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A typical container of motor oil, with some in a glass.

Motor oil, or engine oil, is a liquid used for lubrication of various internal combustion engines. While the main function is to lubricate moving parts, motor oil also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing and cools the engine by carrying heat away from the moving parts. The majority of motor oils are derived from petroleum. Motor oil mostly consists of hydrocarbons, an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x1114, 116 KB) Summary Mobil 1 Synthetic motor oil. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x1114, 116 KB) Summary Mobil 1 Synthetic motor oil. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... Moving parts are the components of a device that undergo continuous or frequent motion, most commonly rotation. ... For other uses, see Heat (disambiguation) In physics, heat, symbolized by Q, is energy transferred from one body or system to another due to a difference in temperature. ... Petro redirects here. ...

Use

Motor oil is a lubricant used in internal combustion engines. These include motor or road vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, heavier vehicles such as buses and commercial vehicles, non-road vehicles such as go-karts, snowmobiles, boats (fixed engine installations and outboards), ride-on lawn mowers, large agricultural and construction equipment, trains and aircraft, and static engines such as electrical generators. In engines there are parts which move very closely against each other causing friction which wastes otherwise useful power by converting the energy to heat. Contact between moving surfaces also wears away those parts, which could lead to lower efficiency and degradation of the motor. This increases fuel consumption and decreases power output and can, in extreme cases, lead to total engine failure. A lubricant (colloquially, lube) is a substance (often a liquid) introduced between two moving surfaces to reduce the friction and wear between them. ... Vehicles are non-living means of transport. ... Disruptions in organized traffic flow can create delays lasting hours. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ... Autobus redirects here. ... Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) is the new formal term in the United Kingdom for goods vehicles (i. ... Karting, go-kart, go carting and similar terms redirect here. ... A snowmobile tour at Yellowstone National Park (NPS Photo) A snowmobile is a land vehicle propelled by one or two rubber tracks, with skis for steering. ... A boat, like a ship, is a buoyant vessel designed for the purpose of transporting people and possibly goods across water. ... A lawn mower (often spelled as one word—lawnmower) is a machine (electric or mechnical) used to cut grass to an even length. ... For other uses, see Train (disambiguation). ... Flying machine redirects here. ... This article is about machines that produce electricity. ... For other uses, see Friction (disambiguation). ... In thermodynamics, motive power is an agency, as water or steam, used to impart motion. ... For other uses, see Wear (disambiguation). ...

Lubricating oil creates a separating film between surfaces of adjacent moving parts to minimize direct contact between them, decreasing friction, wear, and production of excessive heat, thus protecting the engine. Motor oil also carries away heat from moving parts, which is important because materials tend to become softer and less abrasion-resistant at high temperatures. Some engines have an additional oil cooler for this purpose. Not to be confused with radiata. ...

In petrol (gasoline) engines, the top compression ring can expose the motor oil to temperatures of 320 °F (160 °C). In diesel engines the top ring can expose the oil to temperatures over 600 °F (315 °C). Motor oils with higher viscosity indices thin less at these higher temperatures. For other uses, see Viscosity (disambiguation). ...

Coating metal parts with oil also keeps them from being exposed to oxygen, inhibiting oxidation at elevated operating temperatures preventing rust or corrosion. Corrosion inhibitors may also be added to the motor oil. Many motor oils also have detergent and dispersant additives to help keep the engine clean and minimize oil sludge build-up. Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. ... This article is about the chemical element and its most stable form, or dioxygen. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... For other uses, see Rust (disambiguation). ... For the hazard, see corrosive. ... For the hazard, see corrosive. ... Laundry detergents are just one of many possible uses for detergents Detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ... A dispersant is a compound consisting of a surfactant and a solvent, sprayed to dissipate oil slicks. ... Numerous late-model piston engines from many manufacturers have suffered from failures due to oil sludge contamination. ...

Rubbing of metal engine parts inevitably produces some microscopic metallic particles from the wearing of the surfaces. Sludge also accumulates in the engine. Such particles could circulate in the oil and grind against the moving parts, causing erosion and wear. Because particles inevitably build up in the oil, it is typically circulated through an oil filter to remove harmful particles. An oil pump, a vane or gear pump powered by the vehicle engine, pumps the oil throughout the engine, including the oil filter. Oil filters can be a full flow or bypass type. Spin-on oil filter beneath the engine of a Saab 9-5 (2005) Cartridge oil filter for use on a 2006 Volvo S40 An oil filter is a device used to decontaminate oil that contains suspended impurities. ... An oil pump is a pump designed to supply pressurised oil as part of a lubrication system. ... An exploded view of an external gear pump. ...

