What is the difference between mineral oil and synthetic oil?

With the advent of different types of oils, debates continue about which oil is best to choose for your car’s engine. Each type of oil has many supporters, but often their arguments are based on myths, so choosing the type of oil for a car engine needs to be approached a little more thoroughly. Mineral or synthetic oil? Or maybe even semi-synthetic? This article will describe the differences between the types of motor oils, what is their difference and whether it is possible to mix lubricants of different compositions.

What is the difference between synthetic oil and mineral oil?

The very names of the types of oils already allow one to guess that mineral oils are made on the basis of natural products (petroleum hydrocarbons), while synthetics are an artificial result of chemical reactions. Since mineral motor oils have characteristics inherent in them by nature, it became necessary to create lubricants that would have other parameters. The reason for this is the extreme conditions in which car engine parts have to work. Thanks to chemical synthesis, it was possible to obtain oils that better meet the requirements and can differ significantly in their characteristics from natural analogues.

Now let’s look specifically at how mineral oil differs from synthetic oil, besides its origin:

• reaction to temperature changes inside the internal combustion engine;
• the ability to maintain its original characteristics (synthetics cope with this task better);
• fluidity (for synthetics it is noticeably higher);
• the ability to maintain performance characteristics even with significant overheating (additives in mineral oil gradually burn out, as a result of which the parameters change significantly).

Thus, it is obvious that, unlike mineral oil, synthetics are capable of successfully maintaining their characteristics for a long time and under extreme operating conditions. In particular, the type of oil can be determined by its viscosity. Thus, at very low temperatures, mineral oil is thicker. During operation, the viscosity of the mineral water first drops, since the additives that affect this characteristic burn out. But then decomposition products accumulate in the oil, which leads to its thickening. Synthetics, on the other hand, retain their viscosity more stable under different conditions.

Difference between synthetic and semi-synthetic

A compromise between different lubricants is semi-synthetic oil. It is obtained by mixing both types. At the same time, the final product contains from 50%! to 70%! mineral oil, the rest is synthetic. This intermediate option differs from synthetics in that it:

• less resistant to extreme temperatures;
• does not retain its properties for so long, therefore it requires more frequent replacement;
• has a higher viscosity, which leads to greater power losses due to friction;
• optimal for highly accelerated engines and turbocharged units.

Pros and cons of different types of motor oils

High-quality mineral oil is almost in no way inferior to synthetics. The only drawback of mineral water is the change in viscosity depending on the ambient temperature . Already at -20℃ it becomes viscous and envelops parts much worse. At the same time, the friction force of the moving parts of the engine also increases, and the total load on the engine increases significantly. It is for this reason that the engine has to be “warmed up” before driving.

Mineral oil also does not tolerate overheating well. At temperatures above 110℃, its operational properties irrevocably change for the worse (becomes excessively fluid).

Synthetics are less susceptible to changes in characteristics at different temperatures. Even in severe frosts, this oil retains its original viscosity; even without preheating the engine, the mechanical load on the parts will be minimal. But synthetics have a minor drawback (typical of semi-synthetic oils) - they quickly become dirty.

Mineral oil removes carbon deposits and sediment using its washing properties, while synthetics are more “aggressive” in this regard - they scrape off all residual combustion products. For an engine, synthetics are considered to be of higher quality, but you have to change the oil more often. And the likelihood of clogging the oil filter and oil lines with synthetics is also higher.

Is it possible to mix

Mixing synthetics and mineral water is strictly not recommended . The composition of different oils may include incompatible PAO components and additives, therefore, after mixing, its characteristics become unacceptable for further use.

The same applies to semi-synthetics. The only acceptable option is mixing mineral water and mineral water of different models or series. But this is done only in extreme cases. Drivers are always advised to stick to the rule of using one brand of oil.

How to switch from mineral water to synthetic water or vice versa

The following algorithm should be followed:

1. Completely drain the mineral water.
2. Wash the engine with a special shampoo (for car engines), which contains PAO components to remove resins and esters. Along with washing, the filter should also be replaced.
3. Fill with synthetic.

