When it comes to the health of your engine, whether it is the engine of a vehicle, machinery, or boat engine, the application and maintenance of oil is an integral part. Lubrication is essential for the engine to run smoothly and function properly. However, other than lubrication, lubricants have several different roles and benefits in the life of an engine. These roles and benefits make the engine oil an essential element for every vehicle or equipment engine. Suppose you’re concerned about the health of your engine.
In that case, understanding the properties of engine oils will help you choose the suitable oil and ensure the maximum efficiency of your engine. A suitable engine oil will provide essential lubrication, reduce friction, enhance the engine efficiency, and clean the engine. It also acts as a coolant. Therefore, a wrong choice of engine oil might cause unwanted impacts on your engine. This is the reason why many engine oil suppliers are giving you suggestions about the engine oil types and their requirements when it comes to selecting an oil for your engine.
In this blog, we will discuss the role, benefits, and reasons for the deterioration of engine oil.
Uses of an Engine Oil
From providing better lubrication to acting as a coolant, there are innumerable roles engine oils play to protect your engine and ensure ultimate efficiency. Some of them are listed below
1. Lubrication
The first and foremost application of every lubricant is to provide better lubrication for the system. Here also, engine oil acts as the best lubricant helping the engine to run smoothly. The extreme temperatures and continuous metal-to-metal contact result in premature wear and tear. However, the application of a suitable lubricant will help the engine minimize the chances of premature wear and tear by acting as a barrier between the metal components. The thin layer of engine oil prevents corrosion by preventing moisture from contacting the metal parts. It also prevents friction, extending the lifespan of engines.
2. Cleaning
Whether it is the engine of a vehicle, machinery, or something else, the accumulation of dust and other particles is unavoidable. These depositions of particles can be a threat to the life and efficiency of your engine. Therefore, the cleaning quality of engine oil is essential for the engine’s health. Good quality engine oils are formulated with detergents and other additive components that help to remove the dust and debris deposition from the engine. When the engine runs, small dust and combustion residue particles accumulate in the engine and create clogs hindering the engine performance and lifespan. But with the continuous flow of engine oil, these harmful particles will be carried to the oil filter, resulting in a clean and efficient engine.
3. Cooling
In a vehicle or machinery, the engine is the sole part that is continuously exposed to extreme temperatures. The continuous exposure to temperature and the friction between metal components will increase the engine temperature. The application of a suitable engine oil to the system helps to reduce the engine temperature. The engine oil transfers and releases the trapped heat through the lubrication circuit cooling down the entire engine. They act as a coolant and reduce the excessive heat buildup.
4. Sealing
Have you ever wondered about the internal parts of your engine? The space between the piston and cylinder of your engine is not that very smooth. Even the very small imperfections in the space can cause detrimental effects. By applying engine oil, you’re helping the engine in sealing. The engine oil fills the space between the piston and cylinder, providing a smooth surface. Moreover, it also creates a protective layer between various engine components, ensuring a strong seal.
5. Corrosion Protection
Corrosion protection is one of the main characteristics of every lubricant. In the case of the engine, mainly fuel combustion results in oxidization and corrosion of the metal parts. The combustion formulates corrosive acids that can damage the metal parts of the engine. Moreover, the occasional contact with water also results in corrosion. The corrosion inhibitors in modern engine oils help the engine to neutralize the acids and prevent corrosion. With time, the engine oil loses its corrosion-inhabiting properties due to its continuous usage. Therefore, you need to change the oil in specific intervals to ensure better efficiency and a longer lifespan of your engine.
Benefits of an Engine Oil
As we mentioned above, there are several benefits to using engine oil. If you’re a vehicle or machinery owner, using a suitable oil for your engine will help you with fuel consumption, engine efficiency, and cost effects. Therefore, considering your engine oil supplier’s recommendations in selecting an engine oil will be useful for your engine’s better performance. Here, we’ve listed out some of the main benefits of using engine oil,
1. Longer Lifespan
Since the engine is perfectly lubricated, free from corrosion, wear and tear, and clean the engine can perform its functions efficiently for a long period of time. With proper lubrication and temperature maintenance, the oil prevents the engine from clogging and damages. Moreover, the removal of sludge formation will help to reduce the friction between metal components, ensuring the mechanical parts last longer. This all in turn results in the longer and healthier lifespan of the engine.
2. Damage Control
The high quality additives in the engine oil prevent several damages including wear and tear, corrosion, oxidization, and so on. Without proper lubrication, the engine can be severely damaged causing high costs for repairs. However, the application of oil will prevent the engine from damage and stop the need for expensive repairs.
3. Engine Efficiency
When the engines are lubricated perfectly, it will be significant in their performance. The engine will run smoothly without the hindrance of friction to its performance.
4. Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions
Many engine oil suppliers advise vehicle owners to choose engine oil wisely and maintain its quality to achieve better fuel consumption and cost-effectiveness. If your engine oil is not compatible with your engine, it won’t perform its duties well. Also, the overused engine oils result in causing friction between the engine parts, decreasing the efficiency and increasing the fuel consumption. If the engine oil is overused or its level is too low, it emits harmful gases like CO2 into the atmosphere causing pollution. If you’re using a suitable, high quality engine oil, it can help to reduce fuel consumption and pollution.
Reasons Of Deterioration
Engine oils are the primary factor for the efficiency of your engine. But, over time it can deteriorate due to several factors. Understanding these factors will help you to maintain the health of your engine and prolong the lifespan of the engine oil.
The first and foremost reason for engine oil deterioration is contamination. When the engine works it is common for contaminants such as dirt, dentist, and other particles to find their way into the oil. Fuel combustion is also one of the many reasons for contamination. The contaminants increase the friction between the mechanical and reduce the lubrication resulting in wear and tear.
With continuous usage, engine oil begins to oxidize and thicken due to decreased additive qualities. Oxidization hinders the lubrication process and increases viscosity, resulting in reduced smoothness of oil flow.
Another factor that affects the quality of the engine oil is moisture accumulation or condensation. It can form inside the engine, introducing water to the oil. This will cause corrosion to the engine parts gradually damaging the engine.
Regular oil maintenance and adherence to the engine oil supplier’s recommendations will help you to ensure the increased lifespan of your engine oil. The deterioration of engine oil is caused by a cluster of factors including the above-mentioned ones. Therefore, keeping an eye on the health of your engine oil will give you long-lasting results.
Applying suitable engine oil will provide you with cost-effective solutions, but neglecting its maintenance will also result in expensive repairs. Therefore, it’s important to remember that you need to check the level of your engine oil in specific intervals, and if it needs you need to change the oil for optimal performance. Also, you should buy the right engine oil for your engine from a renowned engine oil supplier to confirm the quality. Remember that not all engine oils are alike, and each engine needs its own specified engine oils. Therefore, choose the engine oil according to your engine’s specifications and maintain its health by doing frequent checks.