In the crankcase of a vehicle engine, motor oil lubricates rotating or sliding surfaces between the crankshaft journals bearings (main bearings and big-end bearings), and rods connecting the pistons to the crankshaft. The oil collects in an oil pan, or sump at the bottom of the crankcase. In some small engines such as lawn mower engines, dippers on the bottoms of connecting rods dip into the oil at the bottom and splash it around the crankcase as needed to lubricate parts inside. In modern vehicle engines, the oil pump takes oil from the oil pan and sends it through the oil filter into oil galleries, from which the oil lubricates the main bearings holding the crankshaft up at the main journals and camshaft bearings operating the valves. In typical modern vehicles, oil pressure-fed from the oil galleries to the main bearings enters holes in the main journals of the crankshaft. From these holes in the main journals, the oil moves through passageways inside the crankshaft to exit holes in the rod journals to lubricate the rod bearings and connecting rods. Some simpler designs relied on these rapidly moving parts to splash and lubricate the contacting surfaces between the piston rings and interior surfaces of the cylinders. However, in modern designs, there are also passageways through the rods which carry oil from the rod bearings to the rod-piston connections and lubricate the contacting surfaces between the piston rings and interior surfaces of the cylinders. This oil film also serves as a seal between the piston rings and cylinder walls to separate the combustion chamber in the cylinder head from the crankcase. The oil then drips back down into the oil pan. To see these details on a crankshaft, see "How Car Engines Work" at HowStuffWorks or "Types of Lubricating Systems" at Integrated Publishing. A cast 6-cylinder BMW engine block For the G.I. Joe character, see List of G.I. Joe ARAH characters. ... Crankshaft (red), pistons (gray) in their cylinders (blue), and flywheel (black) Continental engine marine crankshafts, 1942 Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. ... It has been suggested that Bushing be merged into this article or section. ... piston (top) and connecting rod from typical automotive engine (scale is in centimetres) Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. ... For the engine and engineering part, see piston. ... Two-stroke engine In a piston engine, the crankcase is the housing for the crankshaft. ... This article is about sumps in general. ... Cylinder with piston in a steam engine A cylinder in the central working part of a reciprocating engine, the space in which a piston travels. ... A combustion chamber is part of an engine in which fuel is burned. ... The cylinder head from a GMC van. ... HowStuffWorks is a website created by Marshall Brain but now owned by the Convex Group. ...

Other oils

While it may still be used in motor vehicles, ATF or Automatic Transmission Fluid is a separate type of specialist lubricating fluid. Varying specifications of ATF are used in automatic gearboxes and some power steering systems, and should not be used to lubricate the engine. It is typically colored dark red to distinguish it from the motor oil and other fluids in the vehicle. Vehicles are non-living means of transport. ... Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) is the fluid used in vehicles with a self shifting or automatic transmission. ...

Other non-motor oils include gear or transmission, and differentials oils. These are used in manual gearboxes and driven axles. They could include speciality uses including EP (Extreme Pressure), hypoid, and limited slip functions. Again, they are not to be used for engine lubrication. For other uses, see Gear (disambiguation). ... In an automobile and other four-wheeled vehicles, a differential is a device, usually consisting of gears, for allowing each of the driving wheels to rotate at different speeds, while supplying equal torque to each of them. ... In automotive applications, a limited slip differential (LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational velocity of the output shafts, but does not allow the difference in speed to increase beyond a preset amount. ...

Non-vehicle oils

Other kinds of motors also use motor oil, as well as engines that are not in vehicles such as those for electrical generators. Examples include 4-stroke or 4-cycle internal combustion engines such as those used in many "walk behind" lawn mowers and other engines, and special 2-stroke oil used in 2-stroke or 2-cycle internal combustion engines such as those used in various smaller engines like snow throwers (blowers), chain saws, toy engines like those in model airplanes, certain gardening equipment like weed/grass trimmers, leaf blowers, soil cultivators, etc. Often, the applications are not exposed to as wide a temperature range in use as vehicles, so these oils may be single grade or have less viscosity index improver. 2-cycle oil is used differently than other motor oils in that it is pre-mixed with the gasoline or fuel, often in a gasoline: oil ratio of 50:1, and burned in use along with the gasoline. This article is about machines that produce electricity. ... The four-stroke (4 Stroke) cycle of an internal combustion engine is the cycle most commonly used for automotive and industrial purposes today (cars and trucks, generators, etc). ... A typical modern gasoline-powered mower. ... The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two strokes (linear movements of the piston) instead of four, although the same four operations (intake, compression, power, exhaust) still occur. ... A heavy duty walk-behind two-stage snow blower. ... Alternative meaning: Chainsaw (computer program) A chainsaw (also spelled chain saw) is a portable mechanical, motorized saw. ... Petrol redirects here. ...

In addition to the 2-cycle oil used if they have gasoline engines, chain saws also separately use "bar and chain oil" for lubricating the surfaces where the cutting chain moves around bar. Alternative meaning: Chainsaw (computer program) A chainsaw (also spelled chain saw) is a portable mechanical, motorized saw. ...

Other examples of mechanical equipment often using oil include oil-driven compressors, vacuum pumps, diffusion pumps, sewing machines and other devices with motors, oil-driven hydraulic equipment, and turbines. Look up compressor, compression in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Roots blower is one example of a vacuum pump A vacuum pump is a pump that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. ... Diffusion pumps use a high speed jet of vapor to direct gas molecules in the pump throat down into the bottom of the pump and out the exhaust. ... Elias Howes lockstitch machine, invented 1845 A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric or other material together with thread. ... Excavator. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ...

The oil properties will vary according to the individual needs of these devices.

Properties

Spills of engine oil onto wet concrete create characteristic iridescent (rainbow-hued) stains — a thin layer of oil floats above the water.