The replacement can also be done without flushing, but following these rules:

1. Completely drain the old oil.
2. Fill with new high-quality mineral water.
3. After 500 - 1000 kilometers, drain the mineral water.
4. Fill with synthetic.

But the first option, that is, with flushing, is more preferable, because after the mineral water is completely drained, 5 to 10% of the waste remains in the system. It can only be removed with shampoo.

Basic Differences

Mineral oil is made from petroleum derivatives (fuel oil) with the addition of anti-corrosion and other additives . This oil is relatively cheap, provides basic engine protection, and has average washing and lubricating properties. Without additives, this oil is not suitable for use, since it has rather low PAO characteristics. That is, it does not “cling” to the metal, does not react with carbon deposits (and does not remove it from the combustion chamber).

Synthetic oils are produced artificially in laboratory conditions. They contain synthetic resins, PAO components, and additives to regulate viscosity. It is more expensive and has many characteristics superior to mineral ones.

Semi-synthetic oils are a mixture of synthetics and mineral oil (the approximate ratio is 20%! to 80%, respectively!). It is in the middle price category, with characteristics slightly better than mineral ones, but worse than synthetics.

How to replace mineral oil with synthetic oil?

There are two methods of replacing oils with synthetics from mineral water.

• To replace one remedy with another, you need to follow a certain scheme. Simply draining the old composition and pouring in a new one will not work. Initially, the “mineral water” is drained, then the oil passages are washed with car engine shampoo. Afterwards, the shampoo is drained, and synthetics are poured in.
• The second option for replacing with synthetics is to fill in mineral type oil, but of the highest quality. Next, you will need to roll up the mileage of 500-1000 km, and only then fill in synthetics. This transition is considered the most gentle for car owners and their cars.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main and most important difference between mineral motor oil and synthetic or semi-synthetic oil is the stability of the mixture to different temperature conditions of the power unit. In winter, mineral water begins to crystallize at very low temperatures and cannot ensure normal pumping of fluid through the lubrication system, as well as starting the drive without warming up. In summer, this engine oil thins out at high temperatures outside the car and cannot form a stable protective oil film on the engine elements.

Unlike other base stocks, mineral fluids do not contain the additives necessary for the normal operation of most modern engines.

Synthetics and semi-synthetics differ from mineral water in the following characteristics:

1. Fluidity. Mineral water is too thick for use in modern engines.
2. Molecular structure. The heterogeneity of the molecular structure of mineral mixtures leads to a decrease in their resistance to crystallization and liquefaction.
3. Additives. The additives in synthetics and semi-synthetics are better; they do not break down at high temperatures outside the car. In contrast, mineral water uses additives of natural origin that burn out at high temperatures.
4. The difference is in replacement times; synthetics change much less frequently.
5. Mineral water forms more deposits while the engine is running.

Among the advantages of mineral motor oil are:

1. These fluids work better in high mileage engines. Unlike synthetics, which have great cleaning properties, mineral mixtures do not lead to separation of carbon deposits from drive units and do not cause clogging of the lubrication system and engine channels. Mineral water washes away carbon deposits from the internal elements of the engine gradually.
2. Mineral water, unlike synthetics and semi-synthetics, interacts less aggressively with the rubber surfaces of the lubrication system and drive units and does not lead to their destruction.
3. Improves the performance of worn power units. Mineral oils are quite thick, they are able to fill large gaps in friction units of engines with high mileage.

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Performance indicators of the machine and motor oil

If mineral water is used during prolonged use of a car, then deposits appear on the engine, covering the cracks.

If you fill in synthetic oil with high acidity, the deposits will be washed away and flow through the free cracks. This often leads to engine malfunctions.

In view of this, it is not advisable to replace mineral water with another lubricant after prolonged use.

What kind of motor oil to pour into your own car is a responsible decision for any car owner. It is necessary to take into account the car model, its mileage, internal combustion engine characteristics, types of fuel, and climate.

According to international standards, the lubricant must be changed every ten thousand kilometers. In the Russian Federation, it is recommended to replace twice as often.

