How to choose motor oil. How to choose engine oil for engines with high mileage Features of engine operation after long runs

16.10.2019

Changing engine oil may seem easy to you, but it's not.

As soon as you look at the quality label, you will see that the oil meets the standards of the American Motor Oil Institute (API). In addition, you will find 2 more distinguishing marks of quality on the canister. The second sign, for example, is the marking "SL". SL oils belong to a group of laboratory experiments, including the latest series of control of high-temperature additives.

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Your main task is to select the viscosity, because it is it that determines the temperature ranges of your engine.

You will find all these markings on every can of engine oil. The API tells you that the oil is classified SL (C for diesel engines). In the same place you will find the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) marking, and next to it is the viscosity index, which tells you that the oil passed the energy saving test successfully.

This is a fairly popular type of engine oil, described above.

Why do you need oil for a car

It, like the blood in the human body, which delivers nutrients to the cells, provides lubrication and protection - "nourishment" - for the engine. However, without oil to lubricate and cool the moving parts, the engine will only run for a few seconds. Thus, oil is essential for the normal operation of the engine. Oil for the car is so important that we sometimes even try to buy something more expensive.

Car oil change time, what to do

So, now it's time to change the oil, let's figure out how to change it. As soon as we change the oil, the car will be able to drive approximately 10,000 km until the next oil change.

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See the step by step oil change guide for your specific vehicle.

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You don't have to be a professional to make it. So, at the next replacement, we must choose the right oil from the whole huge range of the world's assortment. What you should pay attention to when choosing oil for your car.

The viscosity of the oil, where it is written on canisters.

Viscosity (liquid resistance to flow) is rated at 0°F (represented by the preceding "W" (Winter) series) and at 212°F (on the front, the second number indicates viscosity). So, for example, it has a lower viscosity at cold and hot operating temperatures than 20W-50. Note that motor oil tends to deteriorate, become unusable. Thus, with the right additives, the oil resists deterioration and contamination better. Some additives protect well at low temperatures, others, on the contrary, at high ones. The more stable the oil, the higher the second number (10W-40 versus 10W-30, for example).

A viscous oil generally seals better than a thin oil and keeps moving parts in better condition. In low temperature operation, the oil must be resistant to thickening so that it flows more easily in all moving parts of the engine. Also, if the oil is too viscous, the engine requires more power to turn the crankshaft, which is partially submerged in the oil bath. Excessive viscosity can make it difficult to start the engine. For example, "5W" oil is recommended for winter use.

The choice of synthetics

However, some synthetic oils can flow even more easily in cold weather, so they are able to pass tests that meet the 0W rating. After the engine starts, the oil will start to heat up. The second number in the viscosity grade - "40" in 10W-40, for example - tells us that the oil will remain viscous at high temperatures than a lower second number - "30" in 10W-30, for example.

Types of oils, why are there so many types of oils.

Look at the shelves of auto parts stores and you'll see oils designed for all sorts of specific uses: high-tech engines, new cars, high mileage cars, heavy SUVs.

In addition, you will see a wide range of viscosities. If you've read the owner's manual, then you'll probably know what the car manufacturer recommends for a brand new car. This is not a guarantee of better fuel economy, but most leading brands have at least a few viscosities listed on the label. Let's take a look at the different types.

Types of oils for a car

Premium, Regular Oil: This is a standard automotive oil. All leading brands produce several viscosities. As a rule, or, work fine at lower temperatures, 10W-30, in particular, at higher ambient temperatures.

Replacement interval

It is even more important to change the oil and oil filter regularly. An interval of 8-10 thousand km / 4 months is normal. The absolute minimum is twice a year.

Synthetic oils

Oils made for high-tech engines, installed, for example, in Chevy Corvette or Mercedes-Benz, are full owners of synthetics. If these oils have passed the rigorous, specific tests (listed on their labels), this means they have higher, longer lasting performance in all critical areas and applications, from viscosity index to precipitation protection value. They perform better at low temperatures and maintain peak lubricity at high temperatures.

So why doesn't everyone use high-tech oils? Answer: These oils are expensive and not every engine needs them. In fact, they may have some features that a car engine needs.