Most motor oils are made from a heavier, thicker petroleum hydrocarbon base stock derived from crude oil, with additives to improve certain properties. One of the most important properties of motor oil in maintaining a lubricating film between moving parts is its viscosity. The viscosity of a liquid can be thought of as its "thickness" or a quantity of resistance to flow. The viscosity must be high enough to maintain a satisfactory lubricating film, but low enough that the oil can flow around the engine parts satisfactorily to keep them well coated under all conditions. The viscosity index is a measure of how much the oil's viscosity changes as temperature changes. A higher viscosity index indicates the viscosity changes less with temperature than a lower viscosity index. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2412x1608, 1428 KB) Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Motor oil Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2412x1608, 1428 KB) Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Motor oil Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... The iridescence of the Blue Morpho butterfly wings. ... Petro redirects here. ... Look up Hydrocarbon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... For other uses, see Viscosity (disambiguation). ... Viscosity Index (or VI) is a petroleum industry term. ...

Motor oil must be able to flow at cold winter temperatures to lubricate internal moving parts upon starting up the engine. Another important property of motor oil is its pour point, which is indicative of the lowest temperature at which the oil could still be poured satisfactorily. The lower the pour point temperature of the oil, the more desirable the oil is when starting up at cold temperature.

Oil is largely composed of hydrocarbons which can burn if ignited. Still another important property of motor oil is its flash point, the lowest temperature at which the oil gives off vapors which can ignite. It is dangerous for the oil in a motor to ignite and burn, so a high flash point is desirable. At a petroleum refinery, fractional distillation separates a motor oil fraction from other crude oil fractions, removing the volatile components which ignite more easily, and therefore increasing the oil's flash point. For other uses, see Flash point (disambiguation). ... View of Shell Oil Refinery in Martinez, California. ... Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, such as in separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which several fractions of the compound will evaporate. ...

Another test done on oil is to determine the Total Base Number (TBN), which is a measurement of the reserve alkalinity of an oil to neutralize acids. The resulting quantity is determined as mg KOH/ (gram of lubricant). Analogously, Total Acid Number (TAN) is the measure of a lubricant's acidity. Other tests include zinc, phosphorus, or sulfur content, and testing for excessive foaming. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sea surface alkalinity (from the GLODAP climatology) Alkalinity or AT is a measure of the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. ... The Total Acid Number is the amount of potassium hydroxide in milligrams that is needed to neutralize the acids in one gram of oil. ... Acidity is a controversial novelette written for the popular South Asian website Chowk. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... General Name, symbol, number phosphorus, P, 15 Chemical series nonmetals Group, period, block 15, 3, p Appearance waxy white/ red/ black/ colorless Standard atomic weight 30. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Sea foam on the beach Foam on a cappuccino Fire-retardant, foamed plastic being used as a temporary dam for firestop mortar in a cable penetration in a pulp and paper mill on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. ...

Different motor oils are sold for Diesel fuel engines, with many claimed to contain a higher level of detergents and dispersants to keep fine combustion soot in suspension. However, for some brands only the packaging varies (the oil is the same), and in general a diesel engine can use any good quality oil of the correct grade and specification. This article is about the fuel. ... Soot, also called lampblack, Pigment Black 7, carbon black or black carbon, is a dark powdery deposit of unburned fuel residues, usually composed mainly of amorphous carbon, that accumulates in chimneys, automobile mufflers and other surfaces exposed to smoke—especially from the combustion of carbon-rich organic fuels in the...

Grades

Range of Motor Oils on display in Kuwait

The Society of Automotive Engineers, usually abbreviated as SAE, has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their kinematic viscosity. SAE viscosity gradings include the following: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60. Some of the numbers can be suffixed with the letter W. Note that the SAE operate a separate viscosity rating system for transmission oils which should not be confused with engine oil viscosity. The higher numbers of a transmission oil (eg 75W-140) do not mean that it is necessarily higher viscosity than an engine oil. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 636 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (956 × 901 pixel, file size: 305 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motor oil Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 636 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (956 × 901 pixel, file size: 305 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Motor oil Metadata... SAE International (SAE) is a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in aerospace, automotive and the commercial vehicle industries. ... For other uses, see Viscosity (disambiguation). ...

Single-grade

For single-grade oils, the kinematic viscosity is measured at a reference temperature of 100°C (212°F) in units of mm²/s or the equivalent older non-SI units, centistokes (abbreviated cSt). Based on the range of viscosity the oil falls in at that temperature, the oil is graded as an SAE number 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60. The higher the viscosity, the higher the SAE grade number is. These numbers are often referred to as the weight of a motor oil. The reference temperature is meant to approximate the operating temperature to which motor oil is exposed in an engine. The stokes is the cgs physical unit for kinematic viscosity. ...

The viscosity of single-grade oil derived from petroleum unimproved with additives changes considerably with temperature. As the temperature increases, the viscosity of the oil decreases logarithmically in a relatively predictable manner. On single-grade oils, viscosity testing can be done at cold, winter (W) temperature (as well as checking minimum viscosity at 100°C or 212°F) to grade an oil as SAE number 0W, 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W, or 25W. A single-grade oil graded at the hot temperature is expected to test into the corresponding grade at the winter temperature; i.e. a 10 grade oil should correspond to a 10W oil. For some applications, such as when the temperature ranges in use are not very wide, single-grade motor oil is satisfactory; for example, lawn mower engines, and vintage or classic cars. Look up logarithm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Multi-grade

