You won’t get very far without oil in your car. While petrol – a more refined oil – is the stuff that makes all the engine components move via combustion, engine oil is the stuff that ensures that all that movement doesn’t end up with your engine seizing up.
The tolerances inside the engine are incredibly tight with parts moving extremely fast and the tiniest of spaces between them. Should they grind together the result can be catastrophic engine failure. It is engine oil that is used to ensure these components move smoothly next to each other, with any friction and wear and tear reduced to a minimum.
While we may think of oil’s role only as a lubricant, it does perform a couple of other really important functions, including drawing heat away from the engine and its components. The environment inside the engine is ferocious (an internal combustion engine works by igniting petrol or diesel, so it gets pretty hot in there) and the oil is pumped through the engine, drawing out that heat, until it reaches the sump (the deep tray that sits at the very base of the engine and from which the oil is pumped) where it is cooled before flowing through the engine again. The oil also contains additives that prevent the accumulation of particles and other unwanted elements that may damage the engine and its components.
A lot is asked of engine oil and that is why it is one of the components that requires close attention. An oil change – along with an oil filter change – is a staple of even the most basic vehicle service, and every vehicle owner knows (or should know!) that checking the engine oil level using the dipstick is a maintenance check that should be performed regularly. Topping up the engine oil is also a relatively simple task that even the most disinterested of owners should be able to do without too much drama.
WHICH OIL SHOULD YOU USE?
Vehicle manufacturers will specify what type of oil, and of what viscosity, is right for their product. This is marked by the grade (5W30, 10W30 and so on) and may be either a regular/mineral oil, a synthetic oil, or a semi-synthetic/mineral oil blend. The information regarding what type and grade of oil to be used can be found in the manufacturer’s/owner’s handbook, but should that information be difficult to find, a professional mechanic will know which oil is correct for any given vehicle model.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
MTA Queensland’s Vehicle Maintenance course is designed for those who are interested in gaining valuable information and learning good practices for everyday vehicle use. The result: a safer journey with fewer breakdowns and repairs. If you have ever wanted to learn how to carry out preventative maintenance, then this course is for you.
20 April 2020
Please note the information contained on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your specific needs or circumstances. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice.