Changing the oil used in your engine regularly is crucial to keeping it operating efficiently. The key purpose of engine oil is to ensure any internal components keep cool and can move freely. Without effective lubrication, these individual parts move far less smoothly, grinding against one another, resulting in unwanted wear and tear and in worst case scenarios, lasting engine damage.
Routine oil changes will make certain dirt, sludge and other contaminants don’t clog up your engine’s inner workings. A fresh supply will lubricate engine parts far more efficiently than older and dirtier oil in need of a change. This makes it possible for parts to move properly, leading to optimal performance. Left unattended to, an engine that is using dirty oil will eventually see vehicle and equipment owners dealing with severe damage, expensive repairs or – even worse – having to replace their irreparable machinery entirely.
The good news is that while it is both an essential and invaluable process, changing over engine oil is, for the most part, a simple task that doesn’t cost the earth to perform. Easy to acquire, leading manufacturers like Shell and Mobil can be depended on for high-quality engine oil to answer the needs of a broad spectrum of different engine types.
The multiple jobs of engine oil
Engine oil is undoubtedly the main ingredient for keeping an engine running effectively, but there are several jobs it performs to the advantage of engine-powered vehicles, equipment and their owners and operators.
Lubrication is the prime role of any engine oil. The lubricant works to reduce both friction and wear on every moving part of an engine, avoiding damage to equipment. Heated by combustion and friction, these separate parts are cooled by the engine oil, which plays the role of a coolant, also protecting components from harm. On top of this, oil collects deposits caused by combustion, as well as daily dirt and dust that accumulates in the engine over time, filtering it away before it can cause havoc.
Getting rid of this unwanted build-up stops components getting clogged up and mitigating any reduction in the engine’s performance. Finally, the engine oil also provides a barrier designed to protect individual parts from harmful corrosives like the acids produced during the combustion process. This protective seal coats individual components, like pistons and cylinders, to maximise engine efficiency, ensuring performance is always optimal.
Advantages of engine oil
These different tasks that engine oil performs add up to many advantages for equipment and its owners. Effective lubrication adds years to the lifespan of engine parts and mitigates risk from corrosion and damage. This reduces unfortunate expenses incurred from maintenance bills or service downtime when machinery is inoperable. Using the right oil for an engine’s dedicated specs can also enable it to work more efficiently, delivering a higher standard of performance. A car’s engine, for example, if running on top form, will use less fuel, leading to reduced running costs and also lower levels when it comes to CO2 emissions.
