Fighting Oil Contamination

Throughout its useful life, your oil must battle varnish, rust and corrosion, abrasives, combustion byproducts, and sludge. As the oil becomes contaminated, it will thicken and increase in viscosity. Its lubricating ability will decrease; the contaminants will cause wear. {Conversely, the oil can also become diluted with unburned fuel. If so, the dilution by fuel will reduce the effectiveness of oil additives, lower the oil's film strength, and cause the engine to burn oil. However, unburned fuel can usually be boiled off with high engine operating temperatures.}

Thankfully, modern day oils contain many additives that serve a variety of purposes. These additives extend your engine's life but are also highly volatile and are consumed chemically as the oil ages. Generally, theses extra ingredients resist contamination buildup, protect engine parts, extend the oil's useful life, and improve the oil's performance properties (for example, prevent foaming and cold weather gelling).

One of the best ways to fight oil contamination and engine wear is to simply change the oil with sufficient frequency so as to prevent contamination buildup and additive depletion.

SYSTEMS
ENGINE OIL
SERVICE RATING (CLASSIFICATION)
FRICTION REDUCERS