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Maintenance and Testing of Hydraulic Oil

Keeping hydraulic oils clean is critical to their operation, as any contaminant can interfere with the amount of power that they can transmit. These oils are also subjected to harsh conditions, so monitoring their quality will help to ensure that they provide the maximum efficiency for the system in which they are working.

Importance of Regular Maintenance

Hydraulic oil systems are notoriously known for leaks. Sometimes this revolves around failed seals or the improper use of material for the actual system, which cannot tolerate the existing conditions. Despite the root cause of the leak, it is essential to perform regular inspections on hydraulic equipment, as a leak can lead to a loss of power, potentially delaying or causing work in progress to come to an unexpected halt.

Maintenance and Testing of Hydraulic Oil

Hydraulic leaks are also detrimental to the environment, particularly if they seep into the ground or waterways. Hence, it is crucial to perform regular checks and maintenance on hydraulic systems to prevent harm to the environment.

A single unnoticed hydraulic leak can halt production and harm the environment.

Some other factors to consider regarding the maintenance of hydraulic fluids include maintaining the temperature and oil levels at the expected system values, as well as keeping the hydraulic oil clean to avoid contaminants.

Users should also be performing routine oil analysis (to catch any changes to the oil, which may lead to detrimental effects). Additionally, routine inspections can include checking noise levels, shock loads, filtration, vibration, leakage, fluid odor, color, and the presence of foaming. These additional methods can prove beneficial for intercepting early failures.

Common Methods for Monitoring Hydraulic Oil Condition

When monitoring hydraulic oils, several key characteristics to pay attention to include viscosity, AN (Acid Number), Water content, the presence of wear metals, and contaminants.

Any change in viscosity can affect the transfer of power, while an increase in Acid Number (AN) can indicate the degradation of the oil. On the other hand, the presence of any contaminant can also impact the performance of the oil, possibly leading to its degradation while acting as a catalyst.

Alternatively, the presence of wear metals can also indicate that wear is occurring on the inside of the hydraulic equipment. It may initiate a physical maintenance check to determine the extent of the wear.

Steps for Changing Hydraulic Oil

When changing hydraulic oil, it is important to note the previous condition of the oil. If there is a high concentration of contaminants, the system should ideally be flushed before introducing a new batch of oil. This prevents the new oil from also becoming contaminated and degrading at an accelerated rate.

Additionally, some physical contaminants may have also become lodged in the tighter clearances. Hence, it is always a good idea to perform a flush on the system, ensuring that it is clean before a new batch of oil is used.

Proper Storage and Handling

Hydraulic oils must be clean, and depending on the system, they have very specific cleanliness requirements. As such, when storing hydraulic oils, special care should be taken to ensure that the rooms are clean, the decanting equipment is clean (free from dirt or other contaminants), and a filter cart is used when decanting new oil into a system. Hydraulic oils do not mix well with other oils, and dedicated systems or equipment are required for decanting these oils.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

One of the main issues with hydraulic oils is their susceptibility to contamination. Contaminants can be in the form of physical particles, liquids, or gases.

In the case of gases, this usually leads to cavitation (one very common challenge with hydraulic oils) or an increase in the presence of foam. Hydraulic oils can also become contaminated with water, which affects their ability to transfer the required amount of power.

If your pump sounds like marbles, air or cavitation is already stealing performance.

Typically, technicians have reported hearing the “sound of marbles” within pumps that are experiencing cavitation. In these cases, there is usually an air leak or air entering the system where it is not intended to. This can be an issue with the intake or suction part of the pump, where the oil levels are low enough to allow for air to enter the system and then become trapped. In these cases, a baffle plate can be placed inside the reservoir at a 60-degree angle to trap some of the air bubbles.

On the other hand, when water is present in the hydraulic oils, depending on the concentration, a vacuum dehydrator or regular filtration system can be used to help remove the water. Subsequently, for hydraulic oils that contain a high level of physical contaminants, a filtration system can also be used to help remove them from the system.

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Oil Properties

Properties and Characteristics of Hydraulic Oil

Hydraulic oils must be able to withstand particular conditions and still perform their primary function of transferring power from one point to another. As such, they have characteristics that make them unique from regular oils.