Synthetic Blend (Mixed oils)

Oils with additives: have a part of synthetic oil mixed with organic oil, and are generally needed in order to provide protection under heavy loads, at high temperatures.

This generally means that they are less volatile, so they evaporate less rapidly, which reduces oil loss and improves fuel economy. These oils are popular with pickup/SUV drivers who need high temperature protection. And they are much cheaper than fully synthetic oils.

Oils for cars with high mileage.

Today, cars with mileage consisting of six digits are often found on the roads. If you are the owner of such a car, then special oils have been developed for you. Nearly two-thirds of the vehicles on the road have 100,000 km on their odometer.

Thus, companies, taking into account the interests of buyers and customers, have created and produced the type of oil that is necessary for most of the population.

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When your car or light truck has significantly higher mileage, you may notice a few oil stains on the floor after leaving the car for a while in the garage.

This often occurs before an oil change, and serves as a kind of guideline for the change timing approach. Perhaps the crankshaft seals have lost their flexibility, so they leaked (particularly at low temperatures). In most cases, rubber seals are designed to swell to stop leaks. But car manufacturers choose their ingredients carefully. You may also notice that some engine performance and smoothness is lost as a result of wear on your car's engine. also have a fairly high viscosity (even if the numbers on the container do not indicate it, there is a fairly wide range for each viscosity rating and mileage.) In addition, they can have even higher viscosity, as a result of increasing the index in them.

Result: These oils protect the clearance between the piston and the cylinder better. They may also have a higher dose of anti-wear additives to slow down the wear process.

Viscosity index.

Resistance to wear, with increasing temperature, is called the viscosity index. Even if the second number is good, then the oil must also be stable. That is, it (viscosity) should be preserved for thousands of kilometers. until the next oil change. For example, oil tends to lose viscosity from shear—sliding motion between large, fixed, metal surfaces of moving parts such as bearings. Thus, resistance to loss of viscosity (shear stability) is necessary in order for the oil to maintain a lubricating film between these parts. Unlike antifreeze, which is 95 percent one chemical base (usually ethylene glycol), oil contains a mixture of several different types of base oil, some more expensive than others. Motor oil companies typically produce five groups of oils, each of which is produced differently and with different viscosities. The more expensive, more highly processed groups may, in some cases, be classified as synthetic. So-called full synthetics contain chemicals that can be derived from petroleum, but they have changed so much that they can no longer be considered natural oils. The base oil package is in the range of 70 to 95 percent of the mixture, the rest consists of additives. Does this mean that an oil with only 70 percent base oil is better than one with 95? No, because some of the base oils have natural characteristics that come from their processing, which reduces or eliminates the need for additives. While some additives make an important contribution to lubrication, they are not essential on their own. The ingredients in an additive package vary in cost, as we have said, but price is only one factor. Some of them work better in certain combinations of base oils, and some of the less expensive ones are good mix choices because they have popular additives. Bottom line: each engine oil has its own recipe. Car companies are constantly coming up with a list of goals based on the needs of their customers (automakers, for example) and creating oils to meet those goals.

One of the controversial and not fully clarified topics of numerous conversations among motorists is engine oil with high mileage. The fact is that in this issue lies a whole forest of various nuances that have both objective and subjective prerequisites.

More often, drivers prefer to extend the life of the "steel heart" of the car through the correct operation of fuels and lubricants.

To some, “by eye” it seems the best use of some very specific type, and someone, using the same product and seemingly doing everything “according to science”, gets a completely opposite result. As a result of such a misunderstanding, the engine suffers.

But there are still not so many such car owners who agree to solve the problem of engine durability by replacing a depressed engine with a new one. More often, drivers prefer to extend the life of the "steel heart" of the car through the correct operation of fuels and lubricants.

And therefore, it’s better to figure out what the right oil for a worn engine should be.

How to find out the right option by marking oils?

It is very difficult to determine exactly which engine oils will work best in power plant lubrication systems with impressive mileage or increased wear rates. A certain clarity (especially for non-professionals) is brought by the instructions for operating the car, which are provided by manufacturers, and the markings on cans of engine oil.

Usually, two important parameters are indicated in large print on the packaging in accordance with the international SAE standard - the thickening index and the viscosity index of a given oil. What is at stake, will help to understand the following specific example.

