Can Different Engine Oils Be Mixed Together?
3 Answers
Engine oils should not be mixed together. Mixing different types of engine oil can cause chemical reactions, reduce lubrication effectiveness, and produce acidic or alkaline compounds that accelerate corrosion of engine components. The functions of engine oil include: 1. Lubrication and friction reduction; 2. Assisting in cooling; 3. Sealing and leak prevention; 4. Rust and corrosion protection; 5. Shock absorption and buffering. The hazards of mixing different engine oils are: 1. Abnormal smoke from the exhaust pipe; 2. Accelerated sludge buildup; 3. Reduced sealing performance of piston rods or piston rings, leading to discoloration or damage; 4. Engine malfunctions; 5. Severe wear between pistons and cylinder walls.
Just helped my cousin deal with this issue a few days ago. When the lights on his car suddenly stopped working, we started with the simplest checks: opened the hood to confirm if the bulbs were intact and checked for any signs of blackening, and found the tungsten filament in the left bulb was broken. Then we inspected the fuse box and confirmed that the 15-amp fuse corresponding to the headlights had indeed blown. While replacing the new bulb, we noticed some corrosion on the lamp socket contacts, which we sanded down with sandpaper to ensure good contact. Finally, after replacing the new fuse, everything worked normally. The whole process took a little over an hour, with the key being to systematically check common trouble spots like the bulbs, fuses, and contact points.
Speaking of car light failures, I once experienced a sudden headlight outage on the highway late at night, which was quite dangerous. I immediately turned on the hazard lights and pulled over, using a flashlight to inspect and found the relay making abnormal clicking sounds. A temporary solution was to swap the high and low beam relays (same model), barely managing to drive until exiting the highway. Later at the repair shop, it was diagnosed as unstable voltage due to aging wiring, which burned out the relay contacts. It's advisable to always keep spare fuses and relays in the car, especially for older models. Never force your way through lighting failures – it's extremely hazardous.
