Motor and engine oil consists of base oil and some additive formulation. The purpose of these oils is to lubricate various parts of the internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The formulations of these motor and engine oils are made so that the lubrication potential meets all the specific standards & applications.
Hence, with optimal formulation, motor and engine oil will determine the lubrication performance for certain vehicle conditions and factors. The primary function of the engine oil is to work on minimizing wear and friction on the moving parts of the IC engine. Keeping this aspect in mind, people have a massive confusion between engine oil and motor oil.
People count it as the same, while few conflicts are still pointing out their specific functionalities. Therefore, this article intends to educate you about any possible differences, practical functions and other associated factors about motor oil and engine oil. Follow on till the end!
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Differences Between Engine Oil and Motor Oil
The simple answer to this question is no difference between engine oil and motor oil. Engine oil is the same as motor oil and serves the same purpose. The different terms used here indicate how these lubricants are titled in respective countries.
The motor oil term is used mostly in the UK, while the engine oil term is preferable in the USA. When you drop your car at any garage, irrespective of whether you ask them to check motor oil or engine oil in your vehicle, they will understand! So, before approaching further in the article, you should clearly understand that there are no practical differences between motor and engine oil.
Functions of Engine Oil / Motor Oil
The engine or motor oil has a significant role in helping the vehicle run smoothly on roads. The engine mechanism of any vehicle consists of various mechanical parts. And while all of these parts run together in unison to help streamline the vehicle’s performance, friction is generated within the internal combustion section.
Therefore, the presence of engine oil or motor oil as a lubricant is crucial. It reduces this friction and excessive heat generation within the interacting mechanical parts. As a result, those parts won’t wear out soon and will continue to deliver optimal performance. It becomes important for the vehicle owners to seek timely replacement of engine oils as burnt-out or old lubricants do no good in serving their purpose.
To help you understand better, here are the things that engine oil does:
Protection Against Corrosion
The motor/engine oil intends to protect all kinds of metallic components of your vehicle engine from rusting problems. Apart from that, this lubrication also prevents the corrosion of different parts. Hence, it will neutralize the deformity of the engine and prevent engine failure symptoms.
When the internal engine combustion occurs, the oxidation of fuel and all of the other lubricants produce different kinds of acids, which can corrode the metals and deteriorate the engine’s functionality. The presence of engine/motor oil neutralizes these acidic entities and protects the engine.
Cooling Functionality
The next important purpose of motor or engine oil is to cool down the engine upon heated up use. It executed the cooling functionality by eliminating the heat away from the moving parts and maintaining their longevity.
Suppose you go on a long drive with your friends and family without a break. The engine will continuously work throughout the journey, eventually heating the engine parts. If the heat is not controlled, the engine will break down and put the car to a halt until the parts cool down and are ready to use.
The work of lubricants is to absorb all of the engine heat within the parts and keep the mechanism cool. As a result, your vehicle will have the potential to keep running seamlessly even on longer drives, without breakdown.
If you are heading out for frequent long drives or are a traveler, you should keep changing the engine oil periodically. It is because frequent heat strain upon the engine wears out the lubricants faster. Therefore, seek their timely replacement to keep the engine cool and healthy on your next road trip.
Cleaning Sludge from Engine
The combustion process leaves behind residues built-up within the working components and remains suspended on oil. All of these residues will eventually clog the engine and will deteriorate the engine performance and gradually the vehicle’s functioning as well.
The engine oil flows continuously while the vehicle is running. And these residues and impurities are carried out to that of the oil filter with the engine oil flow. The filter can be removed or replaced. But the point of consideration is to seek frequent cleaning of the filter.
The oil lubricant will do its job in cleaning out the sludge and accumulating it at the filter. But it is your timely duty to service the vehicle and clean the oil filter to enhance engine performance and keep it safe from mechanical breakdowns.
Lubrication Potential
It is the primary function of an engine oil or motor oil! The lubrication potential of the engine oil is to help reduce all kinds of friction within the internal moving parts. The science behind it lies in oil’s monolayer between two dynamic surfaces. With this ideology, such parts do not rub against one another on a harsh note.
Types of engine oil
The engine starts immediately when you set the ignition on your vehicle! The combustion process begins by taking all of the mechanical parts into unison. It runs continuously to reduce the interactive strain between the parts. But why is it that you have to change the engine oil frequently in a very short period? It is because you are picking a poor quality lubricant that loses its potential quickly.
Therefore, you need to go with the best reputable motor oil manufacturers to make specific formulations suitable for your vehicle type. But before you head out to the engine or motor oil manufacturers, you need to know the different types of engine oil available in the market:
Synthetic Motor Oil
Synthetic motor oil is derived from chemical compounds, which modify petroleum compounds. It is not complete crude oil. Moreover, this motor oil can undergo synthesis from different raw materials. The flow of synthetic oil is proficient even at low temperatures, which helps in boosting fuel economy.