Take the viscosity designation SAE 10W-30. Here, the number 10 is in the first place. It shows the index of oil thickening. So, the lower this indicator, the lower the temperature at which the indicated oil can be operated normally.

The second number in example (30) is the viscosity coefficient that the product acquires when the engine temperature reaches 100 °C. In this category, the dependence is as follows - the higher this indicator, the thicker the oil.

The Latin letter W (from the English word "winter" - winter) tells us that this oil can be used in winter.

You can find out which oil is suitable for engines with significant mileage in the operating instructions for a particular engine.

In particular, if the engine does not start well in winter, especially in areas with frequent temperatures below -20 ° C, it is recommended to use a lubricant with a reduced thickening index (for example, instead of the proposed SAE 10W-30 oil, it is better to fill in SAE 5W-30). In general, in regions that are characterized by cold winters, it is advised to use oil with a thickening index of 5.

Another international standard is used to classify motor oils - the API quality standard. The lubricant is indexed in the format of this standard with two letters: the first is S, the second is an alphabetical letter. At the same time, the further the second letter stands in the English alphabet, the more high-quality oil it denotes. In particular, for engines with high mileage, oil with an SF index is recommended.

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What is better for the motor - mineral water, semi-synthetics or synthetics?

Currently, all motor oils according to the material of manufacture are divided into mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic products. Grease from the semi-synthetic category is used, as a rule, in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Experts recommend that when operating the engine, strictly follow the instructions for using a particular category of oils. The reason is again in an individual approach to their use in motors. Indeed, in other cases, choosing the highest quality synthetic oil can not only help make the operation of the power unit more reliable and durable, but harm the motor itself.

For example, an ill-conceived replacement of mineral oil with a synthetic analogue (who doesn’t want to fill their engine with a priori better synthetics!) Can lead to problems. Indeed, in an engine with high mileage and worn oil seals, such an oil, which, according to its design functionality, is not intended to increase the wear resistance of the unit, will simply start to break through these oil seals.

You should also be very careful when choosing semi-synthetic oil for a worn engine. The fact is that semi-synthetics, compared to mineral water, are a better material, but at the same time it also has greater “fluidity”. This circumstance may not have a very good effect on an engine with high mileage. Therefore, it is better to consult directly with the official representative of the manufacturer of this car about which oil should be used in the engine, depending on the mileage and the degree of wear.

Thus, if the car's odometer shows a mileage of 100 thousand or more kilometers (especially if it is a domestic car), then mineral lubricant is most likely the best choice for the engine. Among other things, it is necessary to add oil to such a motor more often, and mineral water provides significant financial savings.

Semi-synthetic oils are a mixture of mineral and synthetic raw materials in certain proportions. For fairly old domestic cars, the use of these oils can be risky, if only because they are capable of damaging the rubber parts of the unit with their aggressive chemical components.

As you know, during operation it is subject to a certain wear and tear. If you do not go into details, the cylinder walls gradually wear out, the gaps between mating parts increase, etc.

However, most of the recommendations for selecting engine oil are based on the requirements of the engine manufacturer, and these requirements are more focused on the new engine. It is quite obvious that if the power unit has traveled 100-150 thousand km, then this must be taken into account when selecting a lubricant.

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How to choose oil if the engine has high mileage

Let's start with the fact that it is necessary to additionally take into account the wear of the internal combustion engine on engines that have traveled, on average, 100 thousand km. and more. As a rule, from the moment of buying a new car, owners fill in one type of lubricant, for example, synthetic or oil with recommended viscosity-temperature characteristics.

It is also mandatory to take into account other lubrication parameters that are prescribed in the instruction manual. In the list of the most common options, as a rule, low-viscosity oils 0W20, 5W30 or 5W40 are marked on.

However, after the engine passes the above conditional mark of 100 thousand km, it is worth thinking separately about making some adjustments to the usual “oil program”, taking into account the natural wear and tear of the power unit.

So, before changing anything, you need to clearly determine whether certain problems arise with the motor or the internal combustion engine continues to work properly on the lubricant that has been poured into it since the acquisition of the vehicle.