Viscosity of Hydraulic Oil

The viscosity of an oil is one of the most essential characteristics, especially for hydraulic oils, as they must transfer power. As such, the viscosity-temperature characteristic of hydraulic oils is also critical. As the temperature of the oil increases, its viscosity decreases (or becomes thinner). Similarly, if the temperature of the oil decreases, its viscosity will increase (or become thicker).

Properties and Characteristics of Hydraulic Oil

Figure 8. Viscosity-Temperature chart for Shell Tellus S2MX oils

For hydraulic oils, some manufacturers plot their viscosity against temperature to help customers determine the ideal viscosity for their system based on the system’s operational temperatures. Figure 8 shows a chart for Shell Tellus S2MX, illustrating the varying viscosities as the temperature changes.

Choosing the wrong viscosity can cripple power transmission before the system even starts.

For instance, if the system is running at 60°C and the oil needs to have a viscosity of 30cSt, then an ISO VG 68 would be the most ideal oil. However, if the system is running at 40°C, and the viscosity needs to be 30cSt, then an ISO 46 oil would be more appropriate.

The relationship between viscosity and temperature is known as the viscosity index. For hydraulic oils, the higher the viscosity index, the less susceptible the viscosity is to changes in temperature. As a reference, mineral base oils have a natural viscosity index (VI) of 95-100, while synthetic ester-based base oils have a VI of 140-180, and polyglycols have a natural VI of 180-200.

Oxidation and Thermal Stability

The TOST (Turbine Oil Oxidation Stability Test) is usually used to determine the oxidation stability of an oil. Although the test name mentions “turbines”, it can also be applied to hydraulic oils.

Another test that can be used to evaluate whether oxidation has taken place or not would be the RULER® test, which quantifies the remaining antioxidants in the oil. Overall, determining the oxidation and thermal stability of the oil provides the user with an average estimate of the oil’s life expectancy when subjected to environmental extremes.

Foam and Air Release Properties

Due to the operating environment of hydraulic oils, air tends to become trapped in them. This can become a problem as it can easily lead to cavitation inside pumps (the most prevalent form of wear for these systems). Therefore, hydraulic oils must have good air release and anti-foaming properties.

Good air release allows the dissolved or trapped air to coagulate and rise to the surface, where it can then be dissipated. This is where the issue of foam “arises” as it further impedes the oil’s ability to form a full wedge between the two surfaces in any system.

Demulsibility and Water Content

Demulsibility refers to the ability of oil to repel water. Typically, hydraulic oils are designed to operate in environments with some water or high humidity, where water can easily enter the oil.

For hydraulic oils containing detergents or dispersants (DD), fluids (such as water) or other fine contaminants are usually held in suspension. Therefore, the demulsibility test, in which water and oil are mixed and then allowed to separate, will not be effective in determining the water separation characteristic of these hydraulic oils. Filtration should be used for these DD oils, which become contaminated with water.

Water in hydraulic oil isn’t harmless — it’s a silent trigger for failure.

On the other hand, for those oils that do not contain detergents or dispersants, the demulsibility test (ASTM D1401) can be performed. For this test, equal parts of oil and water are mixed at a specific temperature to create an emulsion and then allowed to separate. The amount of oil, water, and emulsion is recorded at 5-minute intervals.

If the viscosity of the oil is less than 90 cSt and there is 3 mL of emulsion or less after 30 minutes, the oil is acceptable. If the oil has a viscosity greater than 90cSt, the result is taken at the end of 60 minutes (if the value of the emulsion is less than 3 mL, it is acceptable). The results are usually recorded in the format: mL oil / mL water / mL emulsion (time recorded in minutes).

Corrosion Protection

Many hydraulic systems contain copper metals, brass, or bronze, especially in cooling systems, pumps, bearing elements, or guides. Therefore, hydraulic oils must be resistant to copper corrosion, as this could compromise the entire system. One such test, which can be used to identify the corrosivity of these oils, is the Copper Strip Corrosion test.

In this test, the copper strip is placed in hydraulic oil for a typical duration of 3 hours at 100°C. The results can be quantified based on the level of discoloration, which correlates with the degree of corrosion.