The temperature range the oil is exposed to in most vehicles can be wide, ranging from cold ambient temperatures in the winter before the vehicle is started up to hot operating temperatures when the vehicle is fully warmed up in hot summer weather. A specific oil will have high viscosity when cold and a low viscosity at the engine's operating temperature. The difference in viscosities for any single-grade oil is too large between the extremes of temperature. To bring the difference in viscosities closer together, special polymer additives called viscosity index improvers, or VIs are added to the oil. These additives make the oil a multi-grade motor oil. The idea is to cause the multi-grade oil to have the viscosity of the base number when cold and the viscosity of second number when hot. This enables one type of oil to be generally used all year, and when multi-grades were initially developed, they were frequently described as all-season oil. The viscosity of a multi-grade oil still varies logarithmically with temperature, but the slope representing the change is lessened. This slope representing the change with temperature depends on the nature and amount of the additives to the base oil. A polymer (from Greek: πολυ, polu, many; and μέρος, meros, part) is a substance composed of molecules with large molecular mass composed of repeating structural units, or monomers, connected by covalent chemical bonds. ... Viscosity index is a petroleum industry term. ...

The SAE designation for multi-grade oils includes two grade numbers; for example, 10W-30 designates a common multi-grade oil. Historically, the first number associated with the W (again 'W' is for Winter, not Weight) is not rated at any single temperature. The "10W" means that this oil can be pumped by your engine as well as a single-grade SAE 10 oil can be pumped. "5W" can be pumped at a lower temperature than "10W" and "0W" can be pumped at a lower temperature than "5W". The second number, 30, means that the viscosity of this multi-grade oil at 100°C (212°F) operating temperature corresponds to the viscosity of a single-grade 30 oil at same temperature. The governing SAE standard is called SAE J300. This "classic" method of defining the "W" rating has since been replaced with a more technical test where a "cold crank simulator" is used at increasingly lowered temps. A 0W oil is tested at -35°C, a 5W at -30°C and a 10W is tested at -25°C. The real-world ability of an oil to crank in the cold is diminished soon after put into service. The motor oil grade and viscosity to be used in a given vehicle is specified by the manufacturer of the vehicle (although some modern European cars now make no viscosity requirement), but can vary from country to country when climatic or mpg constraints come into play. Oil circulates through the piston oil rings to cool and lubricate the compression rings. Inside gasoline engines, the top compression ring is exposed to temperatures as high as 320 °F (160 °C).

Many new vehicles are marked to use 5W-20 oil (Honda, Ford, and more recently Toyota) which is not much thinner than a 30 weight oil. Nay-sayers of 20 weight oil's ability to protect engines should note that typically, 30 weight oils shear down into the 20 weight range anyway. Most engine wear is during start-up and warm-up period, where the thinner 20 weight oil's flow is desirable. Overall, lab test results of the wear metals contained in used oil samples show low or lower wear with 20 weight than 30 in applications it is specified for. Some ultra fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles are marked to use 0W-20 oil. For some selective mechanical problems with engines, using a more viscous oil can ameliorate the symptoms, i.e. changing from 5W-20 to 20W-50 may eliminate a knocking noise from the engine but doesn't solve the problem, just "masks" it. Excess amounts of oil consumed by an engine burning it can be addressed by using a thicker oil, a 10W-40 might not burn off as fast compared to a 5W-30. A newer product that also addresses this issue is the "High-Miles" oils now marketed. They tend to be slightly thick for their grades, contain extra additives and seal conditioners. Apparently the formulation of these oils works well in many instances.

Turbine

Turbine motor oils are designed somewhat differently than reciprocating engine oils traditionally used in automobiles. Deposit control and corrosion are not significant issues when formulating a turbine oil, and the shear stresses that turbine oils are exposed to are minimal in light of the fact that turbines are naturally balanced rotating machines unlike reciprocating engines. Turbine oils tend to have the ISO VG range 32, 46, and 68 (cSt at 40°C), and make extensive use of polyolester, polyalphaolefin, and Group II as base stock due to the high temperatures they must endure. Varnish is the most problematic contaminant, which can only be detected accurately with the ultra centrifuge test resulting in the "UC value". Shear stress is a stress state where the stress is parallel or tangential to a face of the material, as opposed to normal stress when the stress is perpendicular to the face. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. ...

In most aviation gas turbine applications, peak lubricant temperatures are not reached during engine operation, but after shutdown, when heat has been able to migrate from the combustor cans and the compressors into the regions of the engine with lubricated bearings and gearboxes. The gas flow associated with running the turbine provides significant convective cooling that disappears when the engine is shut down, leaving residual heat that causes temperatures within the turbine to rise dramatically, an often-misunderstood phenomenon.RYAN. This machine has a single-stage centrifugal compressor and turbine, a recuperator, and foil bearings. ... A ring of can type combustors circles the mid section of this gas turbine. ... A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume. ... Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of currents within fluids (i. ...