Issues to watch out for include:

increased oil consumption (oil consumption for waste);
and gaskets;
increased noise during engine operation;
in the lubrication system;

If nothing of the kind has been identified, then when choosing engine oil, you must be guided by the same general rules. First of all, you should start with the performance properties of the lubricant. Lubrication must clearly comply with the recommended classification and tolerances for a particular car model.

At the same time, it is advisable to refrain from using a product that only minimally meets the permissible requirements for. It is optimal to purchase a product of the latest developments. If financial opportunities are limited, then it is better to stop at a modern middle-class lubricant.

The main thing is that the properties of the oil are higher than those of lubricants with minimum allowable requirements and specifications. In other words, it is better to purchase a suitable semi-synthetic than to opt for the cheapest mineral oil, referring to the fact that the motor is no longer new.

We also add that, regardless of the mileage and condition of the internal combustion engine, it is forbidden to use oils that are not suitable for tolerances, specifications, class, viscosity and a number of other parameters. As a rule, if you study the catalogs of motor oils, they indicate various models of cars of different years of manufacture in which one or another product can be used.

At the same time, the oils themselves, which have exactly the same tolerances as in the manual for the old car, are usually no longer there. The fact is that they were simply supplanted by more modern developments that have a higher class.

In view of the foregoing, it becomes clear that more modern oils for old internal combustion engines must be selected not according to tolerances that have changed a long time ago, but, if possible, to be used in a particular engine. Such information should be reflected in the catalogs of the lubricant manufacturer.

In parallel, it should be taken into account that some new generation motor oils are unsuitable for use in internal combustion engines of past developments. As a rule, we are talking about a lubricant that has a reduced high temperature shear viscosity (HTHS).

In modern engines, these energy-saving lubricants are used in order to reduce fuel consumption, while the design of the power unit is specifically designed for low-viscosity oil to be used in the engine.

If you pour such oil into a motor that does not involve the use of this type of lubricant, then there is a high probability of a significant increase in wear, leakage and serious damage to the power plant. In other words, the oils of this group are simply not suitable for many internal combustion engines of past generations.

Used engine oil viscosity

So, having selected the appropriate type of oil for internal combustion engines according to tolerances, you need to immediately decide on the viscosity. Note that experts, auto mechanics and experienced drivers separately recommend slightly increasing the so-called "summer" lubricant viscosity after the car's mileage exceeds 100-150 thousand km.

This should be done even when the engine is running normally on oil with a lower viscosity. If the oil consumption on the motor with mileage has increased slightly, oil seals, gaskets, etc. “sweat”, then an increase in the viscosity of the lubricant in some cases allows solving some problems.

At the same time, it is important to understand that the viscosity must still remain within the limits determined by the engine manufacturer himself. In simple words, the manual usually says that you can use, for example, 5W30, 5W40 and 10W40 in the unit.

Moreover, if the owner previously filled the motor with 5W30 grease all year round, after 100 thousand mileage it is quite possible to switch to 5W40, and after 200 thousand to 10W40. The only point that also needs to be taken into account is the regional features in which the vehicle is operated.

If the winters in the region are too cold, then using a more viscous 10W40 product may cause problems with cold starts in the winter. As you know, the most severe wear of the unit (about 70%) occurs precisely at the moment of starting a cold engine.

To prevent this from happening, the engine oil will need to be changed not only by mileage, but also seasonally. It turns out that it will have an index of 5W30 (more liquid), while in quality it is necessary to fill in a lubricant with an increased viscosity of 5W40 or 10W40.

This approach allows you to ensure a confident start and reduce wear in winter, as well as protect parts in summer. The fact is that a more viscous oil allows you to increase the pressure in the lubrication system and compensate for the gaps increased as a result of wear.

Also, in some cases, the use of a thicker lubricant can reduce oil consumption for waste, get rid of fogging of oil seals and gaskets. Simply put, the natural wear of the internal combustion engine often leads to deviations from the normal operation of the motor. In such a situation, much depends on the viscosity of the oil.

First of all, if problems arise, it is advisable to abandon low-viscosity lubricants and energy-saving oils. As mentioned above, reduced low-temperature and high-temperature viscosity can lead to the fact that existing problems will manifest themselves in full.

Given the wear of the engine, the thickness of the protective film when using low-viscosity oils may not be enough, and such a film also becomes less durable. It is quite obvious that under such conditions, the mating surfaces of the parts wear out even more intensively and are quickly damaged.