A similar type of test can also be done with steel / ferrous corrosion. In this case, the oil is mixed with distilled water or artificial seawater and stirred constantly for 24 hours at 60°C while the steel rod is submerged in the mixture. Afterwards, the steel rod is examined for corrosion and allocated ratings accordingly.

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Oil Properties

Testing and Analyzing Hydraulic Oil Composition

There are several basic tests that should be used to determine the condition and health of hydraulic oils. These include:

Viscosity (ASTM D445) – Generally, if this value falls below or above10-15%, there is cause for concern. Any increase in viscosity (outside of the system limits) can lead to the system experiencing higher pressures. Conversely, any decrease in viscosity outside of the limits will not allow for the full transfer of power through the fluid.
Water content (ASTM D6304) – Too much water in a system is always a bad thing (except in a swimming pool). In particular, if the water content starts trending upwards of 500 ppm, the source of water ingression should be found and eliminated at once. This can hinder the transmission of power in the system, making it less efficient.

Testing and Analyzing Hydraulic Oil Composition

Presence of wear metals (ASTM D5185-05) – These values will differ depending on the system in which the hydraulic oil is being operated. It would be a good idea to contact the OEM about the limits for the wear metals for your system to ensure that no irregular wear is occurring. The presence of these wear metals may also act as catalysts for other reactions, potentially leading to the degradation of the oil.
Particle Count (ISO 4406) – This also depends on your system, as varying levels of cleanliness are typically aligned with different systems. However, with hydraulic systems, there is usually some guidance on the tolerance levels. The presence of these particles can hamper the transmission of power in the system or block clearances.

Specialty tests for hydraulic oils also exist. These include tests for monitoring antiwear and extreme pressure, foaming, or oxidation stability characteristics of the oil. For determining the antiwear or extreme pressure properties, tests such as the Vickers Vane pump test, 4 Ball test, and FZG rating test can be used.

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Oil Properties

Chemical Composition of Hydraulic Oil

Due to the unique nature of hydraulic oils, they are formulated differently from other oils. Typically, it follows the regular oil formulation of Base oil + additive to give the finished product. However, many various combinations occur depending on the application for which it is being formulated.

Base Oils Used in Hydraulic Oil

Similar to other oils, any base oil can be used to create hydraulic oils. However, depending on the application in which it is being used, the type of base oil will differ. The following table gives a summary of the types of base oils used for various hydraulic oils.

Table 1. Summary of the types of base oils used in various hydraulic oils

Additives in Hydraulic Oil

Generally, hydraulic oils are composed of 95-98% base oil and roughly 2-5% additives. One major distinction of hydraulic oils is that they can be either zinc-containing or zinc-free (also known as ashless). The ZnDTP molecule is responsible for antiwear properties, but this does not mean that zinc-free oils do not contain some form of antiwear additive.

Zinc-free oils are formulated with no zinc and minimal concentrations of phosphorus and sulphur. These zinc-free oils are formulated for special applications where the presence of zinc could react negatively with the environment, such as equipment containing mixed metals or silver.

There are other additives used for hydraulic oils, which are classified as either surface-active additives or base-oil-active additives.

Surface-active additives include steel/iron corrosion inhibitors, rust inhibitors, metal deactivators, wear inhibitors, friction modifiers, and detergents or dispersants.

Base active additives include: antioxidants, defoamers, VI Improvers, and pour point improvers.

Common Contaminants in Hydraulic Oil

Hydraulic systems are known for very tight clearances. As such, any form of physical contaminant can easily clog the valves or lines, leading to system failure. Keeping hydraulic oils clean is of paramount importance. Figure 6 illustrates typical clearances for hydraulic components, as well as the film thickness for various components.

The contaminants that exist in hydraulic systems can be either internally generated or externally consumed. Typically, dirt from external sources or metal wear (internally generated) form the major contaminants for hydraulic oils.

Figure 6: Hydraulic component clearances and film thickness adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

Figure 7. Cleanliness categories for various components adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

However, they are also susceptible to gaseous or liquid contaminants that can enter the system through system processes or external factors during oil handling before it enters the system. Figure 7 shows some cleanliness categories for various components.

