Five essential aspects that determine the choice of an engine oil that is suitable. The quality of the oil to the different types of viscosity and classifications… be able to identify them. Follow the guide!

Petrol grade

The first thing to consider is that the quality of fuel is among the most significant aspects. It is measured by three important factors that are: cleanliness (absence of deposits) and water …), and the octane/cetane numbers. Then, last but not least, the amount of sulfur present in the fuel. The sulfur in the engine is converted into sulfuric acid as it is running, which could cause corrosion and serious damage as time passes. The limit in Europe for sulfur is 10 parts per million (parts/million), while Africa can have as high as 2000 parts per million (parts/million). The greater the sulfur content of fuels, the greater the level of sulfuric acid generated and, consequently, the greater the risk of engine failure. It is crucial therefore to choose the correct oil to protect the engine.

Environment and usage

The environmental conditions (natural as well as artificial) is a major element in selecting the correct engine oil. The state of the roads, dust and humidity on the ground, the quality of maintenance for the vehicle and the driving style can affect the engine. But, in Africa generally and specifically in Algeria more specifically, the conditions are far from optimal. This is why it is important to choose an engine oil that is of high quality to safeguard the engine against anticipated wear generated by these conditions.

The quality of engine oil

It is important to keep your oil changed and change it every few months. It is best to choose a premium engine oil that is appropriate to the driving and engine conditions. The oil of poor quality will not meet manufacturers’ recommendations for protection time. Because it is more vulnerable to damage and transmissions are more easily damaged, it is more susceptible to failures. A high-quality motor oil can meet these needs and will also keep the temperature clean and stable.

The viscosity of an engine oil

The primary purpose of engine oil is to lessen friction between components that are in motion or contact with each other. It allows, in essence, to evacuate part of the thermal energy generated by friction, as well as to stop corrosion. The viscosity of a fluid refers to its thickness. In the realm of engine oils, the viscosity level is indicated in SAE. In other words, the lubricant with an SAE 40 viscosity level is more dense than one that has an SAE 20.

There are two kinds of motor oil, multigrade and monograde. The monogrades are lubricants having a constant viscosity index. Multigrades can have a fluctuating viscosity, based on whether or not the engine is stopped or not

Classification

There are a variety of motor oil classifications. On the one hand, the API classification (American Petroleum Institute). API classification (American Petroleum Institute) is an international organisation which classifies motor oils in accordance with their level of performance by using a set of numbers and letters which appear difficult to comprehend. However, it’s actually simple. API declares that there are two kinds of engines: one designed for gasoline engines and another used for diesel engines. When these two letters are included on the package it indicates that the oil is able to be used on both kinds of engines

The „S“ and „C“ classes are separated by an alphabet. The performance of the engine oil is higher when the alphabetical sequence is greater. An „SL“ oil, for example, has a higher efficiency than an oil that is „SI“. For some diesel oils, the number four follows the letters (e.g. CF-4). This indicates that the oil is designed for 4-stroke engines. Simple!

Check More Details Here is the ACEA classification (Association of Constructors Europeens d’Automobiles) which classifies engine oils into three categories. For diesel and gasoline that is traditional lighter automobiles, Group A/B is for. Group C (catalytic converter or particle filter, diesel or gasoline „LOW SAPS“). For vehicles with heavy loads, group E is the next.

Finally, most of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) car makers do not consider the standards adequate and add specifications in order to reach their own level of requirements.