Standards

American Petroleum Institute

Motor oil used for motor vehicle engines is commonly called engine oil in American Petroleum Institute (API) documentation. Engine oil is used for the lubrication, cooling, and cleaning of internal combustion engines. Motor oil may be composed of a lubricant base stock only in the case of non-detergent oil, or a lubricant base stock plus additives to improve the oil's detergency, extreme pressure performance, and ability to inhibit corrosion of engine parts. Lubricant base stocks are categorized into five groups by the API. Group I base stocks are composed of fractionally distilled petroleum which is further refined with solvent extraction processes to improve certain properties such as oxidation resistance and to remove wax. Group II base stocks are composed of fractionally distilled petroleum that has been hydrocracked to further refine and purify it. Group III base stocks have similar characteristics to Group II base stocks, except that Group III base stocks have higher viscosity indexes. Group III base stocks are produced by further hydrocracking of Group II base stocks, or of hydroisomerized slack wax, (a byproduct of the dewaxing process). Group IV base stock are polyalphaolefins (PAOs). Group V is a catch-all group for any base stock not described by Groups I to IV. Examples of group V base stocks include polyol esters, polyalkylene glycols (PAG oils), and perfluoropolyalkylethers (PFPAEs). Groups I and II are commonly referred to as mineral oils, group III is typically referred to as synthetic (except in Germany and Japan, where they must not be called synthetic) and group IV is a synthetic oil. Group V base oils are so diverse that there is no catch-all description. The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the main U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, representing about 400 corporate members involved in all aspects of the industry. ... Lubrication occurs when opposing surfaces are separated by a lubricant film. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of fuel and an oxidizer (typically air) occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ... Laundry detergents are just one of many possible uses for detergents Detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ... Corrosion inhibitor - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... For the hazard, see corrosive. ... Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, such as in separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which several fractions of the compound will evaporate. ... Petro redirects here. ... Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions, such as in separating chemical compounds by their boiling point by heating them to a temperature at which several fractions of the compound will evaporate. ... Petro redirects here. ... In petroleum geology and chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules (e. ... A polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin, or alkene as a monomer. ... The name polyols refers to chemical compounds containing multiple hydroxyl groups. ... For other uses, see Ester (disambiguation). ... Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. ... Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil Synthetic oil is oil consisting of chemical compounds which were not originally present in crude oil (petroleum) but were artificially made (synthesized) from other compounds. ...

API Service Classes

The API service classes^[1] have two general classifications: S for "Service" (orgininating from Spark ignition) (typical passenger cars and light trucks using gasoline engines), and C for "Commercial" (orginating from Compression ignition) (typical diesel equipment). Gasoline engine (also referred to as petrol engine or Otto engine) invented at the end of the 19th century by German engineer Nikolaus Otto is a type of internal combustion engine which is often used for automobiles, aircraft, small mobile vehicles such as lawnmowers or motorcycles, and outboard motors for... This article is about the fuel. ...

Note that the API oil classification structure has eliminated specific support for wet-clutch motorcycle applications in their descriptors, and API SJ and newer oils are referred to be specific to automobile and light truck use. Accordingly, motorcycle oils are subject to their own unique standards.

The latest API service standard designation is SM for gasoline automobile and light-truck engines. The SM standard refers to a group of laboratory and engine tests, including the latest series for control of high-temperature deposits. Current API service categories include SM, SL and SJ for gasoline engines. All previous service designations are obsolete, although motorcycle oils commonly still use the SF/SG standard. The obsolete SH standard was the last standard to contain the integral zinc and phosphorus (ZDDP) levels needed for proper lubrication of approx. pre-1990 cars^{[citation needed]}. Oils with higher ZDDP levels are still available from some manufactures, although much information is proprietary.

There are seven diesel engine service designations which are current: CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-2, and CF. All others are obsolete. Diesel engines in a museum Diesel generator on an oil tanker A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle. ...

It is possible for an oil to conform to both the gasoline and diesel standards. Engine oil which has been tested and meets the API standards may display the API starburst symbol with the service designation on containers sold to oil users. The latest guide to API oil certifications can be found at API EngineOilGuide2006 (PDF).

ILSAC

The International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) also has standards for motor oil. Their latest standard, GF-4^[2] was approved in 2004. A key test is the Sequence IIIG [3] , which involves running a 3.8L, GM 3.8L V-6 at 125 horsepower, 3600 rpm, and 150°C oil temperature for 100 hours. These are much more severe conditions than any API-specified oil was designed for: cars which typically push their oil temperature consistently above 100°C are most turbo-charged engines, along with most engines of European or Japanese origin, particularly small capacity, high power output. The 3800 family is a large V6 engine used by General Motors. ...

The IIIG test is about 50% more difficult [4] than the previous IIIF test, used in GF-3 and API SL oils. Engine oils bearing the API starburst symbol since 2005 are ILSAC GF-4 compliant. [5]

ACEA

The ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles) performance/quality classifications A3/A5 tests used in Europe are even tougher than the API and ILSAC standards. In cars of American origin, it is debatable whether this matters for normal drain intervals (5,000-7,000 miles). However, most modern cars of European origin frequently specifically refer oils meeting ACEA standards, and many European cars now make no reference to API specifications. CEC (The Co-ordinating European Council) is the development body for fuel and lubricant testing in Europe and beyond, setting the standards via their European Industry groups; ACEA, ATIEL, ATC and CONCAWE. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (French: Association des Constructeurs Européens dAutomobiles; abbreviated ACEA) is the main lobbying group of the automobile industry in the European Union. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

JASO

The Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) has come up with their own set of performance and quality standards for pertol engines of Japanese origin. The Japanese Automotive Standards Organization , JASO) is an organization that sets automotive standards, much like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) does in the United States. ...