Diesel engines need to change the oil more often than gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. It is best to rely on the replacement periods specified in the operating manual. Often, combustion products lead to a decrease in engine performance.

Lubricants are very common among drivers. This company mainly produces synthetics. It contains additives that make the seals elastic. This helps prevent oil leakage.

Choosing a lubricant is not so easy. It is worth remembering that semi-synthetics are an excellent combination of cost and quality. When choosing a consumable, you need to know the car manufacturer’s tolerances, the optimal viscosity index and world standards.

You also need to consider the temperature conditions in which you are going to drive the car. Semi-synthetics perform their task perfectly even in severe frosts.

Semi-synthetic motor oil, like mineral oil, can be poured into fairly worn engines. Its cost is not very high.

Before going to the store, read the rating of the best oils and drivers' opinions about a particular oil product. This will give you the opportunity to choose the lubricant that can best protect the internal combustion engine installed in your vehicle.

A high-quality consumable not only reduces friction between engine parts, but also significantly saves fuel, be it gasoline or diesel fuel.

Synthetic or mineral water – which is better?

The main difference is the molecular level of these types of oils. In synthetic ones, the synthesis of molecules is carried out with their properties already defined, while mineral molecules are created by nature itself. The mineral product is obtained by distilling fuel oil. The raw material for such oil can also be industrial agricultural crops. The advantages of mineral oil include effective action and low destructive ability towards parts.

These positive qualities appear only in the range of room temperatures and require the use of additives, so the use of such oils in their natural state is impractical. Synthetic analogues are obtained by synthesizing molecules. Such oils are characterized by stability and low dependence on environmental factors. The same quality of engine operation in different modes is ensured by high-quality synthetic products. Therefore, the main differences between synthetic and mineral oils can be formulated as follows:

• different origin of molecules (synthetic and natural);
• different properties when temperature changes, in this case synthetic ones have an advantage;
• different degrees of viscosity (negative ambient temperatures are unsuitable for the use of mineral products);
• varying degrees of stability of parameters at different temperature conditions: at elevated temperatures in the mineral analogue, additives burn out, which harms engine operation.

An important task for modern motor oil is to clean engine parts from the final product of fuel combustion. When using mineral analogues, deposits are washed off from parts gradually, and the high fluidity of synthetic oils makes it possible to more effectively “scrape” deposits from them. It should be noted higher oxidation resistance.

Today, engines cannot operate without synthetic oil, especially at low temperatures. But the production cost of such oils is low, and their price is higher compared to mineral oils.

What are mineral oils?

Mineral water from Liqui Moly

Mineral motor oil is a product of distillation of fuel oil, but there are also liquids made from industrial crops, but these are rare. The technological process used for the production of mineral lubricants is quite simple, so the oils themselves are relatively inexpensive. Among the positive distinctive features of such oils are:

• composition stability;
• efficiency in solving basic problems;
• minimal destructive effect on metal surfaces.

In their natural form, mineral liquids are used in rare cases. They have high lubricating properties only in a small temperature range or in the presence of additional additives. The latter are needed to impart certain properties to the lubricant composition:

• anti-wear;
• anti-corrosion;
• detergents.

Modern oils for automobile engines, even mineral ones, not only reduce friction resistance, but also clean the surfaces of engine parts from fuel combustion products, that is, carbon deposits.

Under the influence of high temperatures, the additives present in the mineral water burn out, and when the ambient temperature drops, the lubricant becomes very thick and makes it difficult for the mechanisms to function. To eliminate these shortcomings, synthetic fluids had to be invented.

Which engine oil is best to use in winter?

Low air temperatures in winter make starting a car engine much more difficult. To simplify the starting process and save the driver’s nerve cells, you need to know what oil to pour into the engine in winter.

Manufacturers' recommendations

When choosing which oil to pour into the engine in winter, you should first look at the technical documentation of the car.

As a rule, such papers indicate which motor fluid (brand, characteristics) should be poured into the car in winter.

If it is impossible to obtain information from such documentation, then a good lubricant is selected according to certain tolerances and parameters. If this is not possible (the specified characteristics are outdated), you will have to rely only on the automotive chemical market and the knowledge of the driver.

