Motor oil

Motor oil is a type of lubricant used in internal combustion engines to reduce wear on moving parts, clean, inhibit corrosion, improve sealing, and cool the engine by carrying heat away from moving parts.

Composition

Motor oil consists of a base oil and various additives. The base oil comprises 70-90% of the oil's volume and is typically derived from crude oil, although synthetic oils, produced from chemical compounds, are becoming increasingly popular. Additives make up the remaining 10-30% of the oil and serve various functions, including detergents to clean the engine, antioxidants to prevent oxidation, and viscosity index improvers to maintain the oil's viscosity across a wide temperature range.

Types of Motor Oil

There are several types of motor oil, each with its own benefits and drawbacks:

• Conventional Oil: This is the standard motor oil, derived from crude oil. It is suitable for many applications, but it does not perform as well as synthetic oil in extreme temperatures or under heavy loads.

• Synthetic Oil: This oil is engineered to perform better than conventional oil under extreme conditions. It provides better protection against engine wear and improves fuel efficiency, but it is more expensive.

• Synthetic Blend: This is a mix of conventional and synthetic oil, offering some of the benefits of synthetic oil at a lower cost.

• High Mileage Oil: This oil is specifically designed for vehicles with high mileage. It contains additives that help to reduce oil burn-off and slow the aging process of the engine.

Oil Grades

Motor oil is graded according to its viscosity, or resistance to flow. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better it will perform at low temperatures. The higher the number, the thicker the oil and the better it will perform at high temperatures.

Changing Motor Oil

Motor oil should be changed at regular intervals to ensure the health of the engine. The frequency of oil changes can depend on several factors, including the type of oil, the age and make of the vehicle, and the conditions under which it is driven.

Environmental Impact

Used motor oil can have a significant environmental impact if not disposed of properly. It is considered hazardous waste and should be recycled or disposed of at a designated collection point.