We are preparing the engine for the summer: what oil to fill in the summer in the engine
The products of various world and domestic brands are widely represented on the market of modern motor oils. There are three major groups, which includes products for:
- gasoline engines;
- diesel engines;
- universal motor oil for petrol and diesel internal combustion engines;
We also recommend reading the article about it, whether it is possible to mix motor oils. In this article you will learn about it, why mixing oils from different manufacturers and possible consequences for the engine is not recommended.
Also, oil options are divided into: summer, winter and all-season. This distribution depends on the viscosity class of the lubricant. Next we will consider, what properties and characteristics allow to carry this or that product to a certain class, and answer questions, how to choose oils for summer, winter, etc.. d.
Winter and summer engine oils: what are the differences
The main properties of motor oil depend on its base. The basis is the so-called "base". This is the basis, which also includes a package of special additives. The specified base oil may be mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic. Mineral is considered the most affordable option, while the period of preservation of useful properties during operation, as well as a number of other characteristics are at the lowest level. In accordance, semi-synthetics are an "intermediate" link between available "mineral" and expensive "synthetics".
As for the classification, the SAE system is generally accepted (classification of motor oils of the Society of Automotive Engineers of the USA). According to the SAE classification, information on the viscosity of the oil at high and low temperatures can be obtained, about the properties of fluidity, ability to pump, influence on engine start, etc.. d.
We also recommend reading the article about it, whether to use engine flushing before changing the oil. In this article you will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of this solution.
With that in mind, that any oil thickens at negative temperatures and thins when heated, traditionally divided into winter and summer oils. It turned out the following: summer car oils should be more viscous. These include lubricants, having a classification from SAE 20 to 60. The specified value indicates the viscosity. The larger the number, the more viscous the summer oil.
To the group of winter lubricants it is accepted to carry products on SAE with the following designation: from SAE 0W to SAE 20W. The letter W is abbreviated winter (from English. winter). In other words, example, SAE 15 W indicates that, that this oil is winter. As in the first, and in the second case, the number indicates the viscosity. The addition of the letter W is an indicator of viscosity at low temperatures, allowing you to pinpoint, what a summer oil, and which is winter.
All-season motor oils
Today, a clear division into oil for summer and winter has receded into the background. In other words, the need to change the working fluid of the lubrication system to take into account the warm or cold season has disappeared. This was made possible by the so-called all-season engine oil. As a result, some products only for summer or winter are now virtually non-existent.
All-season oil is marked from SAE 0W-30 or 0W-40 to SAE 20W-40 and t. P, being a kind of symbiosis of symbols of summer and winter oil. As you can see, there are two numbers in this notation, which determine the viscosity.
The first number indicates the viscosity at low temperatures, and the second on the viscosity at high. In parallel, this must be taken into account, that for different engines it is necessary to select products taking into account a number of factors, which we will discuss below.
How to choose a summer motor oil
To pour summer oil into the engine, you need to choose the most suitable option from the available all-season oils. This choice is made on the basis of viscosity at high temperatures, as well as taking into account the operating conditions of the vehicle. For a better understanding, let's look at the basic parameters of lubricants.
First of all, temperature fluctuations in the climatic zone should be taken into account. Let's start with winter. The lower the air temperature, the lower the value should be after the SAE label. Oils marked "0" (0W-30 or 0W-40) provide the engine with a confident start thanks to ease of turning of a cranked during strong frosts. This oil is well pumped, allowing the oil pump to quickly raise the pressure after starting and apply the oil to the loaded friction vapors. As a result, the life of the unit continues. Also, products with a similar designation effectively reduce friction inside the engine and minimize losses, which saves fuel.
At the same time in the conditions of high heating low-viscosity oils of this type become too "liquid". In other words, if the engine is actively operated under loads in the summer heat at an air temperature above 30 degrees Celsius, then the viscosity and the protective film created by the oil may not be sufficient. As a result, motorists are trying to find a more viscous oil.
Note, that the tolerances for the oils used for each engine are different. It is recommended to fill only those, which are on the whitelist. For this reason we will start from a conditional example taking into account a temperature range of use of all-season oils. Let's say, in the car engine the manufacturer of the manual recommends to fill the year SAE 5W-30 (from -25 ° to + 20 ° C). For the frosty winter it is possible to use in such internal combustion engine SAE 0W-30 (-30° to + 20 ° C), and for summer SAE 5W-40 (from -25 ° to + 35 ° C). It should be added, that the reason for the seasonal change of oil can be significant (close 10 degrees) and a constant deviation of the temperature from that specified in the characteristics of the lubricant. In other words, if SAE 5W-30 was flooded for the winter, at the same time on the street in the summer there is a constant heat +40 and more, then you can think about changing the material to an analogue with high viscosity.
Another indicator of oil change is rightly considered to be the degree of engine wear, ie its technical condition. Experienced drivers know well, that as the wear of the motor there is an increase in the gaps in the friction pairs. To "compensate" for such gaps, to reduce noise and extend the life of a worn-out unit, more viscous products must be added before repair. Increasing the viscosity allows you to create and maintain a normal pressure in the lubrication system.
It is most important to follow this recommendation in the summer. The point is, that in the warm period of the year the power unit heats up as much as possible during work. Let's add, that in summer the car is often operated at high speeds, that is, the motor spins more. Given these features, the transition is a common practice, example, from oil SAE 5W-30 on SAE 5W-40 after 100-150 thousand. km mileage. If your engine is worn out, that is, passed about half of its planned resource, then it makes sense to change the viscosity of the oil to an even higher value (SAE 15W-40, SAE 20W-40, etc.. d.).
Let's summarize
The above information allows us to argue, that separate summer or winter oil is not available today. For this reason it is necessary to start from indicators of viscosity of all-season oils in relation to plus and minus temperatures..
Another important criterion when choosing can be considered a basic basis, as stability of all characteristics of mineral oil considerably concedes to qualitative synthetics. In other words, Synthetic oil with lower viscosity can better protect the engine in summer compared to more viscous cheap "mineral water".
When choosing a lubricant should take into account the operating conditions of the vehicle, features of climate, as well as the degree of forcing of the power unit. It is possible, that it would be wise to dwell on one all-season motor oil according to SAE, which is recommended by the manufacturer for a specific type of engine. At the same time it is enough to change it more often, than to make a constant transition from less viscous oil to more viscous analogues before the onset of summer.
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