In our previous article we spoke ineptly on Motor Engines and the various types there is, this week well be speaking on another related article titled motor oils/engine oils.

Motor oils, we all get the funny gist about Oil is Oil, right? It’s true till you get to the store and see all different kinds and types of oils, all looking foreign and confusing to you. You get all confused and head back to the question you should have asked yourself before setting out which is what kind of oil does my vehicle use and what kind of oil does it need now?  Some of us understands and knows all these about our cars while others need to be in close communication with our Auto-mechanic for certain details.

Motor oils are oils used for the lubrication of internal combustion engines. Engine oils or motor oils function to reduce friction on movable parts of the engine from sludge and varnish like detergents.

Engine oils also function as a neutralizer, it neutralizes acids that originate from fuels and oxidation of the detergents , it strengthens the sealing of the piston rings and cools the engine by carrying heat away from movable parts.

It reduces friction on the engine.

Generally in engines there are parts that move against each other causing friction, converting kinetic energy to heat. Engine oil maintain a thin, lubricating film on all metal parts that allows the parts glide over each other efficiently minimizing friction.

There are basically 4 types of engine oils

• Synthetic motor oil – These are oils for high tech vehicles only, vehicles like Mercedes Benz or Chevy corvette. These oils have longer-lasting performance in all areas, from viscosity index to protection against deposits. Some will ask, if this oil is so good why can’t every vehicle use them? We should understand that what works for Mr. A may not necessarily work for Mr. B , there may also be certain features your car engine needs that the synthetic may not be convenient for.
• Synthetic blend motor oil – These are a combination of synthetic oils and organic oils, designed to protect engines with higher temperatures. They’re common with drivers of pickups/SUVs who want the high-load protection for their vehicles. They are less volatile and more expensive.
• High mileage motor oil– most of the vehicles on the road have more than 75,000 miles on the odometer, they cross the 6-digits mileage. Oil refiners have identified this as an area of customer interest, and have formulated new oils recommended for such vehicles.
• Conventional motor oil-these are the standard car oils for a new car. Most carmakers usually specify 5W-20 or 5W-30 oil, particularly for lower temperatures, with 10W-30 oil as optional, particularly for higher ambient temperatures.