Engine oil: Your vehicles lifeblood
Every vehicle is a bulk of metal. For the metal to brush itself with metal and still remain intact for a long time we need a very good lubricant. This is where engine oils come into play. Rightfully so, engine oils are considered as the vehicle's lifeblood. For a normal consumer, it is very common to hear from a garage that their cars needs service and engine oil change. While we don't need to change engine oils every 2-3 months like the garages suggest, a simple timely replacement goes a long way in making sure your lacs of rupees (thousands of dollars) don't wear out in a couple of years.
When to Change
All lubricants have a life. Engine oils last in an engine based on their composition and car usage. For a car driven exclusively in the city with heavy traffic or driven on the highway at high speeds, the lubricants dry out faster. They lose their ability to stop the engine wear and tear due to the heavy usage. Mineral oil last about 8000 kms under heavy stress while the same will last about 12000 kms under regular use. Synthetic oil will last about 12000 kms under heavy stress but can last about 18000 kms under regular usage. Oil companies usually suggest 10000 kms for mineral oils and 15000 kms for synthetic oils. Car makers usually want you to change every 3-6 months but that will only make their pockets richer.
Its usually best to follow a regular oil change rule. My Honda does 12000 kms a year and my Mitsubishi does about 6000 a year. I feed both with mineral oil and get them changed every year. My Royal Enfield sees about 3000 kms and I feed it mineral oil too.
For a bike the oil change rule is not the same. Most motorcycles under regular use have smaller capacity engines which means their engine interiors have to work more. A motorcycle with synthetic oil under heavy stress can work upwards of 8000 kms while sustaining up to 10000 kms under regular use. A motorcycle with mineral oil will last about 3000 kms with mineral oil under heavy stress while lasting up to 5000 kms under regular use.
Now these figures are rough estimates for the laymen amongst us who do no feel the need to pop open the engine oil compartment and check the oil for its stickiness every few months. If the engine is not running under normal conditions, the oil will burn up or lose its lubrication properties faster.
What oil to use
Oils are available in various formulations today. Some are mineral oils while some are synthetic but now oils are also available in Semi-synthetic formulations. Mineral oils are those which are manufactured from petroleum bi-products. Synthetic oils are those which are manufactured in laboratories of these huge oil corporations while semi-synthetic oils are a mix of both synthetic and mineral oils.
It is necessary to change oil at regular intervals irrespective of the mileage of the vehicle. Hence it is logical to make sure that we use the right oil which saves us money without compromising on the car engine.
If a car covers more than 12000 kms in a year, it is logical to use synthetic oil to save the engine from wear and tear. Anything below 12000 kms in a year does not really require synthetic oil and regular oil wont lose its viscosity within the time frame or mileage.
If a motorcycle covers more than 5000 kms in a year, it is logical to use synthetic oil. Anything below this will not require more than a mineral oil.
It is also important to note how the vehicle is run. If my car is doing only 8000 kms in a year but doing this under heavy stop and go traffic, I would prefer to feed it synthetic oil just to be on the safe side. The same also holds true for cars doing speeds above 100 km/hr for more than 30 mins everyday in a hot country like India.
Same way if my motorcycle is running under heavy stress in the city under stop and go traffic, I would prefer feeding it synthetic oil only. The same holds true for motorcycles doing more than 30 minutes on the highway above speeds of 100 km/hr
What grade of oil to use
If you ever decide to buy oil yourself (I do) and go to the store, it is not going to be as easy as buying a pack of your favourite chips. Oils come in various grades depending on usage and weather.
For those living in colder climates, look for grades starting from 0wXX or 5wXX. The W in the grades mentions Winter viscosity of the oil. The number at the other end is not the summer viscosity of the oil. It is the ability of the oil to work at high operating temperatures without breaking down.
So it also makes sense to change the engine oil grades with regards to the seasons and not it will not void your manufacturers warranties. All operating manuals will show a range of oils to be used based on the seasons.
Can you use the same oil for car and bike?
No you cannot use the same oil for your car and bike. Cars come with a separate transmission box which needs a separate transmission oil. In a motorcycle, the gearbox is a part of the engine itself and uses the same engine oil. So motorcycle oils do not have the same level of friction reduction properties of a car oil. Alternatively using motorcycle oil in a car will lead to oil shearing down faster and losing its strength faster. While using a car oil in a motorcycle sump can lead to gearbox slippage or choke ups and various other problems.