The fact is that the full synthetic oil is derived from the same material as mineral oil. This formulation is highly refined, purified, and distilled to remove the engine mechanism’s impurities. Apart from that, it also has the alignment of individual molecules for meeting the modern engine specifications for engine oil.
Synthetic oil has a low viscosity, which eventually leads to the engine’s high efficiency and promotes better fuel economy. There is a high oxidation resistance, which indicates a low formation of sludge and less engine wear. With this oil formulation, you will need fewer oil changes in a short period, which will save your service costs.
Synthetic Blend Motor Oil
The synthetic blend motor oil variants combine mineral oil and synthetic oil properties. It offers a middle ground for vehicle owners who don’t want to spend a fortune on full synthetic motor oil. It is affordable and is commonly preferred in the market.
Moreover, the synthetic blend motor oil has seal conditioners destined to prevent oil leakages. This is an efficient feature for engines clocked more than 75000 miles, consisting of antioxidants that work against preventing the oil breakdown scenarios.
Apart from that, such blends also consist of friction modifiers, which guard the engine against strong wear & tear. Hence, it guarantees the long life of your vehicle engine. The sole purpose of getting a synthetic blend is to avail the benefits of mineral oil, which holds the additives in suspension and lets the engine enjoy the scrubbing potential & oxidative stability of synthetic oil.
Conventional Oil
Conventional motor oil is ideal for drivers using simple engine designs and has a standard driving style. They are refined from pure crude oil, which is less clean and refined than synthetic motor oil.
How is the viscosity of engine oil important?
All of the engine oils or motor oils are graded using alpha-numeric codes. One such example is 10W40! In this example, the letter W represents Winter and the number right before W indicates how the oil will flow in a cold environment. Hence, it indicates the viscosity of oil in cold conditions. Therefore, the lower the number, the better the engine will have cold-weather performance.
The viscosity of the motor oil is rated based upon the properties at 0 degrees F and thickness at 212 degrees. The smaller number of ratings means that the flow is good! For instance, the engine oil 10W-40 will have a better viscosity than that of 20W-40. The number, which is after W, indicates oil’s viscosity under normal temperatures.
The engine oil becomes thinner in a hot environment and thick in a cold environment. For this specific reason, the motor or engine oils are rated with one viscosity each for hot and cold conditions. The motor oil resists the engine oil from being excessively thick in a specific cold environment. Hence, it will help the oil move smoothly between all the mechanical parts.
Oil additives and their purpose
Oil additives are nothing but chemicals that are blended with the base oil. These additives determine the physical and chemical properties of the final lubricant product. Motor oil consists of 10 to 15 additives! Depending upon the quality & performance, the additives are accountable for making up to 25% of the formulation.
Each additive is selected carefully and must be compatible with base oil and other additives! Here are a few points that explain the purpose of oil additives:
- Enhance existing base oil properties- They do the same with integrating antioxidants, antifoam agents, emulsifying agents and corrosion inhibitors.
- Suppress undesirable base oil properties- They achieve the same with the availability of viscosity index improvers and pour point depressants.
- Impart new properties to base oils- New properties are added to the base oils with detergents, tackiness agents, metal deactivators, extreme pressure additives, etc.
Engine Oil Grades
The different types of engine oil grades available in the market for different vehicles and running conditions are:
6 Signs You Need to Know Before Changing Your Engine Oil
Changing engine oil in your vehicle is a quick procedure if you have the right tools and expertise! But here are a few signs that you should emphasize before seeking to change the lubricant:
- Dark and dirty oil- Check the dipstick for engine oil’s dark and dirty texture.
- Louder Engine Noise and Knocking- If you are getting a knocking or rough engine noise while driving, consider changing the oil.
- Exhaust Smoke- Check the exhaust smoke, and if it is black, you should immediately change your oil.
- Ticking Sounds When Starting- If you get a ticking sound while igniting the vehicle, it means that the oil is wearing out, and the mechanical parts are lacking lubrication.
- Oil Smell Inside the Cabin- If you have some oil smell within the vehicle’s cabin, it is possibly an oil leak scenario. Schedule immediate maintenance.
- Falling Oil Level- If the oil level in your vehicle falls, then the oil change light will be triggered. Moreover, you need to schedule maintenance to solve the problem.
Conclusion
This is a complete understanding of engine oil or motor oil. They both do not have any difference, and it is crucial for you all to understand the functionality of these lubricants. With proper knowledge, you will care better for your vehicle and its seamless running.