In parallel with this, low-viscosity oils are characterized by a significant tendency to evaporation. In simple words, the lubricant is consumed faster for waste, and also more actively enters the combustion chamber through the oil scraper rings. As a result, the owner has to add lubricant more often and in a larger volume.

If we take into account that after the internal combustion engine reaches operating temperatures, such lubricants become very thin, additional losses occur through gaskets, seals and other seals, which over time are not able to maintain maximum tightness.

It turns out that in problem situations it is necessary to pour oil with increased viscosity at engine operating temperatures, for example 5W-50, 10W-50, etc. It is also important to select a lubricant not only for viscosity, but also to adhere to the recommended tolerances and specifications. In the complex, a qualified selection of lubricant will extend the life of the engine up to.

What is the best oil for a high mileage engine

If you carefully study the fuels and lubricants market, then you will notice that there are products on sale with the same specifications, which at the same time differ in viscosity and oil base. In other words, for example, a product with an index of 10W40 can be mineral or semi-synthetic, 5W40 will be a semi-synthetic or hydrocracked oil, etc.

So, the difference in viscosity and the distinctive properties of a particular oil base in many cases allows you to get rid of the problems that are characteristic of worn-out internal combustion engines. As an example, it can be noted that mineral water, which has an SAE index of 15W40, differs in terms of kinematic viscosity when heated to 100 degrees from synthetic analogues of 5W40.

After refueling a used motor with such mineral oil at operating temperatures, a thick lubricating film is created, wear protection improves, oil pressure in the lubrication system increases, and there is less loss of lubricating fluid for waste. As a result, the old motor starts to run quieter and smoother on mineral water than on semi-synthetic oils or synthetics.

However, it should be borne in mind that some ICE manufacturers separately recommend using exclusively synthetic-based lubricants in their motors. It turns out that it is impossible to use a lubricant on a different basis. There have been cases when problems began even after using semi-synthetics in such units, not like mineral water.

We also add that we should not forget about the fact that, with the same operational properties and characteristics, mineral water, semi-synthetics and synthetics differ markedly from each other in terms of antioxidant and thermal-oxidative resistance.

This means that mineral oil oxidizes faster than others and loses its properties, that is, it simply ages. If we add to this a certain “fatigue” of the engine itself and its systems (leakage of nozzles, coking, etc.), the aging of the lubricant will occur even faster.

What is the result

Based on the foregoing, several conclusions can be drawn. First, if the engine has high mileage but runs fine, then it's best to slightly increase the high temperature viscosity of the oil without changing its base. It turns out that it is enough to switch, for example, from 5W30 to 5W40 lubricant (if the use of such a product is allowed by the engine manufacturer).

At the same time, it is necessary to continue pouring a synthetic or semi-synthetic product that has all the approvals of the motor manufacturer, meets the classifications and specifications. In other words, it is not worth switching from synthetics or semi-synthetics to mineral water only.

You can also use oils that belong to a higher class, while being suitable for a particular power unit. At the same time, it must be remembered that in engines before the year 2000, it is almost always forbidden to use oils with reduced high-temperature shear viscosity.

A common situation is when the engine already has problems during operation:

sealing elements sweat or flow;
appeared;
decreased pressure in the lubrication system;
the motor is noisy;
increased oil consumption, etc.

In this case, increasing the viscosity of the lubricant can eliminate some of the nuances and reduce noise. For the summer, you can try to fill in a thick mineral water (for example, 15W40) from the list of types of lubricants recommended by the auto manufacturer for a particular engine. At the same time, it will be necessary to return to a less viscous semi-synthetic or synthetic product (for example, 5W-40) before winter in order to eliminate cold start problems.

In the process of seasonal transitions, it is important to consider that. In some cases it helps, in others it is better to refuse such a step. For worn and contaminated internal combustion engines, the use of active flushes can lead to the final failure of the unit.

Finally, we add that it is optimal to change any viscous oils every 5-6 thousand km. regardless of base. The fact is that they quickly oxidize, and also have a lot of viscous additives in their composition. These additives at high temperatures lose their properties and "wear out".

