Various Car Engine Oils that are Important to Know
To support performance, car engines need engine oil. If the engine oil functions well, the engine will work optimally. Therefore, you need to know the various types of car engine oil in order to determine which one is best for your car.
Engine oil is one of the vital things that supports engine work. It carries out many functions, from lubricating the engine, closing cylinder and piston gaps, cleaning the engine, to absorbing heat and preventing rust.
There are so many uses, it's no wonder engine oil is so crucial. Therefore, choosing the best will be of great benefit to the car engine.
Currently, there are three types of engine oil on the market, namely synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral oil. All three have their own characters. What are the differences? The following is the explanation.
Synthetic Engine Oil
Often referred to as Full Synthetic engine oil, this oil comes from petroleum that has been reprocessed or can also be from other materials besides petroleum. Usually, if it doesn't come from refined petroleum, synthetic oil is made from chemical elements such as esters, diesters and polyolesters.
These ingredients are the key to the advantages of synthetic engine oil. Because the ingredients come from processed products, the “properties” The oil can be adjusted according to your wishes. For example, the oil can be made heat resistant, can reduce friction, or be able to support a smooth engine sound. Everything is possible from engineering of oil base materials.
Therefore, making synthetic oil is more complicated. This affects the price, which tends to be more expensive than semi-synthetic oil and mineral oil.
This oil is also considered longer lasting and of good quality. Even so, there is no definite standard that can be used as a reference. One thing is certain, synthetic oil is suitable for modern cars.
Semi Synthetic Oil
Similar to synthetic oil, this oil is made from processed petroleum but combined with petroleum minerals. Even so, the mineral composition tends to be higher. Usually it is in the range of 80:20 or 70:30 according to the oil brand.
The level of difficulty in making semi-synthetic oil is below synthetic oil, but above mineral oil. This is what makes the price in the middle between the other two types of car engine oil.
Its ability to support engine performance is also considered qualified. Semi-synthetic oil is known to make the engine cooler and more resistant to heat. In addition, this oil contains better detergent to keep the engine clean from scale.
Mineral Oil
As the name suggests, mineral oil is made from petroleum minerals with additives added to make it work better. This oil is a conventional type of oil so it is considered to have many weaknesses. Some of them contain high levels of impurities and an unbalanced molecular structure.
Even so, the price of mineral oil is quite affordable. The price is the cheapest compared to synthetic oil and semi-synthetic oil.
This oil is also very suitable for old car engines. When the engine is still cold, the engine sound will be smoother if mineral oil is used. Apart from that, the car engine will also last longer.
There are clear differences between synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral engine oil. Which one to use can be seen from the car specifications. Because, each type of oil has certain advantages and disadvantages.