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Oil Properties

Types of Hydraulic Oil

There are many types of hydraulic oils due to the number of applications in which hydraulics are used. Generally, they can be classified as shown in Figure 2.

There isn’t just one type of hydraulic oil. Depending on the application, different standards are associated with each type. The two main groups are hydrostatic applications and hydrodynamic/hydrokinetic applications.

The hydrodynamic applications mainly include ATFs (Automatic Transmission Fluids).

On the other hand, for the hydrostatic applications, the mobile systems refer to UTTO (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil) and STUO (Super Tractor Universal Oil).

These hydrostatic applications can be further categorized into mineral oil-based hydraulic fluids, fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, environmentally acceptable hydraulic fluids, and food-grade lubricants. Each of these has its associated standards and regulations.

Figure 2. Classification of hydraulic fluids – overview, adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

For Mineral oil-based hydraulic fluids, there are different classifications, as shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3. Classifications of mineral-based hydraulic oils adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

For fire-resistant oils, their classifications include those shown in Figure 4 below.

Figure 4. Fire-resistant hydraulic classifications adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

For Environmentally Acceptable lubricants (particularly water-free, rapidly biodegradable hydraulic fluids), their classifications are shown in Figure 5 below.

Figure 5. Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants adapted from (Mang & Dresel, 2007)

For food-grade lubricants, their classifications include:

NSF H1 – These are colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and are certified for incidental contact with food
NSF H2 – These are lubricants that can be used in food processing, but only where there is no contact with food.

(Other categories of NSF grades exist, but these do not apply directly to hydraulic oils.)

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Oil Properties

What is Hydraulic Oil?

Hydraulic systems are used to transmit force from one point to another via a fluid. This fluid is usually hydraulic oil, and the concept is based on Pascal’s law. Hydraulics are present in nearly all industries and play a critical role in enhancing operational efficiency. In this article, we will take a deep dive into hydraulic oils and explore them in more detail.

What is Hydraulic Oil?

One of the primary functions of hydraulic oil is to transmit power or energy. However, this is not its only function.

Some of its primary functions include:

Transferring pressure and motion energy
Transferring forces and moments when used as a lubricant
Minimization of wear to sliding surfaces under boundary friction conditions
Minimization of friction
Protection of components against corrosion (ferrous and non-ferrous metals)
Dissipation of heat
Suitability for a wide range of temperatures, good viscosity-temperature behavior
Prolonging the life of machinery

However, hydraulic oils also have secondary and tertiary functions.

Some of the secondary characteristics of hydraulic oils include high aging stability, good thermal stability, inertness to materials, compatibility with metals and elastomers, good air separation, low foaming, good filterability, good water release, good shear stability (in the case of non-Newtonian fluids), and more.

On the other hand, some of the tertiary characteristics include low evaporation due to low vapor pressure, toxicologically harmless, ecologically safe, and low flammability (fire resistance), all of which depend on how the fluid is formulated.

Figure 1. History of Hydraulics as per Hard Chrome Specialists

History of Hydraulic Oil

The principle of hydraulics has been around for a very long time. In fact, according to Hard Chrome Specialists, it may even date back to around 6000 BC, when ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians used water for irrigation. Fast forward to the modern day, where hydraulics have been heavily influenced by Blaise Pascal, Joseph Bramah, Daniel Bernoulli, and William George Armstrong. A snapshot is shown in Figure 1 below.

Importance of Hydraulic Oil

Hydraulics forms part of the field of fluid technology, which can be further subdivided into hydrostatics and hydrodynamics.

For hydrostatic systems, the transfer of energy requires static pressure; hence, the pressure is high, but the flow rate is low. Fluids designed for these applications are known as hydraulic oils.

For hydrodynamic systems, the kinetic energy of the flowing fluid is utilized, resulting in low pressure but high flow rates. Fluids designed for these applications are known as power transmission oils.

As explained earlier, Pascal’s law forms the basis of hydraulics. Using the principle of the hydrostatic displacement machine, Pascal’s Law states that, “Pressure applied anywhere to a body of fluid causes a force to be transmitted equally in all directions. The force acts at right angles to any surface within or in contact with the fluid”.

