What makes a Good Engine Oil ?
As a rule of thumb , we should bring our car to change its engine oil regularly to keep the engine healthy and running smoothly . But rarely do we pay any attention to the kind of engine oil that is being poured into your car engine .
Most car owners bring their car to the workshop and let the mechanic decide which engine oil is suitable. Some car owners may debate whether higher viscosity oil like 10w40 , 15w40 or 10w50 are better for their car, and some evaluate the engine oil quality based on Brands, but that is not the complete story. Therefore , having a collective source of information and solid numbers about your car engine oil will make you a much better car owner !
Some technical data that you can consider.
In the sea of information , rumours and personal beliefs , here is some technical information that you may consider when selecting your car engine oil .
- Viscosity Index (VI)
- Viscosity Index (VI) measures the behaviour of the engine oil. The higher the VI the more stable the engine oil in extreme cold and hot temperatures. Which means oils with lower VI will cause high engine oil consumption (Burnt Engine Oil) and make the engine run a lot rougher (Loud & Shaky).
- Flash Point
- Flash Points the lowest temperature at which the vapour above the oil sample starts to ignite , the higher the flash point , the higher the temperature the engine oil could withstand . On average engine oil for passenger cars has a flash point of about 200°c . Oils with higher flash points are always recommended for high CC cars with bigger outputs. Otherwise, the engine oil will be burn off by the engine resulting in the loss of engine oil.
Photo by Testing Autos (2024)
- Sulfated Ash
- Sulfated Ash is the percentage of non-combustible (mostly metallic) components in an oil. It usually measures the amount of Sulfated Ash （SA), Phosphorus (P), and Sulfur(S).
- A balanced amount of Sulfate Ash provides the best performance. Too much Ash can block and damage the diesel particulate filter or petrol catalytic converter. Too less Ash and the engine oil loses its lubricating and friction control properties causing premature engine wear .
- So how much is too much for your car ? This is where engine oil approvals and your car’s owner manuals come in handy . Codes like API SP, ACEA A3/B4 and are standards set for engine oil to meet a specific requirements like wear protection , sludge formation , deposits, fuel economy and etc. It also set the standard amount of Sulfated ash needed for the car’s engine. Thus , engine oil approvals are very crucial when selecting an engine oil for your car. Here is a tool to find out what is the recquirements on Sulfated Ash for your application.
As a general guidance –
Not all engine oils are created equal , and not all engine are created the same . It is always recommended to select an engine oil that perfectly fits your car engine OEM requirement and your driving styles. For more information, you may consult us today .
