What is engine oil?

The engine is the heart of the car. Motor oil plays the role of blood because of it both sinteres the constant correct and smooth operation of the whole mechanism. Motor oil is used to protect the engine from energy loss, from overheating and wear due to friction in its parts.
The main functions of engine oil include cooling, lubrication, sealing, oxidation corrosion prevention and cleaning.

Engine oil prevents a car’s engine from being damaged while driving. It lubricates the moving parts in the engine – for example, the pistons – and thus reduces mechanical friction. It also cools the parts that get hot while driving and which the coolant cannot reach, protects against corrosion and cleans the engine of ash, soot and metallic abrasion.

Which engine oil is the right one?

Different engines need different engine oils. This applies to gasoline and diesel engines, but also to different engine variants. The oils are precisely tailored to the individual requirements of the respective manufacturer.

That is why there are many different specifications and corresponding approvals: For example BMW Longlife-04, VW 507.00 or Mercedes-Benz 228.51. 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 book – and can also be found on the engine oil canister. One should adhere to these guidelines. If not,  the manufacturer’s guarantee is jeopardized.

Why do you have to change engine oil?

Engine oils wear out and therefore have to be changed regularly. The reasons for wear are natural oil aging, the degradation of additives and the viscosity index improver, as well as contamination by combustion residues such as soot, sulphur oxides and water, dust from the atmosphere and mechanical abrasion. Filtering or refilling fresh engine oil is not enough. In petrol engines, which mostly drive short distances, the engine oil can also be thinned due to unburned petrol components. This lowers the viscosity and reduces the lubricity of the engine oil. Oil dilution can also occur in diesel engines with a particle filter.

Oil change: can you do it yourself?

Experts advise against changing the oil yourself. In modern cars, the oil drain plugs can often only be opened with special tools, and proper disposal of the oil is also time-consuming. In addition, the drain plug is hardly accessible without a lift or ramp – and a trip to a self-help workshop takes a lot of time. 

Mineral oil or synthetic oil – which is better? 

Mineral oils can be obtained from petroleum by distillation and refining and consist of many different hydrocarbon molecules. During the manufacturing process, the unusable components of the crude oil are sorted out. This process is relatively simple and comparatively inexpensive.

Synthetic engine oil is made from petroleum or natural gas. Here, however, the components are not sorted out but rather assembled in a  chemical process so that the desired product is created. In this way, the manufacturers can give the oil special properties – for example, particularly good lubricity at extremely low or high temperatures.

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