SYSTEMS
ENGINE OIL
CORRECT OPERATION
UNDERSTANDING LUBRICATION AND COOLINGYour Oil's Major Duties
Your oil must perform a variety of functions. It must keep the engine clean by preventing the formation of acidic contaminants. It must lubricate parts to prevent wear and reduce friction, thus increasing engine power output. It must cool engine parts not accessible by the cooling system. It must provide an airtight seal in the cylinder to maintain compression and combustion pressures. However, it cannot do so in exceedingly worn engines where part tolerances are great.
Your oil must also facilitate easy engine starting by not causing excess cranking drag when cold. Although it is constantly being churned by moving parts, it must resist foaming. Foaming impairs cooling and lubrication since air bubbles do not conduct heat and collapse under pressure. This is especially harmful to bearings and hydraulic valve lifters. Finally, the oil must minimize formation of combustion cylinder deposits, particularly carbon residues. Such residues prevent the release of heat and could ruin the engine. Susceptible parts include valves, pistons, piston rings, and spark plugs.
SYSTEMS ENGINE OIL CORRECT OPERATION UNDERSTANDING LUBRICATION AND COOLING