Good engine oil is paramount in the working and maintenance of the car. The engine oil lubricates all the moving parts of the car. It reduces the friction between the parts and subsequently prevents the wear and tear.
Also, as the car engine runs over long periods of time, hot spots develop in the car engine. Hot spots are those parts of the engine which reach a temperature higher than other parts of the engine. Technically, the engine oil stabilizes and maintains a uniform temperature in the engine.
Another problem the car faces every morning, especially during winters, is a ‘cold start’. In the morning the car engine is ‘dry’ primarily because it is devoid of the engine oil that has settled to the sump overnight. In the absence of engine oil, there’s a tremendous amount of friction between the different parts of the car engine. To prevent this, it is very important that the engine oil reaches the car engine the moment the car is started every morning.
Apart from lubricating the car engine, engine oil has another important function in the cars’ working – cleaning. The engine oil runs through the car engine, thus doing its job of cleaning the engine and hence eventually turns black. In cars analogy, the blacker the engine oil, the cleaner is the car engine.
Changing/Topping Of Oil
There is a gross misconception as to when the engine oil needs to be changed. Even if the engine oil as turned completely black due to cleaning of the engine, the blackening does not indicate its life is over. The engine oil will perform for the period mentioned on the pack, regardless of its colour. However, the oil level should be checked regularly with a dipstick and topped with fresh oil to maintain the minimum level required.
Grades of engine oils:
There are two grades of oil available in the market. 20W40 and 15W40. The latter is the premium grade of oil for the cars in the luxury segment.
