Engine Oil 101
Dig into the science and engineering behind the 76® LUBRICANTS lineup.
You count on it every time you drive, but you might not know the many ways that it keeps your vehicle running efficiently and reliably. Here are a few facts that will help give you a deeper understanding of the role that engine oil plays in your driving experience.
There is a wide range of different oil types, which are all formulated to work with different vehicles.
Types of Engine Oil
Whether you drive a domestic car or an imported car, or even a motorcycle, make sure to check your owner’s manual to see exactly which type of engine oil you need.
The longer you’ve driven your vehicle, the more likely it is that parts of your engine can leak oil.
Combating Oil Leakage
Certain types of engine oil are formulated to help combat this effect, by helping to recondition parts of your engine—such as gaskets, seals, and O-rings—to prevent oil leakage.
If you take a lot of short trips with your vehicle, your engine oil can become saturated with gas, water, and acids, leading to the formation of sludge and varnish in your engine, as well as corrosion and engine wear.
Frequent Short Trips
An engine oil with the appropriate additive can help prevent the formation of these substances, while also helping to provide protection against engine wear and corrosion.
At low temperatures, engine oil can thicken, which makes it harder for it to move throughout the engine and keep it properly lubricated.
Driving at Low Temperatures
This ability to flow is called viscosity, and one of the ways you can be sure an engine oil will continue to flow properly at low temperatures is to check for the number that comes before the W that’s printed on the engine oil container.
Carrying heavy loads with your vehicle can put a lot of extra stress on your engine, and can even cause engine oil to evaporate due to high engine temperatures.
Heavy Loads
Full-synthetic oils are resistant to evaporation and stay stable at high temperatures, giving them a longer life in the engine.
Thinner engine oils that are able to operate efficiently within the engine are becoming more and more popular around the world.
Developments in Engine Oil Technology
Thanks to developments in advanced additive chemistry, these thinner engine oils can still offer superior protection and cleanliness.
There are many different engine oil certification standards, such as ILSAC, API, ACEA, and JASO.
Certification Standards
All of these rigorous and scientifically established standards are set by several organizations that are dedicated to maintaining excellence in engine oil quality. 76 LUBRICANTS sells engine oil meeting a number of these standards.
