Lubezine Magazine Vol. 9 April - June 2014

Shell relaunches car service reminder app P.14 See also Frequently Asked Questions FAQS Black coloured oil does not necessarily indicate poor oil condition. Does the black colour of the lubricant indicate its poor condition especially in diesel engines? Not necessarily. In some cases, the black colour may mean high oxidation especially if this occurs soon after charging the system with new oil. Cleaning the motor’s internal parts is one of the lubricant‘s important functions. In the combustion process of the engine, soot and other impurities are generated that the lubricant may pick up, so it necessarily turns black. With good dispersant additives, the soot and other particles are held in suspension to avoid coagulation to form bigger molecules which may block the oil galleries thereby causing oil starvation and consequent break down. Can synthetic oils be used for longer periods, or will they prolong the engine’s life? There are many factors that one needs to consider when using a lubricant for longer periods. The ﬁltration system 8 for the oil and air need to be precise, the environmental conditions where the engine is operating in should favor the use of oil for longer periods, and also the OEM recommendations on such. It is always best to follow the vehicle manufacturer’s (the OEM’s) recommendation for oil drain periods. Some OEMs do permit extended drain intervals when high quality, high performance synthetic oils are used. This is often done in combination with extended vehicle and engine service intervals, as it is in the OEM’s interest to ensure the engine and the oil will require servicing after longer and longer intervals. However, because most oil marketers ensure that their expensive, synthetic oils are also the best in terms of performance, Some OEMs permit extended drain intervals when high quality, high performance synthentic oils are used when only a normal oil drain interval is observed the oil will give excellent protection to the engine and thus contribute to extended engine life. Can an engine oil affect fuel economy? The broad answer is yes. Generally, oils of lower viscosity will help to improve fuel economy because the moving parts in an engine will not have to overcome the internal resistance of thicker oil. This would mean that more energy will be used to drive the wheels or, alte

Lubezine Magazine Vol. 9 April - June 2014 | Page 10