What is the classification of motor oils?

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What is the classification of motor oils?
What is the classification of motor oils?
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Classification of motor oils
Classification of motor oils

What is motor oil?

This is a special compound designed for rotary and reciprocating internal combustion engines, used for lubricating purposes. Simply put, any motor oil is a mixture of an oil base and various additives that determine the properties and characteristics of the compound. Depending on what the base is made of, there is a classification of motor oils that distinguishes synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral compounds. And if the former are a product of completely artificial origin and are obtained as a result of ongoing chemical synthesis, the latter are a product of oil refining. In turn, the second type is a mixture in which both organic and synthetic motor oils are present.

Synthetic engine oils
Synthetic engine oils

Primary or secondary?

It should be noted that each of the previously named compounds is the result of oil refining. Thus, the classification of motor oils becomes not entirely correct, but it reflects differences in the degree of processing of the original product. It turns out that mineral oils are the result of primary oil refining, while synthetic oils can only be obtained after secondary and subsequent distillation.

Winter or summer?

There is also a classification of motor oils, the main criterion for dividing which is the time of year when the car, and therefore the described product, will be operated. In this regard, it is customary to distinguish three types: summer, winter and all-weather oils. A similar characteristic can be found on the factory container, which contains the desired composition. The marking of motor oils reflects the temperature regime at which the use of a particular type of this useful compound is allowed.

Standards

Currently, it is customary to distinguish several types of classifications: Russian, European, American and international. It should be noted that the classification of motor oils according to US standards, in turn, is divided into API and SAE. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Motor oil labeling
Motor oil labeling

API

Is a classification developed by the American Petroleum Institute. It includes only two groups: C and S. The first category applies to motor oils that, according to the level of their performance properties, can be used in trucks and commercial vehicles equipped with a diesel engine. The second category, in turn, has a fairly wide scope, which applies to cars, small trucks, as well as minibuses with gasoline engines installed on them. Of course, such a classification of motor oils also has a division into many subgroups.

SAE

Classification of the Society of Automotive Engineers of the USA is based on the division into groups according to the degree of viscosity of engine oil. Thus, it is customary to distinguish the following categories: 0W, 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W, 25W, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60. It should be borne in mind that the use of the letter W means that engine oil is of the winter type and can be used at low temperatures. In turn, the rest are used in summer, the so-called high-temperature conditions.

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