What kind of oil to pour into the engine is a purely personal decision of each car owner, and rave reviews from friends and the words of sellers are not helpful in this matter: that fabulous material that suits another car may turn out to be poison for yours.

It is worth determining which engine oil was previously poured into the engine. The quality of a lubricant is determined by its characteristics and effect on the engine.

If the car was purchased secondhand, then all the necessary information will be obtained from the previous owner. In the absence of information, you will have to flush the engine - a costly procedure, which, however, guarantees an increase in the life of the car.

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Types of motor oil according to SAE

The classification of engine oil viscosity level used throughout the world was created by the American Society of Automotive Engineers:

• Winter

A few years earlier, many car owners, when asked which oil is best to fill in for the winter, answered - winter. According to the SAE classification, its designation was the letter W. The packaging of such a lubricant usually indicated SAE 5W, 10W, 15W, etc.

The number located in front of the letter W indicated the minimum temperature the engine oil could withstand without harming the engine. In the winter season, such a product did not become viscous, but when the temperature of the working environment increased, it quickly became liquid.

• Summer

This type of motor oil, according to the SAE classification, is indicated only by a number. Actually, the number means the highest temperature at which the lubricant can be used.

• All-season

Over the past few years, all-season motor oil has become very widespread, displacing winter and summer analogues from the markets. It has certain advantages: it does not need to be changed before each season, it is easier to use.

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The designation of this type of lubricant is the letter W and two numbers located on either side of it. The first means winter indicators, the second - summer. Of course, all-season oil also has its own temperature thresholds, but choosing the right option is much easier.

Vehicle specifications and oil

When deciding on the choice of product type, you must first of all have complete information about the technical characteristics of both the car and the engine. It is necessary to study the provisions of the vehicle operating instructions, which indicate the recommended viscosity values ​​of products for various seasonal conditions. The degree of wear of the engine and what kind of oil was previously used in it are also taken into account.

If mineral analogues were used for several years, the resulting deposits filled the cracks in the rubber, which remained there when the oil was changed. If synthetics are poured into such a motor, then, due to its acidic characteristics, it erodes such deposits, which often leads to its leakage through the vacated microcracks.

Therefore, the use of synthetics is recommended for new engines, as well as engines with high speeds (sports cars). For an older engine, more frequent mineral oil changes will be preferable. Choosing semi-synthetics will be a reasonable compromise between mineral and synthetics. For a motor in which only mineral products were used, this option will not be critical, provided that the selected semi-synthetic oil is of high quality.

Flushing the engine when changing lubricants

Changing lubricants may require a complete flushing of the vehicle's oil system.

As a rule, such cleaning of the power unit is carried out if the oil is changed for the first time or it is unknown what specific product was used before; if the brand of lubricant changes, its viscosity or the car engine is very dirty.

As for other cases, many experts say that it is not necessary to flush the engine at every oil change. Japanese professionals, for example, advise flushing every 40 thousand kilometers.

The main disadvantage of flushing agents is that during their action they settle on the components and parts of the car. Since they often contain caustic substances, thanks to which all contaminants are corroded, when new oil is added, they are mixed with it, significantly reducing its performance characteristics. As a result, such a decrease in the quality of the lubricant can adversely affect the condition of the engine and lead to its repair - in the worst case.

Engine oil for the engine - purpose

The original purpose of motor oils is to remove heat from rubbing parts inside the engine, as well as, if possible, remove metal particles that form during friction. By and large, nothing has changed for a long time, and at the moment these tasks are presented when choosing an oil. However, it is worth considering the fact that with the advent of semi-synthetic and synthetic oils on the lubricants market, car enthusiasts are beginning to actively argue about at what ambient temperature they can be used. A large number of lubricant manufacturers and their properly structured marketing campaigns to attract new customers only make matters worse.

