Engine oils are vital lubricants designed to protect and enhance the performance of internal combustion engines. Their primary functions include reducing friction between moving parts, cooling engine components, cleaning internal surfaces, and sealing gaps between piston rings and cylinder walls. Engine oils must perform under a wide range of temperatures and pressures, maintaining stable viscosity and protecting against wear, deposits, and sludge formation. The right engine oil improves fuel efficiency, prolongs engine life, and ensures smooth operation. They come in different types—conventional, synthetic, and semi-synthetic—each offering varying levels of performance, protection, and longevity.
Additives
Essential additives in engine oils significantly boost their effectiveness and keeps the engine clean and lubricated. Detergents keep engine components clean by removing sludge and preventing deposit buildup. Dispersants help suspend contaminants, allowing them to be filtered out. Anti-wear agents, like zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), protect metal surfaces under high pressure. The viscosity index improvers ensure consistent oil thickness across temperature ranges, while antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and foam suppressants enhance oil stability and engine protection.