When you search “Does engine oil increase fuel efficiency,” you might find different answers—some say it helps, while others say it doesn’t. To clear things up, let’s see how engine oil can affect fuel economy.
First, let’s look at how an engine works. When you start your car, fuel burns inside the engine, making gases that push the pistons up and down. This movement changes fuel energy into power that makes your car go.
How Engine Oil Affects Car Emissions?
When your car’s engine runs, it releases gases like carbon dioxide and water vapour into the air. These emissions can sometimes show if something is wrong with your vehicle. Here’s how engine oil can make a difference:
Reduced Emissions
Too much friction between the moving parts in the engine can make the engine work harder and produce fewer gases.
Increased Emissions
If the engine overheats or there isn’t enough oil to keep things running smoothly, it can cause the car to release more gases.
Fuel efficiency tells us how well the energy from the fuel turns into power for the wheels. Here’s how the proper engine oil can help with this:
Lubrication
Car motor oil creates a thin layer between the engine parts that move. This layer helps the parts move smoothly by reducing friction.
Engine Cleanliness
Engine oil has special chemicals that clean the engine and stop gunk (sludge) from building up. Sludge can block the oil passages and make it harder for the engine to work correctly.
Heat
Engine oil helps cool the engine down. When the engine gets hot, the gases inside expand. The oil helps eliminate these extra gases and some of the additional heat.
So, does engine oil make your car use less fuel? It doesn’t improve the fuel economy but helps keep it from worsening.
Understanding the Parts
Learning more about each part is helpful once you know how the system works.
Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC)
The DOC is the first part and works like a special filter for diesel engines. It has a honeycomb shape that helps clean the gases coming out of the engine.
The DOC works best at high temperatures. At about 400 degrees, it changes 20% of harmful gases into safe ones. At 900 degrees, it changes almost 90% of them. The best temperature is around 700 degrees because higher temperatures can create other problems.
High levels of sulphur in the fuel can damage the DOC, so diesel fuel needs to have deficient sulphur. Also, the DOC works best when the engine is hot. If the engine often idles or runs with low power, the DOC can get clogged with soot and won’t work either.
Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
The DPF comes after the DOC and works like another filter. Its job is to burn off any leftover particles that got past the DOC. This burning process is called regeneration.
The DPF has sensors to know when it needs to clean itself. Usually, this happens when the engine is working hard. If the exhaust temperature is between 527 and 680 degrees, it can burn off the soot. If that doesn’t work, the DPF does a forced cleaning, using extra diesel fuel to get temperatures above 1,000 degrees.
If the DOC gets too clogged with carbon, it can affect the DPF’s cleaning. Regular forced cleanings help keep the DOC clear. Over time, the DPF will collect ash that can’t be burned off and need cleaning.
Too much ash can make the engine work poorly and cause damage to the turbocharger. When you service the DPF, cleaning the DOC is also a good idea.
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Catalyst
After the DOC and DPF have done their job, the SCR catalyst handles the last step: turning harmful nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen. The system needs a special liquid called DEF (refined urea) to do this.
The DEF is mixed with the cleaned exhaust and passes over another particular catalyst. This turns the nitrogen compounds into harmless nitrogen that can safely go into the air.
The SCR system doesn’t need much maintenance but needs enough DEF to work well. If the DEF level is too low, the engine will run poorly until you refill it. DEF is similar to urea used in farming but is much purer. Using the wrong kind of urea can damage the SCR catalyst, which can’t be cleaned or fixed easily. If it breaks, it has to be replaced.
How Different Engine Oils Affect Emissions?
Since we know engine oil affects emissions, you might wonder if the type of oil makes a difference. The answer is yes! Different types of oil can change the amount of gases and particles that come out of the engine.
Conventional Oil’s Effect on Emissions
Conventional motor oil is made by refining crude oil. How clean the oil is depends on how well it’s refined. If the oil has impurities, it can block the oil tubes and increase emissions. Also, conventional oil tends to have a higher viscosity index (VI), which can lead to more emissions.
Synthetic Oil’s Effect on Emissions
Synthetic engine oils are made in labs, not from crude oil. This process results in fewer impurities, which helps keep the engine cleaner. Synthetic oils have a lower viscosity index (VI), which can help your car use less fuel and make fewer emissions.
How Emissions Affect Us?
Choosing the right engine oil is essential for your car and the environment. Car emissions pollute the air and increase carbon dioxide, a significant cause of global warming and climate change.
Harmful emissions can also be bad for your health. When your car releases toxic gases, you and everyone around you breathe them in. This can lead to health problems, especially for people with breathing issues, and affect your family and others nearby.
Bottom Line
Before you buy engine oil for your car, check all its features. Using the right oil helps your car, family, and neighbours.
It’s also a good choice for a better future for the next generations. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations because synthetic oil isn’t always the best choice for every car.
Want your car to run better and help the environment? Fubex Lubricants has the correct engine oils to keep your vehicle in great shape and reduce harmful gases. Pick Fubex for high-quality oil for your car. Checkout our products today and make a difference!
FAQs
Q1: What happens if I use the wrong oil in a diesel engine?
Ans: You should never use regular oil in a diesel engine. Diesel engines need special oil, and using the wrong type can damage the engine. Always use the oil the manufacturer recommends to keep your engine running smoothly, and have a professional mechanic handle the oil changes.
Q2: Are there specific warning signs or symptoms that indicate incorrect diesel engine oil use affecting emission control systems?
Ans: If you think the wrong oil was used in your car, look for these signs. You might see leaks, hear strange noises like tapping or knocking, or smell something burning. Your vehicle might use more fuel, have trouble starting in cold weather, or show warning lights on the dashboard.
Q3: How can I make my engine work better and reduce pollution?
Ans: You can use particular technologies like Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). These help your engine run better and produce less pollution. By treating the exhaust, SCR helps reduce harmful gases, while EGR sends some exhaust gases back into the engine to lower pollution.