Mineral motor oil

Agricultural crops are used to produce mineral oil or it is obtained by processing fuel oil and subsequent purification of the processed products. Since this technology is quite simple and over the years people have successfully tried to simplify this process, this is the reason for the low cost of mineral lubricating oils. The positive effects of using mineral oil in a car engine include high efficiency when used, hydrolytic stability and low mechanical impact when interacting with moving engine parts. In addition, mineral oil can be mixed with other identical ones and natural oils have an excellent anti-corrosion coefficient.

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But all these positive properties of mineral oils are often achieved at a comfortable temperature range from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. To use mineral oils at low or high temperatures, it is necessary to use various additives. But this is the obvious disadvantage of using mineral motor oils: at high temperatures the additives burn out, and at low temperatures the use of mineral oils is difficult due to their high viscosity coefficient.

Semi-synthetic motor oil

This intermediate type of motor oil can be obtained by diluting mineral oil with synthetic oil. Experts recommend using proportions of 50%!to 50%!or 70%!mineral to 30%!synthetic motor oil.

Synthetic motor oil

Engine coolant is obtained by synthesis of molecules. Thus, during operation, synthetic oils show better stability indicators and are not so dependent on the effects of low temperatures. It is advisable to select a synthetic oil based on individual parameters: region of residence and the presence of high or low temperatures during vehicle use, driving and starting habits, etc. Of course, it is worth considering the fact that such oil cannot be found in nature unchanged, but it has become so firmly established in modern life that people do not think about its origin. The price of synthetic oil is the most expensive of all the materials presented above, but in the presence of very low ambient temperatures it is a necessity rather than a privilege.

The advantages of using synthetic petroleum products also include:

• Increased anti-friction properties.
• There is practically no need to use additives, since the main part was added by the manufacturer at the production stage.
• Lower coefficient of volatility in front of mineral oil products.
• Use at low temperatures.

Advantages of various lubricant compositions over others

Synthetic and mineral composition - which oil is better: these petroleum products differ at the molecular level. The molecular structure of synthetics was achieved through long-term testing to achieve the required properties, and the molecular structure of mineral petroleum products was established by nature. If in some component synthetic oils are worse than mineral lubricants, then continuous work is underway on this. But the fact is that mineral mixtures clean the engine continuously and with approximately the same efficiency, while synthetics, in turn, due to their viscosity, clean quite quickly. Because of this effect, oil filters and oil lines are literally clogged with particle deposits from the engine. In this case, if the elements of the oil system are not properly controlled, the effect of “oil starvation” and subsequent engine failure may occur.

Therefore, we can highlight the main differences between the two main types of oils:

• Different molecular structure.
• The response of oils to changes in temperature is different; in this respect, synthetics are much better than mineral ones.
• Different fluidity of oils: due to exposure to low temperatures, mineral oil becomes thick, synthetics are much more versatile in use.
• Stability consists in the burnout of mineral oil additives, which leads to changes in engine operation or failure.

Mineral or synthetic oil? The answer will depend only on the car owner of the personal car.

Which oil is better: synthetic or semi-synthetic? What do the terms sustainability and stability mean when using synthetics? This means that exposure to low or high temperatures practically does not reduce the viscosity, and therefore the effectiveness of the oil, over a long period of time. When choosing a semi-synthetic oil, you should pay attention to the fact that in some cases its use is more reasonable than synthetics. For example, with a long impressive engine mileage, synthetics can produce high carbon emissions, as well as when using the car at comfortable temperatures in the winter - up to -20 degrees Celsius. However, this oil needs to be changed more often than synthetic oil.

Oil labeling by season

In addition to their molecular structure, petroleum products for engine cooling are usually divided into seasonality of use: summer, winter and all-season oil. Due to its viscosity, it is reasonable to use summer oil up to 0 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the engine will not be able to start or will fail. Marking of summer oils: SAE 20, SAE 30 and so on up to 60. The designation of numbers indicates the viscosity of the oil at engine operating temperature; the higher the numerical designation, the thicker the oil when heated.

