If experienced drivers are asked what factors affect duration without problematic operation of the car - in their answer they will definitely note the importance of using high-quality fuel and engine oil, additives and antifreeze. Moreover, among the points to which it is recommended to pay special attention, both the correct choice of consumables and their timely replacement are noted. When choosing engine oil, you will need to pay attention not only to its high quality, but also to technical characteristics - it is this product that should be fully correspond requirements and fully cope with the functions assigned to it.
the car needs high-quality oil, what damage low-quality oil does to the car
Sometimes you have to deal with the fact that amateurs do not fully understand the importance of quality oil for an engine and try to buy cheap varieties of it. It should be understood here that such an approach is acceptable in one single case - if the purchased product is properly certified.
Since counterfeit goods are often sold in modern trade, buying proper quality engine oil can be a rather complicated procedure.
The very fact of using poor quality oils - this is a prerequisite for the fact that soon there will be malfunctions in the car related to the motor.
At the same time, a small amount of savings received when buying oil can result in significant costs for engine restoration.
The matter is that function of protection of the motor is assigned to engine oil . Moreover, it is designed to perform preventive measures that can keep all elements of the engine in good shape over a long period of operation.
But low-quality oil turns from an ally of a car into its enemy, which can have a negative impact on both certain parts and the entire car as a whole, reduce it operational quality and service life.
Protect your car from poor quality engine oil is possible, this will require special testing, or analysis, which is called laboratory. Quality tests are carried out in several stages, their order determines the type of engine oil tested.
About the consequences of using low-quality engine oil:
Engine oil, what types of engine oil do manufacturers produce
To better appreciate the importance of oil in a car, it would not be superfluous to recall that its purpose is to reduce friction between parts to a certain degree and slow down the process of their wear caused by friction processes.
All major manufacturers of motor oils produce several types of this product, which differ in chemical composition, viscosity and other less significant parameters. All oils entering the distribution network can be divided into three groups.
Synthetic - this type is the most common, it does an excellent job of ensuring the normal operation of modern engines.
Oils of this group characterized medium viscosity, but it may have different indicators, depending on the manufacturer.
These oils are obtained by chemical reactions, while products obtained during oil refining are used as raw materials. Synthetic oils often contain additives that provide additional protection for engine parts.
In the manufacture of mineral oils, the chemical impact on products oil refining minimized. Mineral oils are characterized by a higher viscosity, in most cases they are used for engines whose work experience is at least 10 years.
The negative point of mineral oils is their accelerated evaporation during engine operation, which naturally leads to their more active consumption.
Manufacturing semi-synthetic oils are produced by mixing synthetic and mineral products and chemically refining them.
When choosing such oils, it is necessary to carefully study the inscription on the package, usually it contains information on the percentage ratio of oils of different types, as well as recommendations on which types of engines they can be used in.
The chain by which high - quality motor oils from well - known manufacturers enter the distribution network necessarily includes the stage of quality control and product certification . In accordance with the conclusion of the commission, the parameters of the oil, in particular the viscosity index, are indicated on the packaging.
Fulfillment of this requirement is a mandatory condition, the absence of the above data on the properties is a gross violation, most likely the proposed product is fake and of very low quality. It is very dangerous to pour such oil into the engine!
How to determine the quality of engine oil visually and experimentally, what to look for
Experts recommend the following: if you really care about your favorite car, then you should pay attention to the choice of engine oil, which will need to be used throughout the entire period of operation of the car.
But from buying poor quality no one is insured with goods, for example, if you need to buy an already well-known and tested product in an unknown store in another city. In this case, before using the oil for its intended purpose, it is recommended to test it thoroughly. Some of the simplest and most accessible independent conducting tests should be considered in more detail.
engine oil packaging label
The first thing we pay attention to is the label. Manufacturers of the left product sometimes even forget that it should contain information about the quality and characteristics product , without which he can not get on the shelves of shops .
You can eliminate errors in the analysis of the label if you first study on the Internet exactly how the branded packaging of the selected brand looks like.
If we talk about labels, as such, then they should contain information about:
- viscosity grades defined according to SAE J 300
types of engines for which the oil is intended, diesel or gasoline - what product: mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic origin was used as the basis
- international standard eg : ACEA A3 /B3 /B4 API SL /SF
- about certification marks, possibly from a single manufacturer
Another point is the date of manufacture, and not only the year, month, day, but also the exact time is indicated, in addition, the batch number.
engine oil color
Desirable analyze product color . It should be remembered that poured into a transparent container or on a piece of paper, high quality oil will have a yellow color, and low-quality falsified a product that has not been manufactured according to manufacturing techniques will have a fairly dark color .
paper engine oil quality test
Testing with a sheet of paper will help to ensure that the product does not contain harmful additives. You will need to stock up on a sheet of clean paper and a little oil.
