What is the role of engine oil in an engine?
2 Answers
Engine oil has five major functions in an engine: reducing friction and high temperatures, sealing, rust prevention, cushioning, and cleaning. Here is a detailed explanation of these five functions: 1. Reducing friction and high temperatures: A sufficiently thick oil film separates the surfaces of relatively sliding parts, thereby reducing wear. 2. Sealing function: Engine oil can form a seal between the piston rings and pistons, reducing gas leakage and preventing external contaminants from entering. 3. Rust prevention: Lubricating oil adheres to the surfaces of parts, preventing contact with water, air, acidic substances, and harmful gases. 4. Cushioning function: When the pressure in the engine cylinder port rises sharply, suddenly increasing the load on the pistons, piston skirts, connecting rods, and crankshaft bearings, the load is transmitted and lubricated through the bearings, cushioning the impact load. 5. Cleaning function: High-quality engine oil can carry away carbon deposits, sludge, and worn metal particles from engine parts back to the oil tank through circulation. The flow of the lubricating oil washes away dirt generated on the working surfaces of the parts.
Engine oil plays a significant role in an engine. It lubricates all moving parts, such as contact points between metal surfaces, reducing friction and wear, making the engine run much smoother without squeaking. At the same time, it also acts as a coolant, carrying away some of the heat to prevent the engine from overheating and smoking, especially during long drives in summer. Without oil, the engine could burn out. Additionally, engine oil cleans internal dirt, such as carbon deposits and impurities, preventing parts from getting stuck. I've seen many car owners neglect regular oil changes, resulting in early engine failure with terrifyingly high repair costs. Regularly changing the engine oil is a good habit, generally checking every 5,000 kilometers or so, and choosing the right viscosity grade can extend the engine's life by more than five years.
