A Beginner’s Guide to Motor Oil: What You Need to Know

Motor oil is an essential ingredient to power your vehicles. You cannot expect your vehicle to function smoothly without the right oil. Selection of right oil with increase life of your engine also.

Hence, whether you are an expert mechanic or a novice trying to figure out the apt kind of motor oil, we have got you covered.

In this article, you will get to know all the important aspects of motor oil. 

What is motor oil?

A motor oil is like any other oil. It contains a base oil and additives meant to work in tandem to provide the necessary power and nourishment to your engine.

You can think of it as any other oil. For instance, hair oils contain a base oil such as sesame or coconut oil, and additives like amla, bhringraj, etc. pivotal to the nourishment of your hair. 

The base oil in the motor oils form the largest part - 80 to 90% - providing lubrication to protect wear and tear and heat absorption in the engine. The additives perform different functions and facilitate various benefits for your engine. 

Types of Additives

Various types of additives form the essential ingredients of motor oil which provide the added benefits to a motor engine. Here is a breakdown of few such additives.

Antioxidants

It goes without saying that oxidation can be detrimental to the health of your engine. The engine can become sluggish and demand more oil as a result of the oxidation. It can also harm the metal components in the engine. 

Therefore, antioxidants while acting as the additive prevents all such issues from happening.

Corrosion Inhibitors

Due to the constant heat generation and prevalent moisture, motor engines are susceptible to acquiring rust and corrosion. 

Corrosion inhibitors form a protective layer on the metal components of the engine, thereby keeping the engine rust and corrosion-free.

Anti-foam additives

As the name suggests, anti-foam additives help to combat the formation of the foam in the engine which otherwise can cause issues such as formulation of tiny bubbles can break down the layer of lubricant cause damage of engine.

Pour-Point Depressants

Pour-Point Depressants enable the use of petroleum or motor oil at lower temperatures. If you need your vehicle to perform effectively at high altitudes, you will need a motor oil with these additives.

Detergents

Detergents are a common additive used in the best motor oils for cars. It prevents the formation of debris in the engine while simultaneously removing the sludge.

However, the cleaning properties of detergents in motor oil do not last forever, hence you will need to consider the recommendations of reputed oil companies in the UAE for changing the oil frequently. 

Friction Modifiers

The engine produces power by relentless friction and heat. Large amounts of friction can be harmful to the engine. Friction modifiers help to minimize the metal to metal grinding and friction thereby boosting the longevity of the engine.

The best motor oils for cars should contain all these additives to combat a myriad of issues occurring otherwise. The base oil along with these additives offer numerous benefits for your engine.

Benefits of motor oil

A high-quality motor oil should seamlessly provide the following benefits.

Friction Control

The motor engine comprises thousands of metal parts that need to constantly move for its functioning. If the friction between these parts is not controlled it can result in catastrophic damage to your engine. 

The lubricants in motor oils help to serve the same function.

Heat control 

Besides friction, motor engines need to relentlessly deal with the heat. Most engines work via combustion which means there are constant small explosions that are happening while the engine is running.

Some countries have extreme environment conditions, which impact on engine temperature also. While selecting the oil need to consider all aspects.

The best motor oils for cars act as an insulator and keep this heat controlled and minimized.

Combustion by-products containment  

Continual chemical reactions are happening in the motor engine as a result of combustion. These reactions leave by-products that can be harmful to the engine. 

The motor oil keeps these products at bay and prevents them from entering into any parts. It attracts harmful chemicals such as silicon oxide, acids, etc. 

Engine cleaning

The best motor oil for cars helps to clean the engine effectively. A high-quality oil removes built-up contaminants, deposits, and sludge safeguarding the engine from clogging.

For your engine to reap the benefits of high-quality oil, you need to understand the various types of oils and their suitability for your vehicle. 

Difference between synthetic and fully-synthetic oil

It is a general perception that synthetic oil is better than conventional oil for your engine.

A synthetic motor oil provides added benefits as compared to mineral oil. Synthetics use better quality base oils thereby providing additional protection for your engine including:

• Antioxidation
• Chemical stability
• Robust protective quality

A fully-synthetic motor oil is much better than conventional oil and synthetic blends. Accredited to a tailored additive formulation, it provides enhanced protection and performance including:

• Protection against high temperature and heat
• Reduced wear and tear of the engine 
• Controlling sludge formation
• Oil breakdown control 

Fully synthetic oil can be a bit expensive in comparison to conventional or synthetic blend oil. Therefore, it is necessary to opt for the best oil companies in UAE while buying the fully-synthetic motor oil.