What Oil Can Be Used as a Substitute for Engine Oil?

[MelanieFitz]

Engine oil, transmission fluid, and other automotive products are produced by specialized companies with strict formulation and manufacturing process requirements. They cannot be arbitrarily replaced with other oil products. Below is additional information: 1. Introduction: Engine oil is the lubricant for the engine, serving to lubricate, reduce friction, assist in cooling, and minimize buffering. 2. Composition: Engine oil consists of base oil and additives. The base oil is the main component of the lubricant, determining its fundamental properties, while additives improve and compensate for any deficiencies in the base oil's performance. Using lubricants can reduce wear on engine components and extend their service life. Engine oils on the market are categorized into synthetic and mineral oils, with synthetic oils further divided into full synthetic and semi-synthetic oils.

[LeGabriella]

I once experienced an engine oil leak on the highway, and it was really nerve-wracking! I called a mechanic, and he said in an absolute emergency, I could add a bit of automatic transmission fluid (ATF) to limp for a few dozen kilometers to reach a repair shop. The lubricity of ATF could barely hold up, but I had to keep the speed below 60 km/h and the engine RPM under 2500. However, it's crucial to remember—this is only a last-resort solution. Vegetable oil oxidizes and clumps, brake fluid corrodes seals, and hydraulic oil can't withstand high temperatures. You must drain and flush the system after driving just a dozen kilometers. Since then, I always keep a small bottle of engine oil in my car—after all, repairing an engine costs ten times more than buying oil.

[AngelaFitz]

Our workshop has received several vehicles that used cooking oil as a substitute for engine oil, and the damage was truly horrifying! Remember: any substitute oil can last at most 20 kilometers. Automatic transmission fluid's anti-wear additives are a relatively reliable emergency option; gear oil is too viscous and can clog oil passages; hydraulic oil lacks sufficient cleanliness; motorcycle oil has inadequate pressure resistance. The most critical issue is that substitute oils fail to meet high-temperature performance standards—normal engine oil can withstand 260°C, while vegetable oil carbonizes and forms deposits at just 180°C. Last time, an owner drove 30 kilometers with olive oil, causing all the crankshaft bearings to melt, resulting in an overhaul costing over 8,000 yuan.

[KatherineDella]

Last year during a self-driving trip in the Gobi Desert, I encountered an engine oil warning light and panicked when my phone had no signal. In the end, I used half a bottle of hydraulic oil to barely make it to a service station. However, the mechanic warned that this practice carries extremely high risks: hydraulic oil lacks antioxidants, which can lead to sludge formation and clog the filter screen; its viscosity index is unsuitable and may accelerate wear; the molecular structure of its base oil differs, potentially causing bearing lining peeling with prolonged use. He taught me a makeshift solution—in emergencies, you can mix in the same grade of oil from another vehicle, but mixing different brands will reduce performance, and you must perform a complete oil change within 100 kilometers.