It is really crucial to always fill your car with the right engine oil to ensure your engine runs properly. Your body requires blood in itself, and your car requires oil so that none of its interior gears and bolts grind against each other, thus wearing out.
Like any other product, there are various types of engine oil, but in this guide, we will focus on two, namely Diesel and gasoline engine oil. As to which one among the two should be used, this will assist in maintaining your car and make it last longer.
Importance of Engine Oil
The best fluid that one can be sure will keep a car’s engine in the best condition is the engine oil. Earlier, people used friction to make fire; on the other hand, now, the same amount of friction inside an engine is very damaging.
The parts of the engine are steel, and they are extremely close to each other. They run very hot and because they are always in motion, they require something that can help to minimize friction between them.
The majority of engine oils are made from oil that is drilled from the ground. First, refineries strip crude oil of a liquid known as base oils. They then blend it with other chemicals to get the engine oil that safeguards and coats the engine.
Understanding Engine Oil Standards
When you choose engine oil, you should look at the product standards. These tell you what type of engine the oil is for (diesel or gasoline), how well it works, and if it’s good for your car. Here’s what you need to know about the three main standards for engine oils:
ACEA Oil Standard
This standard comes from a group of car manufacturers in Europe. It uses a letter and a number (like A1) to show the oil’s quality. The letter tells you what type of engine it’s for:
- A: For gasoline engines.
- B: For diesel engines in regular cars.
- C: For light engines with special filters.
- E: For trucks and commercial vehicles.
The number shows how well the oil performs—the higher the number, the better the oil.
SAE Oil Standard
This standard tells you about how thick the oil is, which is called viscosity. You’ll see it written like this on the bottle: 00w00. The number on the left shows how the oil works when it’s cold. A lower number means it works better in cold weather. The number on the right shows how it works when it’s hot. A higher number means it works better when it’s hot.
API Oil Standard
This standard comes from the American Petroleum Institute. It classifies oil based on how well it cleans and protects your engine. It uses two letters: S for gasoline engines and C for diesel engines.
The second letter tells you how good the oil is—the further along in the alphabet, the better the oil. For example, SN oil is better than SH oil.
To find out what oil you need for your car, check your owner’s manual. You can also look at our engine oil catalog to find the best oil for your vehicle.
Role of Engine Oil in Engines
Engine oil is the life of the car engine, just like the blood is to the human body. This greatly assists the parts of the engine to slide without causing any abrasion or wear on the other.
It also helps to remove dirt or dust from the engine and pass it to another safer and distant location. There are so many roles of engine oil to ensure that the engine works well. Here are the main ones:
Lubrication
Its main function is actually to coat or to make slippery some of the parts of the engine that are prone to friction. This makes them not wear out very quickly.
Cooling
This is because the engines have fuel, and the parts touch each other when operating; specifically, they generate heat. The engine oil has the role of carrying some of the heat away in order to cool the engine. Works with the coolant, which can only cool some components of the engine.
Cleaning
Engine oil also has the function of cleaning the engine. Little particles of soot or other debris coming from burning fuels can accumulate inside it. The oil takes these to the oil filter, where they are caught so as not to create havoc.
Protecting from Rust
After the fuel has burned, it produces some acids that lead to rust formations within the engines. There are measures that engines lubricate slow-rust, but it is as a result of the wear and tear that engine oil undergoes, hence requiring frequent replacement.
Sealing
Engine oil also looks for clearance between highly rubbing surfaces, which means pistons and cylinders. Such continues to ensure that everything runs as it should.
Important to Remember: You must always make sure to look at your oil levels and replace your oil if necessary. If you don’t, then the oil will not function well, and your engine may incur some harm.
Types of Engine Oils
There are four kinds of engine oil:
- Conventional oil: This is made from crude oil and chemicals This is made from crude oil and chemicals. This is the most widely found and least expensive oil to utilize within the enclosed spaces of automobiles.
- Synthetic Oil: This oil is specially formulated to be much cleaner and has a longer lifespan. It works better than other machines in most cars but comes at a higher price. Some vehicles can’t be compatible with it and, therefore, should be used with caution.
