Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd 17 Yulong Close Moorebank NSW 2170Freecall: 1800 679 922

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Engine Oils The Facts

The information in this fact sheet is to provide an understanding into engine oils and clarify some facts about

engine oils. There is some confusion surrounding engine oils as the industry has adopted its own terminology

which makes sharing of knowledge very difficult.

The indusTry ConTrolling organisaTionThere are several organisations that control the lube oil industry globally, but Australia predominantly follows

the US and European systems. The most predominant organisations are

API -AmericanPetroleumInstitute

SAE -SocietyofAutomotiveEngineers

ACEA -AssociationdesConstructeursEuropeensdAutomobiles

JASO -JapaneseAutomotiveStandardsOrganisation

ASTM -AmericanSocietyforTestingandMaterials

OEMs -OriginalEquipmentManufacturers

Ever changing requirements by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), governments and environmental

organisations are the catalysts for changes in engine oil requirements and specifications.

OEMs, API, SAE and ACEA establish new engine oil specifications for new generation engines. The ASTM and

OEMs develop test procedures to ensure the new specifications meet these requirements. All lubricants must

pass specific tests prior to claiming a particular performance category.

ENgINE OILS ThE FACTSFact Sheet 103

Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd 17 Yulong Close Moorebank NSW 2170Freecall: 1800 679 922

www.nulon.com.auinfo@nulon.com.au

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Fact Sheet 103Engine Oils The Facts

how To beTTer undersTand The informaTion provided on a label Let us examine the information typically found on a label of an engine oil

bottle. If we look at the numbers and letters on a bottle, for example SAE

10W-40 API SM/CF these all relate to specific important information.

Breaking the information down, the short phrase of SAE 10W-40 API

SM/CF expands into much larger key point of information. Lets look at

each abbreviation:

SAE SocietyofAutomotiveEngineers

API AmericanPetroleumInstitute

10W (Winter) Meetingthelowtemperatureviscometricprofileof10Wgradeoil (temperature relating tobelowzerodegrees.

Forexample10Wwouldbemeasuredat-25C)

40 Meeting the hot viscometric profile of 40 grade oil(operatingtemperatureofanenginemeasuredat100C)

SM Service,petrolengineperformancespecification

CF Commercial,dieselengineperformancespecification

To explain further:

S designates Service Oils, i.e. automotive gasoline/petrol engines

M specifies the particular performance category for petrol engines

C designates Commercial Oils, i.e. diesel engines

F specifies the particular performance category for diesel engines

So, SM/CF indicates that, according to the API, this particular oil is suited

for use in both petrol and diesel engines of specific types.

SAE10W-40

This relates to the viscosity (measurement of resistance to flow) of the oil.

In this instance the oil is a multi-grade engine oil, in other words, the oil

is suited to a range of operating temperatures. 10W relates to the low

temperature viscosity, i.e. the oil is thin at low temperatures to facilitate

cold starting. The 40 part of the number relates to the oils ability to

retain its viscosity at elevated operating temperatures.

This very simply describes the basics of defining an oils recommended use

and suitability for a particular engine at certain operating temperatures.

NOTE: Always follow manufacturers oil recommendations.

Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd 17 Yulong Close Moorebank NSW 2170Freecall: 1800 679 922

www.nulon.com.auinfo@nulon.com.au

www.nulon.com.au

Fact Sheet 103Engine Oils The Facts

primary funCTions of moTor oils To provide a fluid (flexible) film to separate moving components

To dissipate heat

To clean engine components

major ComponenTs of an engine oilBase Oil Mineralandsynthetic(GroupI,II,III,IVandV)

Viscosity Index Improver Longchainpolymerwhichconvertsamono-gradeoil toamulti-gradeoilandreducesoilviscositychange

Friction Modifiers Usuallyfattyacids,reducesfriction&wear

Anti-wear additives Zinc,reduceswearonhighlyloadedenginecomponents

Detergent Metallicsoaps,helpscleanandkeepengineclean

Dispersants Esters,helptokeepparticulatesinsuspensionforentrapmentbythefilteroruntiltheoilisdrained

Corrosion Inhibitors Zincbased,stopscorrosion

Anti-oxidant Zincorsulphurbased,reducestheoxidationprocess,therebyincreasingtheengineoilsservicelife

Anti-foam Silicone,suppressesfoamingtendencyofengineoil

The real faCTs Australians traditionally are of the opinion that our conditions are tougher than anywhere else in the world so

we need a thick, gutsy oil to provide protection. This is absolute incorrect. We are fortunate in that we can

use the same viscosity oil all year round where Europe and North America experiences extreme temperature

conditions and often have to change oil grades depending on the time of year. Modern multigrade engine

oils like 0W-40 are formulated to flow at very cold ambient temperature (-35C) and operate at hot ambient

temperatures of above 40C.

Many people believe high viscosity oils offer a greater level of protection and reduced oil consumption. The

facts are:

A higher viscosity oil takes longer to circulate and provides minimal protection on initial start-up as it takes

longer to circulate especially in a cold environment.

A very high viscosity engine oil takes longer to be picked up by the oil pump, which may result in severe

engine damage over time.

More energy is consumed to overcome the higher viscosity resulting in increased fuel consumption and

increased operating oil temperatures.

As high viscosity oils are more resistant to flow, oil does not return to the sump as quickly for cooling.

It is true that a higher viscosity oil produces higher oil pressure, but pressure in excess of engine design

requirements is of no significance or benefit.

Nulon Products Australia Pty Ltd 17 Yulong Close Moorebank NSW 2170Freecall: 1800 679 922

www.nulon.com.auinfo@nulon.com.au

www.nulon.com.au

Fact Sheet 103Engine Oils The Facts

engine oil qualiTyThe quality of blended engine oil depends on the base oil, quality and quantity of the additive package and the

viscosity index improver. Refer to the manufacturers recommendation and ensure engine oils meet or exceed

that recommendation. Engine oil must meet the performance levels and physical properties of the OEM and

relevant organisations such as API, SAE and ACEA.

synTheTiC versus mineralAlthough synthetic engine oils are usually more expensive by comparison to mineral engine oils the longer term

benefits are far more beneficial. Quite simply, synthetic oils are better in all respects than mineral-based oils.

Synthetics are more stable across a broader temperature range.

Synthetic engine oils perform better over a longer period

Synthetic engine oils have minimal change in viscosity over the performance life of the oil.

Synthetic oils allow a wider temperature range at higher and lower temperature extremes.

Synthetic oils do break down but at a lower rate compared to conventional engine oils.

engine oil drain inTervals

ACOMMOnqUESTIOnASkEdISWhATISThECOrrECTEnGInEOILdrAInInTErVALFOrMyVEhICLE?.

Most modern vehicle manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals

from 10,000 km to 15,000 km. These long drain intervals can be

achieved under ideal driving conditions but stop-start and long idling

driving are considered as severe driving condition. The use of a

synthetic engine oil would be the correct choice for these long drain

intervals as synthetic engine oils perform better over a longer period

and have minimal change in viscosity over this period. Shortening

the oil drain interval to suit the driving conditions is also ideal as

changing oil is a cost effective form of engine insurance ensuring

maximum durability and life of an engine.

summary When it comes to engine oil, always follow the manufacturers

recommendation and choose a good quality product like Nulon

thats backed by years of global research.