The oil is applied to the paper, then the sheet is placed at an angle to the surface of the table. Draining , the oil should not leave a visible dark mark . The dark color of the trace means that the oil contains low quality additives, therefore - it is better to refuse to use such a product.
engine oil impurity test , oil structure
Experts say that one of the distinguishing characteristics high quality engine oil is homogeneity.
To ensure the quality of the product, you can apply the following methods:
- a few drops of oil are applied to the fingers, then thoroughly rubbed, while high-quality oil will be felt as a homogeneous mass without any grains or the smallest foreign fragments. If, however, a feeling of uniform oiliness did not arise during rubbing, such an oil is better not flood V engine
- second option will require prepare transparent small capacity, V her poured oil And leave stand minutes on twenty V dark place. Even behind this short interval time V low quality product will be celebrated bundle. Also V containers will become be viewed impurities strangers substances (If They V himself deed present)
Oil high quality able on throughout Total time keep even coloring And uniform structure.
Remember, What If V thicker small clearly viewed delamination And presence impurities, That refuel his V motor dangerous, outsiders particles will settle on details motor And accelerate their wear.
Interesting material that will help you learn to identify a fake:
How check viscosity oils V domestic conditions
Independent examination viscosity oils, especially For car owners—newcomers, Maybe refuse task enough complex. Also it is forbidden Not Mark, What at different temperatures environmental environments oils may enough significantly change their characteristics.
visual examination viscosity Maybe be completed next way: oil freeze, When his temperature descend before marks —20* WITH — start To studying his behavior. Especially clearly negative temperature will influence on product, With indicator viscosity 10W—30 And greater, products With more low indicator viscosity Not slopes To sharp change their characteristics.
price And quality motor oils, Can whether buy quality motor oil on sale V 2 —3 times cheaper how V branded stores
Life develops So, What our contemporaries constantly account for think O possible options savings. But Can boldly assure, What owners cars desirable elect options, which Not concern cost fuel And motor oils — repair And replacement details car V case need repair cost V times expensive.
If reason logical, That product famous firms—manufacturers, such How Motul, Agrinol or Mobile, even at condition holding shares, Not Maybe have price V 2 or 3 times more low, how usually He It has V branded points sales. If this promotion held what—That unknown shop, That from purchases such cheap goods should abstain.
Such dubious saving V final eventually Maybe turn around big expenses, irrelevant options motor oils will contribute acceleration wear engine, If speak directly, That poor quality oil will be required Very short terms to kill motor.
Second negative moment — pollution motor, deposits which accumulate accelerate wear, A at subsequent substitutions oils And washings may become cause serious breakdowns.
Doubt V volume, What repair engine event Not from cheap — Not account for.
IN conclusion should generalize And more once recall recommendations professionals By discussed topic:
- At choice oils pay attention on Availability draft — V quality product He be present Not must.
- Some secure myself from purchases counterfeit Can acquiring oil at official representative companies, which Maybe confirm quality goods relevant certificate And prove authenticity product.
- At buying oils Not costs rely on recommendations seller on car market or Just neighbor By garage — question O buying quality motor oils enough responsible, Not superfluous will acquire own knowledge both all features given goods.
- If arise wish buy oil cheaper — remember O expensive repair engine.
Useful tips on choosing high-quality engine oil - in the video.
It is possible to determine the degree of pollution, the presence of additives, water, antifreeze and fuel in it without special laboratory equipment and reagents.
Drop method
This method is based on the study of a paper chromatogram, its visual evaluation and measurement of the diameters of the oil drop zones.
The chromatogram consists of 4 zones:
1 – core(drop center), corresponds to the primary zone of the oil drop before it spreads on paper. All heavy insoluble mechanical impurities (dust, dirt, metal particles, soot, coke) are deposited here. Pure oil does not have a kernel.
2 – marginal zone in the form of a dark ring. Contains insoluble organic impurities. Absent in very clean and very dirty oils. During the operation of the oil, the diameter of its marginal zone increases.
3 – diffusion zone oils with easily soluble organic impurities. Consists of products of oxidation and decomposition of oil additives.
4 – clean oil zone. It is observed quite rarely. Its appearance indicates a deterioration in the detergent and dispersant properties of engine oil or the ingress of a certain amount of fuel into it. The wider the ring, the more fuel is contained in the oil.
Performing a drip test
To check the detergent-dispersant properties of the oil and assess the degree of its contamination by drop testing, you will need an ash-free “blue tape” filter or white filter paper.
You can use a coffee filter. In extreme cases, porous white office paper with a density of 80 g / m 2 will do. Smooth, glossy or embossed paper will not work for these purposes.
Lay the paper flat on a smooth, non-absorbent surface. From a height of 5 cm, apply a drop of heated to 90 0 C on the paper.
Dry a piece of paper in an oven at 100 0 C for 1 hour. Drying at room temperature will take 12 to 24 hours.