Hydraulic systems utilize hydraulic oils to transmit power or energy to other applications, making them the second most crucial group of oils, after engine oils, due to their widespread use. As a result of their primary application, they can help save energy, reduce maintenance intervals and wear, increase machine life, and overall provide users with significant savings.

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Automotive / Oil Properties / Strategic Tips

The Evolution of Engine Oil

History of Engine Oil

Over time, engine oils have undergone significant evolution. Initially, there were only monograde oils, which had to be replaced seasonally. During the summertime, one oil could withstand the higher temperatures, and during the winter months, another oil was designed for those cold starts. This eventually led to the multigrade revolution, which allowed for the best of both worlds.

As we transitioned from monograde to multigrade, developments in the base oil sector continued, and we saw the rise of Group II mineral base oils. This eventually led to increased the production of Group III base oils and the development of their “hybrid” or Group III+ counterparts, which exhibit quasi-synthetic traits. As we evolved, introducing synthetic base oils as first fills for cars also became a new trend.

We have also seen the transition of straight mineral oils (50 or 60 weight) go down to 0W-16, unfathomable 20 years ago. The introduction of high-mileage oils was also a significant change in the industry, as cars became older, but owners needed to preserve their engines.

Over time, OEMs developed more specific standards as they designed their engines with greater precision, smaller spaces, and higher horsepower. One such standard is the BMW LL04 oils, which are fully synthetic and branded as long-life oils. This standard did not exist 50 years ago!

Improvements in Oil Technologies

Oil technologies have undergone significant improvements over the years. From refined base stocks to more balanced additives that consider the full impact of the oil, technology continues to improve. Technologies were forced to improve as OEMs made engine sizes smaller and more compact, but placed the oil under more stress. As such, oil manufacturers had to develop new methods to address more complex oil handling issues.

Shift Towards Synthetic Oils

Synthetic oils offered a solution that provided longer oil life and withstood harsher conditions compared to mineral oils. These oils provided the protection needed by more modern engines. Today, many auto manufacturers explicitly state that they prefer the use of fully synthetic oils in their engines for the entire lifetime of the vehicle.

Future of Engine Oil

Gasoline and diesel engines are likely to remain in use for quite some time. They won’t be coming off the market soon, as it would require 80% of the car population to have an early retirement. The spin-off to this is that car owners would also have to make significantly large investments in new vehicles.

We are witnessing the rise of alternative fuel engines, such as methanol and hydrogen, which are gradually making their way into mainstream areas. Even if it’s a new fuel source for engines, one thing that will not change is the need for moving parts. In any engine, there will always be moving parts that require some form of lubricant to reduce the friction, heat, and wear that can be generated.

Therefore, there will always be the need for lubricants, it’s just that the application and type may change or evolve over time.

Impact of Electric Vehicles on the Engine Oil Industry

One of the major developments in the automotive industry was the introduction of electric vehicles. However, one may argue that this concept has been around for more than 50 years; however, it has only recently entered the market due to an increase in manufacturing capability.

Many oil suppliers initially thought that this was the end of passenger car motor oils since the main “engine” was now an electric motor. However, this just changed the mode of lubrication to more grease applications for this part of the vehicle.

While electric vehicles are expected to continue growing in various markets, we can anticipate a decline in the volume of engine oil consumed. However, this does not mean that the innovation with engine oils will stop. More likely than not, it will continue as engine manufacturers are pushed to greater limits regarding carbon emissions and other stringent regulations.

References

American Petroleum Institute. (2023). API 1509 – Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System – Annex F. Washington: API Publishing Services.

