Modern engines in cars are made up of moving parts that have very little space between them; therefore the need for oil (to lubricate) that is light enough to pass through these spaces.

Engine oil is divided into 3 main types- mineral, synthetic and semi synthetic oils. The mineral oil is basically made up of natural elements, while the synthetic oil contains processed chemicals and this makes it more suitable for vehicles to run on. The semi synthetic oil is a mixture of both mineral and synthetic oil.

Engine oil is classified according to its viscosity by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).Its classification consist of a range of numbers and alphabets e.g. 5w30. The number before the alphabet represents the lowest viscosity that the oil can attain, while the number after the alphabet represents the highest viscosity that the oil can equally attain. The “W” stands for winter, signifying that the oil has been tested in winter.

Manufacturers advise using correct specification of engine oil because:

1. Engines have tighter bearing clearances built with high precision.

2.     Low viscosity oils enhance fuel economy.

3.     If oil (not the right type for your engine) is too heavy, it could interfere with the vvt (variable valve timing) operation.

Specifications of vehicle engine oils are usually available on the engine oil cap, owner’s manual or workshop technical manual.    So next time you want to change your engine oil, go by the specification of  the manufacturer and save yourself the headache of engine problems.

 This piece was got from Automedics Limited.