As a result, the lubricant becomes less viscous, and the decomposition products of the additive package further pollute the oil system. As for the highly viscous mineral water, in this case it is necessary to further reduce the intervals of scheduled replacements (up to 4 thousand km.).

Signs of a worn engine

First you need to deal with the signs of a worn motor, when ordinary oil is already powerless. There are 5 of them in total. Mainly, these are changes in the behavior of the motor on the road, and most of them are visually imperceptible.

Check Engine button. Over time, when starting the engine from the ignition switch, its appearance becomes noticeably more frequent. This indicates a malfunction in the car's heart. Sensors report the beginning of a leak in the cylinders, an insufficiently carefully worked out fuel-air mixture.
Unstable operation of the engine. In normal mode, the motor runs properly without unnecessary knocks. As the mechanisms wear, friction appears between the mechanisms, and they begin to knock. The result is obvious - after a while, the property will add a particle not: the car will become "real estate".
Sometimes they become the cause. Erasing the electrodes can cause an insufficient ignition effect and, as a result, detonation of the fuel inside the cylinders. Hence the feeling of war in the motor.
Unpleasant odors and a change in the color of exhaust smoke also indicate engine malfunctions. Clogged exhaust paths force them to visit the interior of the vehicle. The impurities contained in them are unsafe for human lungs. With a significant accumulation, loss of vehicle control and death is possible.

Selection of oil for an age motor

The problem with choosing a lubricant for is exacerbated by the insistence on following the manufacturer's recommendations. But there are two nuances here. The first is the mandatory implementation of the recommendations during the warranty period. The second is the very warranty service ends at around 100-150 thousand kilometers. Further, the entire responsibility for maintaining the performance of the motor lies with the owner.

Many owners continue to fill in the usual oil after the odometer has passed the sixth digit. This can be done with certain reservations. If there is any suspicion, a thorough diagnosis should be made, especially if olive consumption has skyrocketed.

Refuse to buy oil from the development of shaggy years, it is advisable to give preference to recent inventions. Must be compatible with a specific motor in color, as well as match the season. The main condition is that the properties of the selected oil are an order of magnitude higher than the minimum allowable standards.

When moving beyond a hundred thousand kilometers, it is necessary to increase the viscosity of the oil. Let's look at an example. If 5w30 is poured into a new car, then after the first overhaul it is worth using 5w40 already. And from the mark of 200 thousand kilometers and completely switch to 10w40.

The best oils for high mileage engines

Already after reaching a mileage of 50 thousand kilometers, Micro-Ceramic Oil additive must be added to traditional synthetic oil. It will also fit perfectly into a mineral or semi-synthetic substance. Scope of application - all engines, including turbocharged, with a manual transmission.

The principle of operation of such an additive lies in the adhesion of the base substance with the metal elements of the motor - cylinders and more. For as much as 60 thousand kilometers, the composition protects moving parts and premature wear. In winter, it also solves the problem of cold start-up due to the gradual transition to higher viscosity oil.

A good solution would be to use GT Coat Turbo synthetic oil. It contains additives from Teflon and molybdenum compounds. Together, they cover the worn surface of key vehicle components with a protective film that also has a restoring effect. Viscosity class 10w implies its use in engines with a range of 200 thousand kilometers.

A similar product from Kroon Oil - Seal Tech - is suitable for engines with a mileage of 120 thousand km. Basic additives target worn parts. The remaining components reduce fuel consumption, prevent the formation of deposits inside the car.

conclusions

Engine oil for cars with high mileage helps keep it in good condition. But any additive is not able to replace a full overhaul. Therefore, do not put off a visit to an auto mechanic indefinitely.

Many car owners are concerned with the question of which engine oil is most favorable for high mileage engines. All parts and components of automotive internal combustion engines need constant high-quality lubrication. The performance properties and characteristics of the engine depend on the quality of engine oil.

The effect of lubrication on the operation of an automobile engine

The right choice of brand of engine oil ensures the stability of the internal combustion engine of each car, regardless of its model and year of manufacture. The following performance indicators depend on how the lubrication system of the machine works:

Total fuel consumption.
Vehicle mileage before the next overhaul.
Lubricant consumption.
Time between full oil changes.
Wear resistance of parts and assemblies of the power unit.
Power characteristics of the engine.
Exhaust gas cleanliness.