American Petroleum Institute. (2025, January 18). API’s Motor Oil Guide. Retrieved from American Petroleum Institute: https://www.api.org/-/media/Files/Certification/Engine-Oil-Diesel/Publications/Motor%20Oil%20Guide%201020.pdf

American Petroleum Institute. (2025, January 18). Engine Oil Licensing & Certification System (EOLCS). Retrieved from American Petroleum Institute: https://www.api.org/products-and-services/engine-oil

Gulf Oil Lubricants. (2025, January 19). Your guide for using and disposing of Car oil. Retrieved from Gulf Oil Blog: https://me.gulfoilltd.com/en/blog/your-guide-for-using-and-disposing-of-engine-oil

Mathura, S. (2023, March 26). Oil Viscosity: A Practical Guide. Retrieved from Precision Lubrication Magazine: https://precisionlubrication.com/articles/oil-viscosity/

Motorway. (2025, January 18). How many different car brands are there? Retrieved from motorway: https://motorway.co.uk/sell-my-car/guides/how-many-different-car-brands-are-there

Sinclair Group. (2025, January 19). Do I need to top up my Audi’s engine oil. Retrieved from Sinclair Group: https://www.sinclairgroup.co.uk/news/audi-engine-oil/

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, January 19). Managing Used Oil: Answers to Frequent Questions for Businesses. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/hw/managing-used-oil-answers-frequent-questions-businesses

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, January 19). Managing, Reusing, and Recycling Used Oil. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/recycle/managing-reusing-and-recycling-used-oil

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Automotive / Oil Properties / Storage & Handling of Lubricants / Storage and Handling / Strategic Tips

How to Properly Dispose of Used Engine Oil

Changing our motor oil is important and must be done regularly, but how do we dispose of the used oil in a safe and environmentally friendly manner? Approximately 42 gallons of crude oil are required to produce 0.5 gallons of new oil for lubricants. However, only one gallon of used oil needs to be converted into 0.5 gallons of new oil.

Hence, recycling used oil significantly reduces the number of resources required to produce new oil. There are numerous benefits to recycling used oil, which can help in the fight against declining resources. Let’s dive into this a bit more.

How to Properly Dispose of Used Engine Oil

Environmental Impact of Improper Disposal

When motor oil reaches the end of its life, it can become contaminated with harmful pollutants, which can negatively impact the environment if improperly disposed of. Some of these can be toxic to plants, and it only takes the used oil from one oil change to contaminate one million gallons of fresh water! Therefore, we need to be mindful of the disposal of our oils.

Used motor oil can typically contain metal fillings (from engine wear), chemicals from by-products, and possibly fuel. Improper disposal, especially into waterways, can disrupt the supply of clean drinking water for many people. If this used oil seeps into the soil, it could also contaminate the water table and negatively impact plants and, by extension, humans who may consume these plants at some point.

Laws and Regulations for Disposing of Oil

The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) provides guidelines in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically CFR part 279, regarding the disposal of used oil. In the UAE, there are strict guidelines for the disposal of used oil; otherwise, individuals may face severe fines and legal action. These used oils should never be poured down drains, onto the ground, or into bodies of water.

Community Recycling Programs

Some communities have a local collection point for used motor oils, which they then take to the larger refineries. This way, a larger volume of oil is collected and recycled by the refineries.

Tips for Safe and Responsible Oil Disposal

Motor oils contain 30% additives; therefore, mixing them with other used oils may not be the best option for those trying to recycle them. Ideally, these oils can be reconditioned (where they are cleaned up) or re-refined (where they are reused as base stock). Collecting your used motor oil in a clean container and taking it to your local recycling facility, where it will be properly disposed of.

Some facilities may burn it to process it for energy recovery, using it as fuel after removing the water and contaminants. One gallon of used oil processed for fuel contains about 140,000 British thermal Units (Btus) of energy. Regardless of the method you choose to dispose of your used motor oil, ensure you do not harm the environment.

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Automotive / Oil Properties / Strategic Tips

Understanding the Different Engine Oil Change Intervals

At the beginning of this article, we reiterated that there are more than 5000 models of engines that exist. Every engine was built to different specifications, but they all provide the user with the ability to move the vehicle. With different manufacturers, there will also be varying oil specifications for each model, including the recommended oil change intervals. Let’s look at some of those.

Factors Affecting Oil Change Frequency

Lubricants are designed for certain conditions; however, if those conditions are exceeded, then the lubricant can degrade at a faster rate. For instance, if the driver frequently starts and stops or experiences prolonged periods of idling, these patterns can stress the oil more quickly, causing it to degrade.