- Synthetic Blend Oil: This means it is a blend of both conventional oil and synthetic oil. It’s good for cars that have to work hard, such as towing or off-road vehicles. It’s also not too expensive.
- High-Mileage Oil: This oil is for older cars. Its unique additions enable it to safeguard engines with high mileage.
As one will come to see, each oil has its advantages and disadvantages. Some automobiles call for a single type of oil. It is also advisable to read the car manual in order to understand which oil is right for your car’s particular engine.
Key Differences Between Diesel and Gasoline Engine Oils
Gasoline engines and diesel engine oils are made by mixing base oils with special chemicals called additives to help them work well. But they are different in a few ways.
- Viscosity (Thickness): Viscosity is how thick or thin the oil is. It’s very important to get the right thickness for your engine.
- Diesel engine oil is thicker and flows better in cold weather than gasoline oil. If you put diesel oil in a gasoline engine, it could cause problems like making too much heat or wearing out the engine parts faster.
- Additives (Extra Chemicals): Additives are important chemicals added to engine oils. Diesel engine oil has more additives to handle the strong pressure in diesel engines. But if you put these extra chemicals in gasoline engine oil, it can hurt the engine’s performance and make it lose power.
- Oil Change Time: Different oils need to be changed at different times. Diesel engine oil lasts longer because of its extra additives, so you don’t need to change it as often as gasoline engine oil.
- Catalytic Converter & Pollution: A catalytic converter is a part of the car that helps clean the engine’s harmful gasses before they go into the air.
- Diesel oil has more chemicals to stop engine wear, and diesel catalytic converters can handle this. But gasoline engines aren’t built for that, so using diesel oil in a gasoline engine can damage the catalytic converter. That’s why it’s not safe to use diesel oil in a gasoline engine.
How to Choose the Right Engine Oil?
When choosing engine oil, you need to know what type you need. There are three main kinds:
- Mineral Oil: This oil is made from regular oil that comes from the ground.
- Synthetic Oil: This oil is made from special chemicals and is designed to work really well.
- Semi-Synthetic Oil: This is a mix of mineral oil and synthetic oil.
The thickness of the oil is called viscosity, which tells us how well the oil flows when it’s hot or cold.
What is Viscosity?
Viscosity is important because engines can get super hot, up to 400°C! You can find viscosity on the oil container, written like this: XXwYY.
- The number on the left (XX) shows how the oil works when it’s cold. A smaller number means the oil flows better in the cold.
- The number on the right (YY) shows how the oil works when it’s hot. A bigger number means the oil can handle higher temperatures better.
So, when you pick engine oil, make sure to check both the type and the viscosity!
Bottom Line
Using the right engine oil is super important to keep your car working its best. Diesel and gasoline engine oils are made for different types of engines, so it’s important to pick the right one.
Always check your car’s manual to know which oil is right for you. Remember, using the correct oil and changing it regularly will help prevent problems and keep your car on the road for a long time.
At Fubex Lubricants, we offer high-quality diesel and gasoline engine oils to keep your car’s engine running strong. Please choose the right oil today and give your car the protection it deserves!
FAQs
Q1: Can I use diesel engine oil in a gasoline engine?
Ans: If the diesel oil shows that it works for both diesel and gas engines, then it’s safe to use in both. But if it doesn’t have the “S” rating, you shouldn’t use it in gas engines. Always look at the label on the back to see what the oil is meant for.
Q2: What are the consequences of using the wrong type of engine oil for my vehicle?
Ans: Using the wrong engine oil can damage your engine because it won’t keep the parts slippery. When the parts aren’t slippery, they can rub against each other, which is called metal-on-metal contact. This rubbing creates friction, and friction makes the engine parts wear out quickly.
Q3: How often should I change my diesel engine oil compared to gasoline engine oil?
Ans: If you put too much oil in the engine, it can break. Most car companies say to change the oil once a year or every 20,000 kilometers for regular gas engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gas engines, you should change the oil every 6 months or every 10,000 kilometers.
