What are the substances in engine oil?
2 Answers
Engine oil contains substances that are carefully proportioned additives blended by engineers. Engine oil, also known as engine lubricant, consists of two main components: base oil and additives. The base oil is the primary constituent of the lubricant and serves the following functions: 1. Cooling and temperature reduction; 2. Sealing and leak prevention; 3. Cleaning and purification; 4. Shock absorption and cushioning; 5. Lubrication to minimize wear; 6. Rust and corrosion prevention; 7. Component protection. The method for changing engine oil is as follows: 1. Use a jack to lift the vehicle, locate the drain plug, and loosen it to drain the oil; 2. Remove the oil filter, place a container beneath it, and drain the old oil; 3. Install a new oil filter and add fresh engine oil.
I've been repairing cars for over a decade, and engine oil may seem simple but has deep intricacies. Over 70% of it is base oil, divided into mineral oil (cheaper but shorter lifespan) and synthetic oil (more expensive but durable). The remaining 20% consists of precious additives: anti-wear agents act like liquid armor coating the gears; detergents function like tiny brushes cleaning sludge; viscosity index improvers prevent oil from thickening in cold weather or thinning in heat; antioxidants serve as preservatives against deterioration; anti-foam agents specifically tackle stirred-up bubbles. Last time, a car owner's engine still shook after an oil change. Upon disassembly, we found metal shavings – clearly the inferior oil's anti-wear additives couldn't withstand high temperatures and turned to debris. Switching to proper full synthetic oil immediately solved the issue.