Understanding the Different Engine Oil Change Intervals

If the fuel quality is not as expected, it may also contribute to the oil degrading more quickly. In such cases, users may opt for shorter oil change intervals to ensure their engine remains protected.

Another factor affecting the frequency of oil changes is the quality of the oil used. Typically, synthetic oils may have longer oil change intervals than mineral oils. However, there are some cases where the manufacturers advise the same interval length, whether mineral or synthetic.

Using Oil Analysis to Determine Engine Oil Life

There are instances where the oil drain interval can be extended beyond the manufacturer’s recommended interval. However, this must be done with guidance from a lab while utilizing oil analysis. Typically, some applications do not utilize the additives in the oil as quickly and may not require the regular oil change interval; instead, the oil remains healthy by the time it’s supposed to be discarded.

This can be considered a waste of resources. With oil analysis, one can monitor the health of the oil and determine if it is nearing the end of its useful life, allowing for informed decisions on whether to change it or not.

The Debate over Extended Oil Change Intervals

There will always be a debate over whether it is wise to extend the oil change intervals for equipment, as it goes against the manufacturer’s recommendations (or, in some cases, this could void the warranty). However, just as with blood testing (or condition monitoring for oil), close monitoring allows us to justify the outcomes of extending the intervals.

Some of the benefits of extending the intervals include reduced manpower, allowing staff to perform other critical duties, a reduction in oil consumption and its disposal, as well as reduced downtime for maintenance. One can also include the reduction of safety risk depending on the application. These all add up in the end, and the benefits of safely extending the intervals may outweigh remaining at the recommended intervals.

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Automotive / Oil Properties / Strategic Tips

Benefits of Using the Right Engine Oil

As we’ve covered in this article, various types of engines require different levels of performance, and engine oils have been specifically designed for these conditions. Hence, it becomes critical to select the right engine oil for your engine. But what are some of the benefits of selecting the right oil?

Improved Fuel Efficiency

Firstly, the primary purpose of a lubricant is to reduce friction between contacting surfaces. By reducing the friction, a smaller amount of energy is required to perform the same amount of work. Overall, this leads to a more efficient system.

When we’re talking about engines, fuel is also required to produce energy for the engine to work. As engine oils have become more advanced, they have enabled significant improvements in fuel efficiency for many engines. This is one of the requirements in the API service categories. By selecting the incorrect viscosity of oil or type of oil for your vehicle, you can negatively impact the fuel efficiency, which in turn adds up to a higher fuel bill at the end of the month!

Longer Engine Life

The occurrence of wear is one of the most common challenges with engines. By using the correct oil (as recommended by the manufacturer), the viscosity of the oil is ideal for keeping the engine surfaces from touching, which can prevent wear.

Additionally, engine oils contain additives that can also help protect the oil and the engine’s components. Hence, with the right oil (as specified by your OEM), your engine will have the ideal conditions it needs to last longer compared to using an oil that does not provide the optimal protection.

Better Engine Performance

Engines were created with particular standards in mind. OEMs designed engines to withstand certain temperatures and conditions. These attributes are passed to lubricant suppliers who would design engine oils capable of withstanding and performing in these conditions. Using the recommended engine oil ensures better engine performance.

For instance, if the customer decides to use an API CK4 oil in their diesel engine but uses 500 ppm sulphur fuel, they can run the risk of poisoning their catalyst or damaging their aftertreatment devices. This would not lead to better engine performance! Therefore, it is essential to follow the OEM’s recommendations to achieve optimal engine performance.

Reduced Emissions

Many of the newer specified oils are designed to reduce emissions. However, the older spec oils were not developed with reducing emissions in mind. Hence, using an older-specification oil (API SL) in a vehicle manufactured in 2024 may not necessarily help reduce emissions. On the other hand, the API SP oil is designed with enhanced emission control in mind, making it ideal for reducing emissions.

Enhanced Lubrication and Protection

If we recall the straw example from earlier in this article, we will realize that engines have been designed for specific lubricants, both in terms of viscosity and additive packages. By using the recommended lubricants, we can ensure that our engines receive the necessary protection and have the correct amount of lubrication to prevent wear. Use lubricants specifically designed for your engine to ensure enhanced lubrication and protection.

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