After the drop has dried, proceed to the analysis of the results of the study.
Chromatogram analysis
The suitability of engine oil for operation is determined by calculating the coefficient of washing and dispersing ability Kmd and the coefficient of the presence of mechanical impurities Kmpr. They are calculated by measuring the diameters of the core d1, the edge zone d2, the diffusion zone d3 and using simple formulas:
kmd=d3/d2
Kmpr=d1/d2.
The detergent-dispersing ability of the oil is considered to be weakened if Kmd is greater than 1.3, the presence of mechanical impurities will be indicated by a Kmr value above 0.75.
The quality of the oil can be judged by visually comparing the characteristics of the chromatogram with the following color charts and charts.
Core and edge zone
Diffusion zone
Boundary between diffusion zone and pure oil zone
Clean Oil Zone
The suitability of engine oil is directly indicated by the color of the core and diffusion zones: the lighter they are, the more efficient the oil is. During the operation of the oil, with an increase in the amount of mechanical impurities, the core and the diffusion zone on the chromatogram will acquire a darker shade, and the edge zone will gradually disappear.
As the content of additives decreases and the oil loses its detergent-dispersant ability, the chromatogram diffusion zone will begin to decrease, and the zone of pure oil will take shape and noticeably increase in size.
Good luck to you! Not a nail, not a wand!
High-quality motor oil is the basis for long and trouble-free operation of the engine. Unfortunately, the market today is filled with fake motor oils. This mainly concerns well-known brands that are most in demand. Therefore, the issue of acquiring high-quality motor oil is particularly acute today. There are several ways to check engine oil for authenticity.
How to distinguish original oil from a fake
Leading motor oil manufacturers are constantly improving ways to protect their products from fakes. No wonder. There is unspoken statistics, according to which about 40% of all motor oils sold in the Russian markets are counterfeit products.
Optionally, it will be an oil that is absolutely unsuitable for operation. Often, cheap mineral oil with a simple set of additives is poured into canisters of well-known brands, which is far from the properties of the original, but is also suitable. But sometimes, instead of oil, a substance comes across that can quickly disable the engine.
Let's look at a few protective tricks implemented by leading manufacturers, as well as tell you how to check engine oil for authenticity.
How to check engine oil for quality
Today, there is no reliable way to test a new engine oil for quality. Even far from all laboratories can give an exhaustive conclusion about the properties and durability of the sample taken for research.
But there are a number of methods that can indirectly indicate the quality of the engine oil used.
- The consistency of the oil on the dipstick. On a hot engine, remove the dipstick from the crankcase and place it vertically. High-quality oil will accumulate at the end of the dipstick in a drop up to a certain volume, only after that it will separate and fall. Poor quality will simply drain off.
- You need to drop one drop of oil from the dipstick onto a paper towel. By the stain, you can judge the condition of the engine oil. If the drop spreads as a uniform greasy spot with a slight darkening in the center, the oil is still suitable for use. If the oil does not spread, but remains in the form of a drop, or the stain has obvious delaminations, the oil is unsuitable.
There are many methods among car owners on how to check engine oil for quality. According to the considered methods, the quality of the oil can be judged by comparing the distance traveled and the results of a drop test. Normal oil should work stably for about 10 thousand kilometers. If signs of oil degradation appear earlier, the oil is likely to be of poor quality.
Choosing a good motor oil today is much more difficult than some mechanical device (for example, child seat in the car), since without a thorough study in the laboratory, all verification methods give very conditional results.
In our online store, the site sells only original oils, which is confirmed by quality certificates and the presence of all protection elements from manufacturers.
Every car enthusiast should be aware of the presence of such a natural factor: he bought a car - he got a bunch of problems. A car, in principle, like any other type of equipment, requires care. That is, you need to monitor the current technical condition of the car, namely the serviceability of all components and assemblies, sound signals, the quality of the engine oil, etc. Even if you bought a new car from an authorized dealer (for example, Nissan Center Krasnoyarsk), you will have to learn the basics of caring for it, otherwise you risk being left without a car and without a guarantee for it.
The engine oil in the engine plays a very important role in terms of the reliability of the machine. The engine lubrication system itself is designed to supply oil under pressure to the surfaces of mating parts and reduce friction between them, partial cooling and cleaning of wear products.
Step by step determine the viscosity of engine oil
- Today, the car market provides us with a wide range of motor oils. It is almost impossible to create a real high-quality motor oil on your own, which would have all the necessary technical properties and characteristics in itself.
- Before buying oil for your car, you need to carefully read the characteristics and requirements of the engine. It is far from easy to monitor and control engine oil temperature. Temperatures from 140 to 150 degrees clearly affect the engine during its operation.