Myths about engine oil.
1.You can start using synthetic oil on a new car.- New cars have metal dust that shears in the engine compartment over regular use. Synthetic oil stops such erosion which is necessary for an engine to smoother out. Synthetic oil should not be used on a new car before atleast 5000kms and usually before 20000 kms. For a motorcycle one should not use synthetic oil before 1000 kms atleast and usually before 5000 kms.
2. Performance engine oils increase power and torque of your car. This is actually true to an extent. Using a thinner grade oil will lead the engine to running smoothly and hence the engine will breathe easy giving you better performance and fuel efficiency. But a thicker engine will give better protection. This also effects the engine noise to an extent.
3. Synthetic oils can reverse the damage done to the car engine.: Synthetic oils can help clearing sludge from an engine and stop the wear and tear on a basic scale. Other that that Synthetic oils cannot help much in reversing the damage already done to the engine.
4. Oil qualities differ by companies: Oils differ based on the formulations (eg. esters) but other than that there is not much to differ between oils of different brands.
5. Engine oils grades do not matter in a car engine. : Engine oil grades do matter when using an oil in your vehicle. You can read one page in your owners manual where a chart will be given suggesting you which oil to use in your car based on the weather in your area.
6. Changing engine oil from mineral to synthetic or engine oil grades will void your warranty: This is completely untrue. Company garages do threaten customers with dire consequences if using a different oil, but this will not void your warranty unless the engine oil is completely out of range from that mentioned in the owners manual.
7. You can switch engine oils at any time: Synthetic oils and mineral oils can be interchanged at any point in time of a vehicle's life but it is recommended (not compulsory) to use an engine flush. But it is not recommended to switch to synthetic oil on an old vehicle as it can clean off the sludge and lead to leaking oil seals. It will also increase engine noise due to clean up of sludge.
Some known engine oil brands (Just some major names)
1. Mobil 1
2. Castrol GTX
3. Shell Helix
4. Motul
5. Servo
6. Mak
7. Pennzoil
8. Amsoil
9. Petronas
10. Elf / Total
11. Fuchs
12. Redline
13. Royal Purple
15. Exxon
16. Valvoline
When to Change
All lubricants have a life. Engine oils last in an engine based on their composition and car usage. For a car driven exclusively in the city with heavy traffic or driven on the highway at high speeds, the lubricants dry out faster. They lose their ability to stop the engine wear and tear due to the heavy usage. Mineral oil last about 8000 kms under heavy stress while the same will last about 12000 kms under regular use. Synthetic oil will last about 12000 kms under heavy stress but can last about 18000 kms under regular usage. Oil companies usually suggest 10000 kms for mineral oils and 15000 kms for synthetic oils. Car makers usually want you to change every 3-6 months but that will only make their pockets richer.
Its usually best to follow a regular oil change rule. My Honda does 12000 kms a year and my Mitsubishi does about 6000 a year. I feed both with mineral oil and get them changed every year. My Royal Enfield sees about 3000 kms and I feed it mineral oil too.
For a bike the oil change rule is not the same. Most motorcycles under regular use have smaller capacity engines which means their engine interiors have to work more. A motorcycle with synthetic oil under heavy stress can work upwards of 8000 kms while sustaining up to 10000 kms under regular use. A motorcycle with mineral oil will last about 3000 kms with mineral oil under heavy stress while lasting up to 5000 kms under regular use.
Now these figures are rough estimates for the laymen amongst us who do no feel the need to pop open the engine oil compartment and check the oil for its stickiness every few months. If the engine is not running under normal conditions, the oil will burn up or lose its lubrication properties faster.
What oil to use
Oils are available in various formulations today. Some are mineral oils while some are synthetic but now oils are also available in Semi-synthetic formulations. Mineral oils are those which are manufactured from petroleum bi-products. Synthetic oils are those which are manufactured in laboratories of these huge oil corporations while semi-synthetic oils are a mix of both synthetic and mineral oils.