Winter oils are marked from 0 to 25 units with the prefix W - winter (winter). Discreteness in 5 units. The minimum threshold of the temperature regime used is determined by subtracting 40 units from the given number. For example, for petroleum products marked 5 W, the minimum temperature at which correct pumping of the oil system is ensured will be -35 degrees Celsius. But for winter oil products it is also necessary to know such a selection criterion as crankability. To determine this parameter, 35 must be subtracted from a given number, and we can say with confidence that for 10 W oil the lower limit for safe starting of a car engine is 25 degrees Celsius.

All-season oils. The lubricant marking is indicated by a combination of letter and number designations for winter and summer oil. As an example, 5W - 30 can be deciphered as follows: winter marking 5 W and summer marking 30 indicates that the engine can be safely started at a minimum ambient temperature of -35 degrees Celsius and the maximum permissible viscosity when the engine is running will be 30 units. What is the difference between 5W-30 and 5W-40? The only difference is that the first of the presented types of lubricants has a thinner consistency in the summer. Therefore, if the region where you live most of the year has above-zero temperatures, then for proper operation of the engine you must purchase a lubricant with a higher viscosity. In winter, these oils will ensure uninterrupted engine starting at -35 degrees Celsius. Motor oil classification viscosity table:

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AutoDot.Ru

There are synthetic and mineral motor oils.
Mineral motor oil is an oil that is obtained from petroleum. It is considered natural. But synthetic motor oil is a substance that is obtained as a result of synthesis. These oils will be discussed in the article “How to distinguish synthetic oil from mineral oil.” Why was it necessary to invent synthetic motor oil?

The conditions under which the engine operates may vary. The operating mode of the motor is constantly changing. We started the engine - it warms up, stopped it - it cools down. And during operation, the engine constantly changes its own mode - the speed, temperature, and so on change. For this reason, an impeccable motor oil can be an oil whose characteristics remain consistent under different engine operating conditions. But this is actually unrealistic.

Under various conditions, a mineral motor oil base cannot ensure the stability of the substance. Using the method of molecular synthesis, scientists were able to obtain a synthetic base. It is much less exposed to external causes. Its characteristics during long-term operation are more measured. For the first time, such synthetic motor oil was used in aviation. At low temperatures, when starting the engine, the mineral oil simply froze. At first, the costs of creating synthetic oil were very high, and this did not allow its mass use in car engines. Only over time has synthetic motor oil become cheaper. It was then that they began to use it in the auto industry.

So, we can summarize:

1. Synthetic motor oil is less susceptible to temperature changes.

2. Synthetic oil is able to retain its characteristics longer during use.

3. It is impossible to maintain such an oil parameter as viscosity at an appropriate level if a completely mineral base is used.

If the area where the car is operated is not characterized by winter temperatures below 15-20 degrees Celsius, then there is no need to use synthetic motor oil.

When using mineral or semi-synthetic oil, you will simply have to change it more often.

Which oil is better? Can they be mixed?

A thrifty, experienced driver knows that it is strange to speak directly about which is better: synthetic or mineral oil. If there is no need to drive a car at temperatures below +5˚-+10˚C, there is no need to overpay extra money for synthetics. Because there will be no significant difference in engine performance and wear. Even with more frequent replacement, mineral mixtures are more economically beneficial.

In some conditions, it is even advisable to give preference to semi-synthetics. For example, with high engine mileage, the synthetic product quickly burns out due to wear of the sealing seals. Semi-synthetic oils, in most cases, operate reliably at temperatures not lower than -10˚- -15˚C.

One of the advantages of “mineral water” is the gradual “washing” of deposits from engine elements. Synthetic lubricant “scrapes off” them with large particles, and because of this, oil filters and oil lines quickly become clogged.

The question of the admissibility of mixing arises, as a rule, in emergency situations when it is not possible to fill the engine with oil of the appropriate type and marking. On the one hand, experts clearly say that this is a bad idea. First, due to mixing, an insoluble precipitate is formed. It increases wear on internal combustion engine parts and clogs filters. Secondly, additive components can enter into a chemical reaction and completely ruin your lubricant solution.

On the other hand, the presence of semi-synthetics on the market is a clear example of the opposite. Therefore, in special cases, you can mix the two products. The main thing is to drain this mixture as soon as possible and replace it with normal oil.

