Engine oil for the winter - choose the best

An automobile engine is a complex mechanism. All its parts work clearly and smoothly, evenly, until one of them fails. And it's worth it to happen, then something begins that is akin to the domino principle. Breakdowns follow one another, closing in a vicious circle. Why can this happen? The reasons are really plentiful, but in almost every second breakdown faulty motor oil is guilty. The fact is that the gaps between the moving parts of the engine are negligible, and to prevent friction of the metal, engine oil is used. Depending on the engine, oils may differ in the amount of additives administered, but there is something that unites them. This is the viscosity and the presence of additives that affect the characteristics of the oil.

In winter, at the time of launch, the engine experiences significant load, comparable to 1000 km "mileage". The thing is that the oil in the oil pan is too thick at the time of the "cold start" and can not perform its main functions. At this point, the parts work almost without lubrication, and this greatly increases the technical production on their working surfaces and, accordingly, the general wear of the engine.

To avoid significant wear of engine parts, during the cold season, oils with a lower viscosity are poured into it. Such oils are less dense in the cold, and therefore, much better cope with their work during a cold start.

Of course, most motorists already know everything written above and every winter they carry out maintenance of their cars with mandatory replacement of engine oil. Cold start of the engine and its warming up at idle, constant warming, followed by frosts - all these are factors that are detrimental to the engine. Compensate for most of them and keep the engine running will help properly selected oil.

To begin with, it is worth noting that all engine oils are labeled according to their type, denoted by the alphanumeric code on the package, for example, 10w-40, where the first number indicates the winter temperature regime. The second is the operating mode at the limiting temperatures.

Here is an example of decoding of oil markings:

• 10w-40 - the oil retains its viscosity at -20 ° C;
• 5w-40 - the oil retains its viscosity at a temperature of -30 degrees;
• 0w-40 - the oil retains its viscosity at a temperature of -40 degrees.

An important role in the selection of engine oil is played by the manufacturer. After all, it's not a secret that the oils produced by large companies are much better able to cope with their work than an unnamed surrogate, aimed from a blue barrel. Large corporations have at their disposal production and research facilities that allow testing oils at the development stage.

The quantity and quality of additives introduced are carefully monitored. The basis for the production of most well-known brands is taken by pure oils produced at their own plants. And the fact is that large producers are forced to keep the brand because of unrelenting pressure from competitors, because only one lot of low-quality oil will bring them millions of losses, and no one who is in their right mind will voluntarily agree to this.

Manufacturers of cheap products often put on the production of low-quality oil, which in addition to unverified additives, which may not combine with each other, large particles of debris. But everyone knows what the ordinary grain of sand that gets into the engine can do.

Here are a few of the most famous manufacturers of motor oils: Liqui Moly; Castrol; Shell helix; Neste; Motul; BP. And these are only those that immediately come to mind. In fact, the list is much longer.

What conclusion can be drawn from all of the above? There are no ideal oils that can keep the engine in perfect condition for decades. But this does not mean that you can pour the first oil in the engine. On the contrary, on its right choice depends on how long the engine will run without complaints. This issue is especially acute in the winter, because constantly alternating thaws and frosts can kill any motor. The question is only how long it will take for them.

Buying engine oil costs only proven brands, always checking with the seller documents for it. Vendors are obliged at the first request to present certificates of conformity for all products sold by them. If, for some reason, the seller refuses to produce a certificate of compliance, it is undesirable to buy oil from him.