It is necessary to change oil at regular intervals irrespective of the mileage of the vehicle. Hence it is logical to make sure that we use the right oil which saves us money without compromising on the car engine.
If a car covers more than 12000 kms in a year, it is logical to use synthetic oil to save the engine from wear and tear. Anything below 12000 kms in a year does not really require synthetic oil and regular oil wont lose its viscosity within the time frame or mileage.
If a motorcycle covers more than 5000 kms in a year, it is logical to use synthetic oil. Anything below this will not require more than a mineral oil.
It is also important to note how the vehicle is run. If my car is doing only 8000 kms in a year but doing this under heavy stop and go traffic, I would prefer to feed it synthetic oil just to be on the safe side. The same also holds true for cars doing speeds above 100 km/hr for more than 30 mins everyday in a hot country like India.
Same way if my motorcycle is running under heavy stress in the city under stop and go traffic, I would prefer feeding it synthetic oil only. The same holds true for motorcycles doing more than 30 minutes on the highway above speeds of 100 km/hr
What grade of oil to use
If you ever decide to buy oil yourself (I do) and go to the store, it is not going to be as easy as buying a pack of your favourite chips. Oils come in various grades depending on usage and weather.
For those living in colder climates, look for grades starting from 0wXX or 5wXX. The W in the grades mentions Winter viscosity of the oil. The number at the other end is not the summer viscosity of the oil. It is the ability of the oil to work at high operating temperatures without breaking down.
So it also makes sense to change the engine oil grades with regards to the seasons and not it will not void your manufacturers warranties. All operating manuals will show a range of oils to be used based on the seasons.
Can you use the same oil for car and bike?
No you cannot use the same oil for your car and bike. Cars come with a separate transmission box which needs a separate transmission oil. In a motorcycle, the gearbox is a part of the engine itself and uses the same engine oil. So motorcycle oils do not have the same level of friction reduction properties of a car oil. Alternatively using motorcycle oil in a car will lead to oil shearing down faster and losing its strength faster. While using a car oil in a motorcycle sump can lead to gearbox slippage or choke ups and various other problems.
Myths about engine oil.
1.You can start using synthetic oil on a new car.- New cars have metal dust that shears in the engine compartment over regular use. Synthetic oil stops such erosion which is necessary for an engine to smoother out. Synthetic oil should not be used on a new car before atleast 5000kms and usually before 20000 kms. For a motorcycle one should not use synthetic oil before 1000 kms atleast and usually before 5000 kms.
2. Performance engine oils increase power and torque of your car. This is actually true to an extent. Using a thinner grade oil will lead the engine to running smoothly and hence the engine will breathe easy giving you better performance and fuel efficiency. But a thicker engine will give better protection. This also effects the engine noise to an extent.
3. Synthetic oils can reverse the damage done to the car engine.: Synthetic oils can help clearing sludge from an engine and stop the wear and tear on a basic scale. Other that that Synthetic oils cannot help much in reversing the damage already done to the engine.
4. Oil qualities differ by companies: Oils differ based on the formulations (eg. esters) but other than that there is not much to differ between oils of different brands.
5. Engine oils grades do not matter in a car engine. : Engine oil grades do matter when using an oil in your vehicle. You can read one page in your owners manual where a chart will be given suggesting you which oil to use in your car based on the weather in your area.
6. Changing engine oil from mineral to synthetic or engine oil grades will void your warranty: This is completely untrue. Company garages do threaten customers with dire consequences if using a different oil, but this will not void your warranty unless the engine oil is completely out of range from that mentioned in the owners manual.
7. You can switch engine oils at any time: Synthetic oils and mineral oils can be interchanged at any point in time of a vehicle's life but it is recommended (not compulsory) to use an engine flush. But it is not recommended to switch to synthetic oil on an old vehicle as it can clean off the sludge and lead to leaking oil seals. It will also increase engine noise due to clean up of sludge.
Some known engine oil brands (Just some major names)
1. Mobil 1
2. Castrol GTX
3. Shell Helix
4. Motul
5. Servo
6. Mak
7. Pennzoil
8. Amsoil
9. Petronas
10. Elf / Total
11. Fuchs
12. Redline
13. Royal Purple
15. Exxon
16. Valvoline
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