How is synthetic water different from mineral water?

Differences in oil consistency

Synthetic and mineral oil - what's the difference? First of all, at the molecular level. Mineral water molecules are created by nature. Mineral lubricating compounds wash away deposits from internal metal parts, and do this gradually. Synthetic oils are more fluid, so they scrape deposits from parts, which can lead to clogging of filter screens and even oil lines. This can lead to oil starvation and subsequent engine failure.

The main distinguishing features of synthetic oils are as follows:

• different molecular origins: mineral water is created by nature, and synthetics are made by chemically synthesizing molecules;
• oils react differently to changes in temperature (synthetics are superior to mineral water);
• liquids have different fluidity: mineral water cannot be used at extremely negative temperatures, as it thickens greatly;
• the difference in the stability of parameters under the influence of different temperatures: when heated, the additives in the mineral water begin to burn out and this is harmful to the operation of the engine.

We figured out how mineral oil differs from synthetic oil. Synthetics are definitely superior to mineral water and are more beneficial for modern powertrains. Let's look at the main advantages of synthetic oils.

Kinematic viscosity of synthetic and mineral oil

This is how the kinematic viscosity of synthetic and mineral oil changes during prolonged operation in the engine. Green lines are the boundaries beyond which the oil should not go

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• Synthetic vs mineral oil (theory)
• Synthetics versus mineral water (practice)
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• Oil APIlog. Engine oil classification according to API
• Mercedes form approval. Recommended motor oil
• Reading the instructions...Choosing synthetic oil

The results are in the pictures. They are very revealing. For mineral water, we first see a decrease in viscosity, and quite a significant one - this is the destruction of thickening additives. Starting from a certain moment, it begins to grow - and this is the effect of the accumulation of products of its decomposition and oxidation in the oil. But there is practically no area of ​​stable viscosity at all. By the way, this is also taken into account to a certain extent by the SAE requirements - after all, according to them, for these oils, viscosity variation is allowed at 100 degrees. from 12.5 to 16.3 cSt!

Viscosity exceeding this range is one of the rejection parameters. If the oil viscosity either drops or rises above the range, that’s it! We diagnose his death, an urgent replacement is required.

Mineralka, judging by the results of the experiment, died after 7,500 kilometers. By the way, this is a very good result, but the experimental conditions for the oil were almost ideal - no winter starts, no stuck in traffic jams... But fluctuations in the viscosity of synthetics in the range of our measurements are within the measurement error limit. Synthetic oil has quietly traveled 12 thousand kilometers and is ready to move on. In our opinion, quite a clear result!

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Motor oil tolerances

Each oil contains different tolerances, thanks to which you can understand whether this particular oil is suitable for your engine.

The car manufacturer, in turn, having manufactured the engine, recommends filling in a certain oil. There are also those who recommend not only tolerances, but also viscosity and manufacturer, for example Renault recommends Elf, Peugeot recommends Total, but this is no longer important, the main thing is the correct oil with the correct tolerances.

If you have a gasoline engine, then almost any motor oil is suitable for you, with the exception of some features of the engine itself. However, with diesel engines everything is more complicated. If with both a Common Rail system and a pump injector. So, if 505.00 is the standard for a diesel engine, then only 505.01 oil is suitable for the pump injector.

So, by filling in oil that is not recommended for the engine, you will slowly kill it, even by filling in super-duper extra mega high-quality original engine oil.

Therefore, it is necessary to find out what oil tolerances are recommended for your engine.

Tolerances of motor oils by car make

How to find out tolerances:

1. From an official dealer.
2. In the service book.
3. From the manufacturer.

However, with tolerances everything is complicated because there are special tolerances. Ford suffers from this. He may recommend oil with WSS-M2C913-C approval, which is only found in Ford Formula F 5W30 oil, while others do not have this approval. This Ford is cunning!

But that's not the point. No one can guarantee that the engine will work just as efficiently on a different oil.

Therefore, tolerances are a very important parameter, because otherwise, everyone drove on sunflower oil, because... it's cheaper.