For 4-stroke gasoline engines, the JASO T903 standard is used, and is particularly relevant to motorcycle engines. The JASO T903-MA and MA2 standards are approved wet clutch use, and the JASO T903-MB standard is not suitable for wet clutch use.

For 2-stroke gasoline engines, the JASO M345 (FA, FB, FC) standard is used, and this refers particularly low ash, lubricity, detergency, low smoke and exhaust blocking.

These standards, especially JASO-MA and JASO-FC are designed to address oil-requirement issues not addressed by the API service categories.

OEM

By the early 1990s, many of the European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) car manufacturers felt that the direction of the American API oil standards were not compatible with their own European designed high performance engines. Furthermore, the American "synthetic" way forward was the development of hydrocracking group I/II/III base stocks, whereas the demands of European engines were favouring synthetics from group IV and group V base stocks. As a result many leading European motor manufacturers created and developed their own "OEM" oil standards. For the band, see 1990s (band). ... EU redirects here. ... Original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, is a term that refers to containment-based re-branding, namely where one company uses a component of another company within its product, or sells the product of another company under its own brand. ...

Probably the most well known of these are the VW50*.0* series from Volkswagen Group, and the MB22*.** from Mercedes-Benz. Other European OEM standards are from General Motors, for the Vauxhall, Opel and Saab brands, the Ford "WSS" standards, BMW Special Oils and BMW Longlife standards, Porsche, and the PSA Group of Peugeot and Citroën. Volkswagen Group (ISIN: DE0007664005, TYO: 7659 ) is a German automobile manufacturer and one of the largest automotive companies worldwide. ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is a multinational corporation headquartered in the United States and has been the worlds largest and most dominant automaker since 1931 till the second half of 2007, surpassed by Toyota; as well as the global industry sales leader for 77 years. ... For information about the football team see Vauxhall Motors F.C. Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... This article is about the European car manufacturer. ... Saab Automobile AB is automobile manufacturing company in Sweden, and is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... This article is about the auto company. ... PSA Peugeot Citroën (PSA) is a vehicle company that owns the marques Peugeot and Citroën. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... Citroën is a French automobile manufacturer, founded in 1919 by André Citroën. ...

In recent times, very highly specialised "extended drain" "longlife" oils have arisen, whereby, taking Volkswagen Group vehicles, a petrol engine can now go up to 2 years or 30,000 km (a little under 20,000 miles), and a diesel engine can go up to 2 years or 50,000 km (a little under 30,000 miles) - before requiring an oil change. BMW, GM, Mercedes and PSA all have their own similar longlife oil standards. “km” redirects here. ... “Miles” redirects here. ...

Furthermore, virtually all European OEM standards require a long duration of longevity of the HTHS (High Temperature, High Shear) viscosity, many around the 3.5 cP. Neither the API, nor ILSAC makes any HTHS requirement.

As a result of this ultra-modern development in oil technology, and the subsequent development of the engines themselves (particularly with powerful engine electronic ECUs), virtually all modern European cars will demand a specific OEM-only oil standard. As a result, they now invariably make no reference at all to API standards, nor SAE viscosity grades. They may also make no primary reference to the ACEA standards, with the exception of being able to use a "lesser" ACEA grade oil for "emergency top-up", though this usually has strict limits, often up to a maximum of ½ a litre of non-OEM oil.

Other additives

In addition to the viscosity index improvers, motor oil manufacturers often include other additives such as detergents and dispersants to help keep the engine clean by minimizing sludge buildup, corrosion inhibitors, and alkaline additives to neutralize acidic oxidation products of the oil. Most commercial oils have a minimal amount of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate as an anti-wear additive to protect contacting metal surfaces with zinc and other compounds in case of metal to metal contact. The quantity of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate is limited to minimize adverse effect on catalytic converters. Laundry detergents are just one of many possible uses for detergents Detergent is a compound, or a mixture of compounds, intended to assist cleaning. ... Corrosion inhibitor - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... Zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate Zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate (ZDDP, ZnDTP, or ZDP) is a family of zinc salts of dithio organophosphates. ... General Name, symbol, number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... Catalytic converter on a Dodge Ram Van. ...

There are other additives available commercially which can be added to the oil by the user for purported additional benefit. Some of these additives include:

• Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) additives, which typically also contain calcium, are available to consumers for additional protection under extreme-pressure conditions or in heavy duty performance situations. ZDDP and calcium additives are also added to protect motor oil from oxidative breakdown and to prevent the formation of sludge and varnish deposits.

• In the 1980s and 1990s, additives with suspended PTFE particles were available to consumers to increase motor oil's ability to coat and protect metal surfaces. There is controversy as to the actual effectiveness of these products as they can solidify and clog the oil filters.

• Some molybdenum disulfide containing additives to lubricating oils are claimed to reduce friction, bond to metal, or have anti-wear properties.

• Various other extreme-pressure additives and antiwear additives

Zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate Zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate (ZDDP, ZnDTP, or ZDP) is a family of zinc salts of dithio organophosphates. ... Teflon is the brand name of a polymer compound discovered by Roy J. Plunkett (1910-1994) of DuPont in 1938 and introduced as a commercial product in 1946. ... Molybdenum disulfide, also called molybdenum sulfide or molybdenum(IV) sulfide, with the formula MoS2, is a black crystalline sulfide of molybdenum. ... EP additives, or extreme pressure additives, are additives for lubricants with role to decrease wear of the parts of the gears exposed to very high pressures. ... AW additives, or antiwear additives, are additives for lubricants with role to prevent metal-to-metal contact between parts of the gears. ...

