Engine oil protects the engine from wear. The most important information about oil changing, mixing and viscosity to SAE classes, from ACEA specification to oil dilution for correct measurement.
Why do cars need engine oil?
Well, engine oil prevents the engine of a car from being damaged while driving. It lubricates the moving parts in your car’s engine – for example, the pistons, thus reducing mechanical friction. In addition, it cools the parts that become hot during the ride and which the coolant cannot reach, protects against corrosion and cleans the engine from ash, soot, and metallic abrasion.
Is it allowed to mix engine oils?
Oils of the same specification or quality can be mixed together, but it is not ideal. In exceptional cases – for example, when the warning lamp for oil lights up on the road – it is quite possible to refill low – quality oil – in accordance with the specifications of the car’s manufacturer.
What is Longlife oil?
Longlife oil consists of very good quality base engine oils with different types of special additives. They are usually classified according to SAE 5 W or SAE 0 W and are rather thin. So that you can lubricate the engine parts well despite their thin liquid, they are optimized with special additives, that’s why you always need to choose only the best oil additives for your car, you should find some reviews and buy the best one for you. Longlife oil is intended for vehicles with Longlife Service; that is, for cars with a long oil change interval specified by the car manufacturer. In principle, only the oil quality prescribed by the vehicle manufacturer may be used in these vehicles – even when refilling. Since Longlife oils are not available from every dealer, you should always have a Liter of the appropriate oil with you for refilling.
Which engine oil is the right one?
Well, different engines need different engine oils. This applies to diesel and petrol engines, but also to different engine variants. The oils are precisely tailored to the individual requirements of the respective and huge manufacturers. Only a few vehicle manufacturers prescribe General oil qualities in accordance with ACEA (European Vehicle Manufacturers ‘ Association) or API (American oil Institute).
Information on the respective prescribed engine oil classification can be found in the operating instructions or in the service booklet – and can also be found on the engine oil canister. You should adhere to these guidelines. If not, you jeopardize the manufacturer’s warranty.
Why is it so important to change engine oil?
Oil is refilled. Well, refilling oil is easy but does not drain. Engine oils wear off and must, therefore, be changed regularly. The reasons for the wear are natural oil aging, the degradation of viscosity index and additives improvers as well as the contamination by combustion residues such as soot, sulfur oxides, and water, dust from the atmosphere and mechanical abrasion. Filtering or refilling of fresh engine oil is not enough. In gasoline engines, which usually drive short distances, it can also come to a dilution of the engine oil by unburned gasoline components. This reduces the viscosity of oil and reduces the lubricity of the engine oil. Oil dilution can also occur in diesel engines with particulate filters.
Oil change: can you make it yourself?
Experts advise against oil change on their own. In modern cars, the oil drain screws can often only be opened with special tools, and the proper disposal of the oil is also complex. In addition, the drain screw is hardly accessible without a lift or ramp – and the journey to a self-help workshop costs a lot of time.
