The viscosity of motor oils: identification, decoding

Viscosity is one of the most important oil parameters, which need to pour into the engine. No wonder it is on the tank indicates the viscosity of engine oil. Change of viscosity depending on temperature defines the limits of temperature limits of the use of this fuel. At low temperatures the viscosity of the oil should not be very high, so the engine could start "on cold" (from the starter) and the pump was able to pump it through the system. But at high temperatures the viscosity of the lubricant should be low to provide the required pressure in the system and to create a lubricating film between the parts in the engine that RUB against each other.

Oil Categories

Depending on how this fuel varies with temperature, there are different categories:

1. Winter. These oils have low viscosity, so when the cold temperature outside the engine easy to start. However, at high temperatures, these oils are not able to ensure the normal operation of the engine. The viscosity of the engine oil of this type will be very low at high temperatures, so it will not be able to create a reliable oil film between the engine parts.
2. Old. At low outside temperature (in winter, for example) these oils will not provide the cold start, but work well at high temperature because of high viscosity.
3. All-Season. This universal lubricants at low temperatures have a viscosity of winter oils, high ‒ viscosity summer. These lubricants are the most popular, because they do not need to change every season, and they are very effective as energy saving.

The Viscosity of motor oil is important but not the only operational parameter. It is also worth considering antiwear, anticorrosion, detergent and antioxidizing properties. Despite this, the characteristics of the motor oil viscosity are the most important. It is these drivers klassificeret fuel. And different additives and agents only increase the cost of the product.

Recommended

"IZH 350 Planeta Sport" – frisky Soviet bike

It is believed that of the entire line of Soviet motorcycles "IZH" truly sporty just one. It is easy to guess that it was "IZH 350 Planeta Sport".History motorcycleIn 1973 the factory "Izhmash" was made a real breakthrough: the line went down the fir...

How does the rear bushing front arm and how many it serves?

The Rear bushing front arm – one of the constituent elements of the vehicle chassis. He refers to the guide elements of the suspension together with the levers endures tremendous stress with wheels. However, with this this item, there are many ...

Oil consumption in the engine. Six reasons

It is Hardly possible to find a motorist who would not be worried about the increased oil consumption. It is especially annoying when it happens with another new motor. Here are the most common causes that result in the consumption of oil in the engi...

What kind of oil suitable for your car?

The Basis for choosing a specific brand is a requirement of the vehicle manufacturer. The user must indicate what viscosity engine oil should possess. As the examples in the manual also lists specific brands and links to the websites of manufacturers of lubricants.

In that case, if the car is old, and find official guidance on the type and make of the used oil fails, it is possible to pick their own brand oil for transmission and engine. At any point of sale or garage will be able to give qualified advice.

Engine oil Viscosity SAE

SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers) is an international standard that reglamentary viscosity oils. Many drivers assume that it is the manufacturer or brand of lubricant, but it's not. The SAE specification has nothing to say about the quality of the oil, or about his purpose for a particular engine type.

The SAE evaluates the following parameters of lubricants

1. Kinematic viscosity. This parameter characterizes the product meets the particular viscosity class. This is the main indicator for all variations of GSM, and should not be confused with dynamic viscosity of motor oil, which determines the strength of the resistance of the two oil layers.
2. Pumpability. Specifies the rate at which oil is supplied to friction pairs when starting the engine cold. Also, there is a probability of failure of the motor due to rotation of the ear at the start.
3. Viscosity at high temperatures. The actual viscosity during operation at high temperatures. The parameter also characterizes the anti-wear properties.

In fact, SAE is the characteristics of the lubricants according to viscosity. Today there are 5 classes 6 summer and winter. The designation of viscosity of engine oils winter be sure there is the English letter W, which means Winter (Winter). And what would a higher viscosity, the higher the number that is specified in the specification.

Transcript-viscosity motor oil

To begin To define winter and summer classes. Winter classes include oil:

• 0W;
• 5W;
• 10W;
• 15W;
• 20W;
• 25W.

Old lubricants

• 20;
• 30;
• 40;
• 50;
• 60.

To make it easier, let's give a simple example of the characteristics of the lubricant. Try to understand what is the viscosity of the engine oil specifications SAE 10W-40. Note that a product with this feature is most often used in Russia.

So, 10W in notation gives us to understand that this oil is winter. Properly you will be able to determine this parameter will depend on the possibility of an easy engine start in the cold without negative consequences he.

Designation 40 in our example, tells about the summer class of product. Therefore, this oil is versatile. This parameter determines how well the oil operates at high temperatures of the engine.

The presence of the title symbols of both classes says about year-round fuel. The same can be said about the viscosity of motor oil 5W40. Is a multigrade oil which can work at both high and very low temperatures.

How to determine the viscosity of motor oil for your car?

Best of all, when selecting engine oil, follow the advice of the manufacturer. Based on these recommendations, your car will be insured against problems with starting the motor in winter. This will eliminated a negative impact on the engine due to oil starvation. If you apply oil, improper viscosity, the possible increased wear of the motor and even jamming after launch. Remember that after start the engine the pump needs some time to pump oil through the system. Only then it will go to the friction parts. And if the viscosity is too large, then the pump will need much more time. All this time the motor will be in the oil “fasting”, causing friction parts quickly come into disrepair. The best winter oil is one that is able to maintain its fluidity even in the cold. The best in this case is the lubricant of class "0W".

Scale viscosity oils depending on the temperature

If you have no advice or instruction no, you can either seek advice in a HUNDRED (the easiest and simple option), or to try to determine this parameter independently.

In the first place is to find information about average winter temperatures in your region where you plan to travel by car. Depending on this and need to pick up the oil.

Here is a scale viscosity of engine oils:

About the choice of summer oil

When choosing a fuel for summer operation of the vehicle it is worth considering that the most famous European companies recommend the use of lubricant of class “40”. This is due to the fact that in summer and even spring or autumn heat intensity of the big engines. High temperature, shear rate in various zones of the motor, as well as a huge pressure ‒ all this is characteristic of modern motors. Under these conditions, the oil should maintain their properties and keep the necessary oil film, and cooling of the friction pair. This task becomes complex when operating the motor in extreme heat or in traffic where there are no natural active cooling of the motor by the flow of oncoming air.

Multigrade oils have properties summer and winter grades of lubricants. To receive the double designation SAE. For example, in the designation viscosity motor oil 5W30 there are just two designations. Here is the winter viscosity and temperature properties reflected on the left and the right.

Viscosity properties

This is one of the key characteristics of the oil. It is from these properties depends on the temperature range in which this fuel will provide normal engine starting without warm-up, as well as the effective pumping of oil in the lubricating system, the cooling of friction parts in the greatest load and temperature.

Even in that case, if the vehicle is operated in a country with a temperate climate, range of temperature change from cold start during winter the maximum heating can be 180-190 degrees. The viscosity of the mineral oil in the temperature range from -30 to +150 degrees can vary by thousands of times. Summer oil at high temperatures, have sufficient toughness, ensure the normal running of the engine when ambient temperature is 0 degrees. ...