Do You Know the Seven Responsibilities of a Motor Oil?

Do You Know the Seven Responsibilities of a Motor Oil?

Ed Newman |Nov 20, 2015 8:26:43 AM

There are so many things we take for granted and give very little thought to. Air is one of them. We seldom feel a need to understand what happens when we breathe, how oxygen in the atmosphere ends up in our bloodstream so as to nourish the cells of our bodies. Gravity is something else we give little thought to, even though it has a daily impact on our lives. (Be careful where your toes are when you drop something heavy.)
Something else we usually take for granted is motor oil. If we've been properly trained we know we have to change it once in a while, but beyond that how many people really know why? What does motor oil really do anyway? Here are seven tasks that motor oils are designed to accomplish.

1. Minimize Friction and Wear
This is the #1 function of a lubricant. Friction is detrimental to engine components and results in wear, so a lubricant must act as the barrier between moving parts.

2. Cleanliness
Motor oil contributes to the internal cleanliness of an engine by conveying away contaminants and holding them in suspension, preventing them from adhering to engine components.

3. Cool Moving Parts
Fuel combustion generates heat. Engines rely on lubricants to help them run cooler by absorbing heat and moving it to a different location to be safely dissipated. The cooler the operating temps, the better your engine can perform.

4. Prevent Contamination by Acting as a Seal
Acting as a seal, motor oils help minimize combustion by-products from contaminating the lubrication system. Lubricants act as a dynamic seal in locations such as the piston, piston ring and cylinder contact areas.

5. Dampen Shock
In the event of mechanical shock, lubricants help cushion the blow. The lubricant film can absorb and disperse energy spikes over a broader contact area, reducing impact.

6. Prevent Corrosion
Lubricants can reduce or prevent corrosion of internal components by either chemically neutralizing corrosive products or setting up a barrier between the components and the corrosive material.

7. Transfer Energy 
At times a lubricant is required to act as an energy-transfer medium, such as in the case of hydraulic equipment or valve lifters in an automotive engine.
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Not all lubricants are formulated to carry these seven responsibilities equally. The motor oil you choose is an important decision for the life of your car. I believe that once you're informed you'll choose AMSOIL.