- Find out what optimal parameters are acceptable for this car. These data are indicated in the data sheet. For example, if you purchased a Nissan Almera or from another dealer, you should have been given a booklet with technical parameters for it. First of all, you need to keep in mind the viscosity of the oil. Viscosity promotes the retention of oil on the surfaces of mating parts.
- After reading the instructions for your car, you already have a definition for the engine oil you need. While in the car shop, do not rush to choose and carefully study all the indicated oil characteristics on the labels. Basically, all manufacturers indicate the level of viscosity on the packages.
- Typically, viscosity is listed after the SAE abbreviation. Sometimes it may have the designation W-the desired number. Often, motorists prefer the use of standard multigrade engine oil, which has the designation 5W-30.
- If you want to independently determine the viscosity of the currently used oil and decide to change it, then in this case you will need to do this:
- To get started, take a funnel that has a very narrow opening, approximately 1 millimeter.
- Pour fresh oil into it, from the same manufacturer that was poured earlier.
- Record a certain time and count the number of drops that fell down.
- Then drain some oil from the engine.
- Pour the resulting liquid into the same funnel.
- Similarly, note the time and count the number of drops.
The service life of an automobile engine directly depends on the quality of consumables that are used during its operation. Everything is important: the purity of gasoline, the quality of those used, as well as many other liquids, including engine oil. It is required not only, but also to choose it correctly so that it fully performs the functions assigned to it.
Many motorists do not understand the importance of buying quality engine oil and try to get cheaper options. You can approach the choice of engine oil in this way, but it is worth remembering that only the purchase of a certified product is justified. Almost any well-known brand of oil is counterfeited, and it becomes more difficult to buy high-quality consumables.
The main task of the oil in the engine is to reduce the wear of parts as a result of their friction against each other. Each major manufacturer of such consumables has several types of oil on sale, which differ in viscosity, chemical composition and mass of other parameters. At the same time, all motor oils can be canonically divided into 3 types:
Before reaching the store shelves, the oil undergoes quality control and certification. Based on the conclusion of the commission, the oil manufacturer indicates its viscosity, properties and other parameters on the packaging. This requirement is mandatory, and if there is no data on its properties on the oil bottle, then you have a low-quality fake that is dangerous to pour into the engine.
Drivers who care about their car are advised to choose one type of oil that they plan to fill in the car throughout its "life". However, there are a lot of fake oils on the market, and buying a familiar consumable from an unknown store can be fraught with danger. We strongly recommend that before filling the engine with oil, check it. Below are 6 ways to check oil, and it's best to use all of them to make sure the quality of the goods.
Manufacturers of the lowest quality counterfeit products do not even care about the label, forgetting to put information on it, without which the oils would not be allowed to be sold. Before buying oil on the Internet, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with how the packaging of a product from a particular brand should look like.
- Viscosity class, which is determined by the SAE J 300 classification;
- Engine type - gasoline or diesel;
- Oil base: synthetic, mineral, semi-synthetic;
- International standards, such as ACEA A3/B3/B4 API SL/SF;
- Certification marks, for example, information that the oil has certification from specific manufacturers can be applied.
Don't forget to look at the date of manufacture on the oil. Not only the date must be indicated, but also the specific time, as well as the batch number of this product.
Method two: Checking the color
The color of the oil can say a lot. To check it, pour the oil into a transparent container or onto a white sheet of paper. High-quality oil gives off yellowness, while products made without observing technological processes are much darker.
Determining the presence of harmful additives in engine oil is quite simple if you conduct a "paper test". To do this, you will need a blank sheet of paper and a small amount of oil. Take it and pour it on the paper, then put it at an angle and watch how the oil flows. There should be a practically invisible band behind the product. If the trace of the oil is dark, then there are a lot of additives in it, it must be discarded - this is a low-quality product.
In high-quality oil, sediments should not remain, and it must have a homogeneous structure. You can check this in two ways:
- The easiest way is to put a little oil on your fingers and rub it. If you feel the presence of small impurities, particles or uneven oiliness, you should refuse such a product;
- Experts also recommend a second way to check the structure of the oil. To do this, it must be poured into a transparent container and left in a dark place for 10-15 minutes. After that, in the light, analyze the product for the amount of additives. If the quality of the oil is low, then it will begin to delaminate. Foreign particles can be seen in the container. When the structure of the oil after such a test remains homogeneous, this indicates its high quality.
It is extremely dangerous to pour oil with exfoliating particles of additives into the engine. They can settle on the engine parts and lead to increased wear.
Viscosity is one of the main criteria for oil, but it is quite difficult to check the product for it, especially for motorists with little experience. In addition, different oils behave differently depending on temperature. You can visually check the viscosity of the oil if you freeze it, for example, to minus 20 degrees Celsius, and then look at its “behavior”. Under such conditions, it is easiest to determine the quality of oils by viscosity 10W-30 and higher, less viscous options will behave almost unchanged.