Synthetic oil and synthetic blends

Synthetic lubricants were synthesized, or man-made, in quantity initially as a replacement for mineral lubricants (and fuels) by German scientists in the late 1930s and early 1940s due to a shortage of available crude, principally for the German war machine. A significant factor in its gain in popularity was the ability of synthetic based lubricants to remain fluid at the sub-zero temperatures of the Eastern front during winter, temperatures which caused petroleum based lubricants to solidify due to their higher wax content. The use of synthetic lubricants widened through the 1950s and 1960s due to a property at the other end of the temperature spectrum, the ability to lubricate aviation engines at temperatures that caused mineral based lubricants to break down. In the mid 1970s, synthetic motor oils were formulated and commercially applied for the first time in automotive applications. The same SAE system for designating motor oil viscosity also applies to synthetic oils. Synthetic oil is oil consisting of chemical compounds which were not originally present in crude oil (petroleum) but were artificially made (synthesized) from other compounds. ... The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known as the [[. In East Asia, the rise of militarism occurred. ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... For other uses, see Viscosity (disambiguation). ... Synthetic oil is oil consisting of chemical compounds which were not originally present in crude oil (petroleum) but were artificially made (synthesized) from other compounds. ...

Instead of making motor oil with the conventional petroleum base, "true" synthetic oil base stocks are artificially synthesized. Synthetic oils are derived from either Group III mineral base oils, Group IV, or Group V non-mineral bases. True synthetics include classes of lubricants like synthetic esters as well as "others" like GTL (Methane Gas-to-Liquid) (Group V) and polyalpha-olefins (Group IV), although actual base oil content of finished blended motor oils is not a factor. Higher purity and therefore better property control theoretically means synthetic oil has good mechanical properties at extremes of high and low temperatures. The molecules are made large and "soft" enough to retain good viscosity at higher temperatures, yet branched molecular structures interfere with solidification and therefore allow flow at lower temperatures. Thus, although the viscosity still decreases as temperature increases, these synthetic motor oils have a much improved viscosity index over the traditional petroleum base. Their specially designed properties allow a wider temperature range at higher and lower temperatures and often include a lower pour point. With their improved viscosity index, true synthetic oils need little or no viscosity index improvers, which are the oil components most vulnerable to thermal and mechanical degradation as the oil ages, and thus they do not degrade as quickly as traditional motor oils. Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil Synthetic oil is oil consisting of chemical compounds which were not originally present in crude oil (petroleum) but were artificially made (synthesized) from other compounds. ... For the Biblical Ester, see Esther. ... A polyolefin is a polymer produced from a simple olefin, or alkene as a monomer. ...

Synthetic lubricants are designed for "long life" extended drain intervals, but most users rarely run them long enough to gain a cost-effective return. If a "synthetic" oil costs 2 to 3 times as much as a conventional oil, it would have to be used for 2 to 3 times longer than a conventional oil just to break even.

Today, synthetic lubricants are available for use in modern automobiles on nearly all lubricated components, allegedly with superior performance and longevity as compared to non-synthetic alternatives. Some tests^{[citation needed]} have shown that fully synthetic oil is superior to conventional oil in many respects, providing better engine protection, performance, and better flow in cold starts than petroleum-based motor oil. These "tests" simply test the parameters of the oil itself and not really how well they work. Synthetics may offer little or no real-world benefit, as witnessed by the millions and millions of cars that lead long lives on plain motor oil. Generally, other components will fail long before the engine dies of an oil-related failure. Lab analysis of the wear metals contained in the used oil show identical or even lower wear with plain dino oils. Consumer Reports attempted^{[citation needed]} to demonstrate the conventional vs synthetic advantages, but chose taxi cabs as a test-bed, which is actually a non-demanding application since the oil stays hot all the time, easily driving off accumulated water and fuels. This "test" in low-performance engines over a less-demanding driving cycle technically proved little about the subject.

Maintenance

In engines, there is inevitably some exposure of the oil to products of internal combustion, and microscopic coke particles from black soot accumulate in the oil during operation. Also the rubbing of metal engine parts inevitably produces some microscopic metallic particles from the wearing of the surfaces. Such particles could circulate in the oil and grind against the part surfaces causing wear. The oil filter removes many of the particles and sludge, but eventually the oil filter can become clogged, if used for extrmely long periods. Experienced mechanics will cut open the filter canisters to inspect for degree of loading. The motor oil and especially the additives also undergo thermal and mechanical degradation. For these reasons, the oil and the oil filter need to be periodically replaced. Coke Coke is a solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. ... Soot, also called lampblack, Pigment Black 7, carbon black or black carbon, is a dark powdery deposit of unburned fuel residues, usually composed mainly of amorphous carbon, that accumulates in chimneys, automobile mufflers and other surfaces exposed to smoke—especially from the combustion of carbon-rich organic fuels in the... For other uses, see Wear (disambiguation). ... Spin-on oil filter beneath the engine of a Saab 9-5 (2005) Cartridge oil filter for use on a 2006 Volvo S40 An oil filter is a device used to decontaminate oil that contains suspended impurities. ...

