What does the API in motor oil represent?
1 Answers
API in motor oil stands for the American Petroleum Institute. The API grade is the quality standard set by the API for motor oils. The first letter 'S' denotes the specification for gasoline engine oils, while 'C' is used for diesel engine oils. Motor oil, also known as engine lubricant, serves multiple functions including lubrication and friction reduction, auxiliary cooling, sealing to prevent leaks, rust and corrosion prevention, and shock absorption. Motor oil consists of two main components: base oil and additives. The base oil is the primary constituent of lubricants, determining their fundamental properties, while additives compensate for and enhance the shortcomings of the base oil, imparting new characteristics and making them an essential part of the lubricant.