The list presented does not include all the parameters that depend on the quality of the motor fluid poured into the tank of a particular car. The effectiveness of the lubricant used is determined by the condition of the working surfaces of the motor elements and the stability of its operation.

Starting the engine on a cold, the acceleration time of the car, the developed speed, power and other performance characteristics directly depend on the correct choice of engine oil.

The choice of oil for cars with high mileage

Lubricant manufacturers create substances suitable for various situations. Automakers, for their part, give recommendations on which components should be preferred in specific situations.

For new cars, this issue is easily solved. They are under warranty, drivers have the opportunity to contact auto service companies at any time to clarify the appropriate brand of engine oil. In addition, the vehicle passport contains detailed instructions on the appropriate lubricant for this model.

However, difficulties with the right choice arise when you need to purchase engine oil for a high mileage engine. In this case, the activities for topping up and replacing the lubricant become much more complicated.

Criticality of the traversed path

Many are interested in what mileage is the limit for a given vehicle. After all, the term "high mileage" does not give a complete picture that it is time to repair the internal combustion engine due to changes in its parts and assemblies (wear, destruction).

To determine that many kilometers have been covered, there are no unambiguous indicators in numbers. It is believed that a domestic engine that has worked for 100 thousand km has a high mileage. At the same time, the characteristics of some Japanese power units do not change after ten thousand kilometers. The average path without the need for major repairs and the risk of breakage from wear for imported engines is 150 - 200 thousand km.

If a foreign motor starts to fail before the established mileage standards, then it is operated with violations:

use of low-quality fuel;
the brand of engine oil does not correspond to the recommended one;
violation of the recommended regimen between service lubricant changes.

Compliance with the established rules when carrying out the procedure for replacing engine oil is of great importance. These activities are recommended to be trusted by experienced employees in a car service.

Features of the operation of engines after long runs

Parts and components in internal combustion engines that have come a long way have significant wear. Elements of the cylinder-piston group are especially susceptible to it. Wear of pistons, cylinders, seals and valves leads to the following violations in the operation of the power unit:

Reduced engine compression.
Increase in fuel consumption.
Deterioration of dynamic performance.
Difficulties when starting the engine.
The increase in the harmful effects of oxidative processes.
Loss of effectiveness of lubricant additives.

Switching to synthetics

The wear of the working elements of the engine is immediately reduced, fuel consumption is normalized. With the help of synthetics, metal surfaces are protected from oxidation and corrosion for a long period.

Synthetic lubricant facilitates the "cold start" of the power unit. Low viscosity gives it additional fluidity, so that the crankshaft rotates freely at low ambient temperatures. When using synthetics, fuel is saved when the engine is turned on. Start-up is fast, preventing parts from wearing out quickly.

The effectiveness of special additives

During the operation of the car, the parts of the power unit receive constant wear. There are several states of wear:

run-in stage;
steady state;
emergency condition.

Parts and components of engines with high mileage are at the last emergency stage. Their wear develops rapidly, which can lead to an early breakdown. To get out of such situations, manufacturers of motor oils have developed additional substances - additives in the lubricating fluid.

Due to the presence of an anti-wear booster, the thickness of the protective film increases. The oil layer protects the parts from the destructive friction forces that arise during the mutual contact of moving surfaces inside the motor. This technology is the most effective wear protection.

Additives that prevent the formation of various deposits and deposits do not allow paralyzing the operation of an internal combustion engine. They actively wash away the precipitation formed earlier. As a result of these additives, engine power is increased, oil and fuel consumption is reduced.

In any case, worn out motors cannot be made new and young. Experienced experts advise using lubricants with a high viscosity. For example, if the engine passport contains recommendations on the use of 5w 40 motor lubricant, you need to fill in 5w 50 brand oil instead.

This solution is a temporary compromise. It will help to even out the operation of the power unit, but will not improve its physical condition.

Operation of engines with high mileage on semi-synthetic lubricants

When using semi-synthetics in engines with high mileage, an indelible thin protective film is formed. This effect is due to the unique magnetic properties of the complex elements that make up these lubricants.

Conclusion

When choosing the right lubricant for your car, you must be guided by the recommendations of automakers. The instructions contain detailed information on the permissible viscosity and other characteristics of engine oil.