of Comma oils is to increase the fuel efficiency of engines, extend their life and reduce the percentage of waste.

FUCHS

FUCHS is not only one of the most popular oil brands in Europe, but also the most popular brand used in the German automotive industry. To meet the high demands of its customers, FUCHS develops and offers a wide range of high quality products such as engine and transmission oils, hydraulic fluids, multifunctional oils, rapidly biodegradable fluids and much more.

The FUCHS portfolio also includes the development of the world's only XTL technology, which sets new standards in the production of motor oils. The main advantage of this new technology is that it offers additional, long-term resources, which increases the period in which the lubricant does not lose its properties.

Compared to conventional base oils, the new XTL technology has a very high viscosity index. This means that it is much less dependent on temperature and guarantees excellent engine performance potential both in extremely high and very low temperatures.

FUCHS brand products comply with all international standards, and the brand's product range includes engine oils specially designed for a number of leading automotive companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen Group, BMW, Porsche, Volvo, Ford, PSA, Fiat Group, GM, Renault, Jaguar and Land Rover and many others.

ELF

Elf oils are adapted for all types of vehicles and have all the necessary quality characteristics. The brand is one of the main partners of many Formula 1 racing teams who choose Elf because of the high quality of the products on offer.

The Elf oil partnership with Formula 1 racing teams began back in 1968 when, with the help of Elf, the Renault team managed to win 18 Formula 1 World Championship titles. After this success, the brand managed to establish itself as the official engine oil of Renault, Kawasaki, Alpine and the British brand Brough Superior .

Elf oils are in high demand because they guarantee excellent engine performance in extreme conditions. Elf is one of the few brands that develops and offers engine oils for collectible cars.

Since 2001, Elf has been part of the large Total family, which is the fourth largest producer and distributor of petroleum products in the world.

VALVOLINE

The creator of the Valvoline brand, Dr. John Ellis, is recognized as the inventor of motor oil, so it is logical that Valvoline is among the brands that are popular and preferred around the world.

Valvoline Premium Conventional has over 150 years of history and is one of the best traditional engine oils in the world.

As you can see, each type of oil has more advantages than disadvantages. Well, if you take into account the disadvantage that you cannot use all of the listed brands of high-quality oils at the same time, then let this become their common disadvantage.

What should I look for when choosing?

When it comes time to change the oil, the first thing you need to consider is the characteristics of your car and its mileage. For vehicle specifications, refer to the manufacturer's manual. Each company indicates in its manual the best oil for the model of car that it produces.

If you bought a used car and cannot find the manual, then look in the service booklet of the machine and find out how long the oil has changed, and what was used for this by the previous owner.

From the mileage, you can find out which oil formula is most suitable for your car - mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic.

When choosing oil, it is advisable to pay attention to the viscosity of the oil. Why is this so important?

The oil you use will be used in extreme conditions, as the engines are subject to high operating speeds and temperatures. In this regard, its viscosity should correspond to the operation of your car model. In addition to the manufacturer's recommendations, several other factors should be considered, such as:

• climate of the area in which the machine is operated. If you are in a place where the temperature in summer reaches a very high level or drops significantly below zero in winter, then you may need special engine oil;
• what are the average operating temperatures at which the engine of your car is running;
• what kind of load is the engine subjected to.

After considering all the factors, the most suitable viscosity is determined. The most common characteristics for a gasoline engine are 5 W-30, 5 W-20, 0 W-20, 15 W-40 and 5 W-40 for a diesel engine.

Other factors that should be considered when choosing engine oil are:

Driving style - those who love sports cars and high speeds may consider 100% synthetic oils, because engines are subjected to more mechanical and thermal stress during more extreme driving.

Additives - this is the area in which different brands of oils differ most strongly. Most popular brands use unique combinations of defoamers, corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants, anti-wear additives for engine parts and more.

It is not easy to make the right choice of brand of engine oil. If you have difficulties with the selection, it is useful to seek professional advice from a minder or an experienced motorist who can familiarize you in more detail with the intricacies of using each type of oil.

And never forget that motor oil is a consumable. No matter how good it is, it still needs to be changed periodically. This is included in the basic maintenance of the car.

Questions and answers:

Which company is the best oil to fill in the engine? Lukoil Lux 2021W10 is the leader in the TOP of oils of 40 among semi-synthetics. Among mineral oils, Lukoil Super SG / SD 15W40 oil is popular.

What is the difference between machine oils? They are distinguished by their chemical composition (they contain revitalizants and other additives that improve the characteristics of the lubricant), viscosity, purpose, and permissible temperatures.

Which engine oil is the best? It all depends on the type of motor and the degree of its wear. It is not recommended to use liquid lubricants for older units, as they will seep through the oil seals.