Engine oil or lubricant plays an important role in modern internal combustion engines. It performs three key functions – provides lubrication to engine components for smooth and efficient functioning, prevents carbon and varnishes accumulation in the engine, and throw away heat from the combustion chamber. This auto guide will help you get the most from your car engine oil.
Check oil levels
Checking your engine lubricant levels is the first thing you should do to ensure that your engine has oil in optimum quantity. First, heat the engine at idle or by driving the car for about 10-15 minutes. Park it on a plane surface. Pull out the oil dipstick smoothly and wipe off the oil on a clean cloth. Then, put it back on its position and pull back after a few seconds for checking the oil level. Always maintain an optimal oil level, it improves engine’s performance and prevents deposits and corrosion while reducing the engine components wear and carbon emissions. Our auto guide experts suggest checking oil levels at least once in a month.
Using the right oil grade
The right type of car engine oil improves fuel efficiency and life of an engine. Car manufacturers always denote the grade of engine oil for every specific model in its manual. However, experts recommend changing the grade for optimizing engine efficiency. Generally, oil grades are mentioned in combination of an alphabetic letter and a number such as 10W20 or 15W40. The first number indicates the flow of oil at -17.8 degrees Celsius. The higher the numeric value, the higher the oil thickness in cold weather. The ‘W’ stands for winter, while the last number signifies the viscosity or high temperatures thinning resistivity of the oil at 100 degrees Celsius. There are several types of engine oils for cars in India that help improve engine’s efficiency in different climatic conditions.
Colour doesn’t defines oil quality
Usually, it is considered that the darker engine oil is contaminated due to the accumulation of carbon, additives or high engine heat. However, a few specific brand oils could be of darker shades. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t superior to the lighter ones. The quality of the oil can be determined by observing the change in its colour over a long time. Pull the dipstick and check the oil colour every few days. If it gets darker after every 2000 miles, then change it immediately.
Don’t over fill
Engine lubricant should always be maintained at its optimal levels. Over-filling might damage the engine. The extra oil might enter the combustion chambers and cause hydrostatic lock or it can exert pressure to the pistons and cause catastrophic component failure.
Considering different weather conditions at different places in the country, it’s very important for people to keep checking engine oil of their cars in India.