The vehicle manufacturer may specify which SAE viscosity grade of oil should be used for the vehicles it produces, but many different weights can actually be used. Some manufacturers have specific quality test requirements or "specs" for service in their particular make. In the USA, quick oil change shops recommended intervals of 3,000 miles or every 3 months, but one oil brand now markets miles-specific line with 5,000, 7,500 and even 15,000 miles performance guarantee.Mobil (2008). Mobil Clean Oils. W. M. Retrieved on 1/22, 2008. 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

With a degree of ambiguity about how many miles motor oil is actually good for, some people opt for a more convenient time-based schedule. Seasonal changes are desirable where the viscosity can be adjusted for the ambient temperature change, thicker for summer heat and thinner for the winter cold. As a general rule, the thinnest oil is used that does not produce excess wear. Time-based intervals account for both the short trip driver who does fewer miles, but builds up more contaminates, as well as the long highway trips that are much easier on the oil. Many modern cars now list somewhat higher intervals for changing of oil and filter, with the constraint of "severe" service requiring more frequent changes with less-than ideal driving. Most commonly this applies to short trips of under 10 miles, where the oil does not get to full operating temps long enough to burn off condensation, excess fuel, and other contamination that leads to "sludge", "varnish", "acids", or other deposits. Many manufacturers have engine computer calculations to estimate the oil's condition based on the factors which degrade it such as RPMs, temperatures, and trip length; and one system adds an optical sensor for determining the clarity of the oil in the engine. These systems are commonly known as Oil Life Monitors or OLMs. Over the years, manufacturers have been able to reduce the viscosity of oil needed to correctly lubricate the engine and extend the duration of the servicable life. On the 1970s typical cars took heavy 10w-40 oil and was used for a duration of 2000 miles or less. In the 1980s 5w-30 oils were introduced to improve gas mileage and improve engine performance. A modern typical application would be Honda Motor's use of 5w-20 oil viscosity for 10,000 miles without excess wear or deposits while offering the maximum mpg. Most other manufacturers use 20 weight oils as well. The latest API "SM" spec offers a substantially better product than preceding specifications.

Future

A process to break down polyethylene, a common plastic product found in many consumer containers, is used to make wax with the correct molecular properties for conversion into a lubricant, bypassing the expensive Fischer-Tropsch process. The plastic is melted then pumped into a furnace. The heat of the furnace breaks down the molecular chains of polyethylene into wax. Finally, the wax is subjected to a catalytic process that alters the wax's molecular structure leaving a clear oil. (Miller, et al., 2005) This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Plastic (disambiguation). ... A furnace is a device for heating air or any other fluid. ... In chemistry and biology, catalysis (in Greek meaning to annul) is the acceleration of the rate of a chemical reaction by means of a substance, called a catalyst, that is itself unchanged chemically by the overall reaction. ...

New Biodegradable Auto Oil is making an appearance on the market. This oil is formed from fats of cattle. The benefit of this new form of motor oil is the ability to transform the oil back into soil with less negative consequences. Typical motor oil needs to go through special treatment facilities whereas biodegradable motor oil has less impact on the environment if you spill it on the ground. All used motor oils can contain toxic heavy metals, however, and even biodegradable oils should be recycled properly.

Some popular major producers

• Agip
• Amsoil
• Castrol
• Chevron
• Elf
• Esso
• Fuchs
• Gulf Oil
• Havoline (Texaco)
• Liqui Moly
• Mobil
• Motul
• NEO
• Pennzoil
• Pentosin
• Royal Dutch Shell
• Total S.A.
• Valvoline

The six-legged dog, seen on filling stations all over Italy was the winning design from a competition held in 1952 [1] Agip (Azienda Generale Italiana Petroli) is an Italian automotive gasoline and diesel retailer. ... Amsoil, Inc. ... Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oil products for most lubrication applications. ... Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is one of the worlds largest global energy companies. ... Elf logo Elf Aquitaine is a former French oil company merged with TotalFina to form TotalFinaElf. ... This article is about the trade name. ... Gulf Oil was a major global oil company from the 1900s to the 1980s. ... Havoline is a motor oil brand of the Texaco Oil Company. ... Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. ... Mobil 1 is a brand name developed by the Mobil oil company and now marketed by ExxonMobil. ... Look up neo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pennzoils current version of their logo. ... Royal Dutch Shell plc is a multinational oil company of British and Dutch origins. ... Total S.A. (Euronext: FP, NYSE: TOT) is a French oil company headquartered in Paris, France. ... Cummins NYSE: CMI, is a maker of diesel and gas engines. ...

References

External links

• Graph any four oils from their data sheets
• SAE-ISO-AGMA comparison chart
• SAE J300 Motor Oil Viscosity Chart
• SAE J306 Automotive Gear Oil Viscosity Chart
• WikiHow - the WikiHow Guide on how to Change your Engine Oil
• ACEA EUROPEAN OIL SEQUENCES
• The Engine Oil Bible
• MotorOilWorld
• CEC - The Co-ordinating European Council
• Simple Oil Change Guide
• Volvo Owners Club history of engine oil
• Gulf Motor Oils from OilUK
• New Zealand Oil recovery report
• steps to change motor oil
• Oil Products
• What motor oil is best for my aircooled Porsche or other high performance engine
• Synthetic oil
• Selection of the Right Motor oil for the Corvair