Classification and types of engine oil

Motor oil - this is something that no car can manage without. This fluid is intended to lubricate the internal combustion engine parts so that they can function. It would seem, then what's the problem? Take the engine oil, pour it into the engine and enjoy the ride. In fact, everything is much more complicated, because there are many different types of motor oil, and you need to know which one you need. Pay attention to the packaging - there you can find some conventions, which the uninitiated do not speak at all. To understand this, you need to study this article. Here the main types of engine oil, as well as their classification, will be analyzed in detail. After studying this material, you can easily and without special problems be able to choose the right oil among dozens of options that will be offered to you in the store.

Mineral Oils

The first classification, which is worth paying attention to - the type of production. This is the most basic classification, which allows you to understand the basic properties of a particular product version. So, first of all we will talk about mineral oils - if we describe them briefly and in general, then we can say that these are those that were obtained by processing oil. If you go into more detail, you can say a lot more about the mineral product. Types of motor oil can be very diverse, but it is the mineral oil that is considered most suitable for use every day in standard urban conditions. It is obtained from base oil, which is produced directly from crude oil. To the basic variant, then certain chemical additives are added, which ensure that the finished product has certain characteristics. As already mentioned earlier, this option is best suited for a standard driver who travels in an urban setting or out of town using a car almost daily. So if you are considering different types of motor oil and know that you prefer quiet, balanced driving at medium speeds, then a mineral product is the ideal choice for you. But what else are the items in this classification?

Semi-synthetic motor oils

Naturally, types of motor oils are not limited to only mineral variants - also semi-synthetic products can often be seen on store shelves. What does this mean? Should I take this oil? Is it better than mineral, or worse? In fact, it's just impossible to say - this oil is not better or worse, it's just different. It is created by mixing natural and synthetic products (which will be discussed later). If you are a fan of high speeds and fast driving, then this option is better for you, since mineral oil, as you already knew, is more suitable for driving at normal city speed. However, not only the speed indicators determine the purpose of this type of oil. The fact is that the semi-synthetic model is maximally stable to oxidation - accordingly, it is recommended to use such oil under extreme temperature conditions. For Russian reality, this option may be much more applicable than a natural mineral product, which definitely will not endure severe Russian frosts. But this is not all the types of motor oils in this classification - you have to get acquainted with the synthetic option.

Synthetic motor oils

Many novice motorists believe that the types of motor oil - "Mobil", "Elf" and so on. However, these are just manufacturers, although in them you should also be guided and know which products are best suited for the engine of your car. As for real types of oil, there is only one point in the classification according to the type of production - synthetic. Many argue that this type of oil is the best, but it is also the most expensive. The fact is that oil is not used in its creation at all - it is produced by a complex chemical synthesis process (hence the name) exclusively in the laboratory. In the course of production, only high-quality additives are added to the product, which supply oil with only the best qualities. Most often, synthetic oils are significantly superior to mineral and semi-synthetic oils for a number of key characteristics, such as viscosity, engine protection, fuel consumption and so on. Now you know what kinds of motor oil are, if we consider the classification by type of production. But there are also other classifications, which also need to be paid attention.

SAE classification

It's time to look at what other kinds of motor oils are. The classification, which will be considered now, is called SAE. This is the abbreviated name of the organization that introduced this classification, which is characteristic of European countries. The whole organization is called the "Society of Automotive Engineers", so if you hear this name, you will now know exactly what it refers to. But what is the essence of this classification? What kinds of oil are classified according to it? The designation of such a product most often looks like this: 15W or just 50. Naturally, if you are not aware of the details of this classification, then this designation will not tell you anything. That's why you should read this article. From here you will learn that the letter W in the name stands for Winter, that is, that this oil is intended for use in the winter. As for the number, it is used in winter, and in summer, and in all-season products. It indicates the viscosity class, that is, it allows you to orient in what weather conditions you can use a particular option. So, now you have a general idea of this classification - it's time to consider what kinds of motor and transmission oils there are in accordance with it.

Winter oil

The types of semi-synthetic motor oils that are best used in winter periods, as you have already understood, are denoted by the letter W. This means that the oil is winter - and there are six classes of viscosity in accordance with this classification. The countdown starts from 0W oil and ends with oil 25W. What does it mean? The lower the number that stands before the letter W, the lower temperatures can withstand this product in winter. For example, an oil with a designation of 20W can be used at a temperature of at least minus ten degrees Celsius, while oil labeled 5W can be used even in the cold to minus fifty. Types of synthetic motor oils, as well as mineral, have exactly the same marking. Just pay attention to the fact that the mineral options are extremely rarely have an advantageous winter marking.

Summer oil

As for the summer oil in this classification, the designation here is exactly the same - just the letter W is missing in the name, which may serve as a sign that the oil is not suitable for use in the winter. Summer products there are five different classes, the designation of which starts from 20, and ends with 60. As in the case of winter oils, the number of summer markings indicates temperature boundaries, only this time it is above zero. The higher the number, the higher the temperature at which the oil retains its viscous structure and, accordingly, its lubricating properties. However, this is not all the motor oils for cars in this classification. What is left except for summer and winter products? It turns out that within the framework of this classification there is also a third kind - all-weather. It is about them that will be discussed later.

Multigrade oil

If we talk about all-season oils in the SAE classification, we should immediately note that here the designation is a bit more complicated. However, as soon as you understand the principle, you can quickly navigate in different classes. So, the simplest example of multigrade oil is 10W-50. What does this mean? The fact is that all-season products combine the functionality of both winter and summer oils. And, accordingly, combine also their labeling - this means that the first part (before the hyphen) is a winter characteristic, while the second (after the hyphen) - summer. Accordingly, the most quality in terms of viscosity oil is that in which the difference between the first and second number of designations will be the highest. This will mean that the oil retains its properties at low and high temperatures. Naturally, classes of multigrade oil exist much more than winter or summer. Virtually all combinations of the first and second form a new class of all-season product. That's all you need to know about how the engine oils are divided according to this classification. Types, classification, designations - all these topics are extremely important for any motorist, so if you want the engine of your car to work efficiently and for a long time, you need to figure out which oil to choose. And for this you need to study another common classification.

API Classification

If the previous classification focused mainly on the viscosity of engine oil and the conservation of functions at different temperatures, this focuses on general operational properties. This is where you can find the types of engine oils for diesel engines apart from gasoline. What does this reduction mean? As in the case of SAE, this is the abbreviated name of the organization that introduced this classification. In this case, the API is the "American Petroleum Institute". Accordingly, it can be concluded that the previous marking characterizes the European oil, and this one is American. However, in fact, everything is a little different - the fact is that these two classifications affect different aspects of products, so they are most often placed side by side on the package. So, the oil type in accordance with this classification can look like, for example, SA, CD or even CB / SE. But what do all these letters mean?

Conventional notation

To understand these designations, you must immediately divide them into two parts, that is, two letters. If you look at a lot of oil classes, you'll notice that the first letter is always either S or C. Here everything is quite simple - if the first letter is S, the oil is for a gasoline engine, and if C is for a diesel engine. That's all, no special problems with understanding and remembering this should not be. But what does the second letter mean? Here everything is also quite simple - a much larger number of letters can act as the second symbol, but all of them are subject to the same system, regardless of whether a diesel or gasoline engine is being considered. The letter A stands for the most obsolete oil with the worst performance. As you progress in alphabetical order, the operational properties of the product increase. Now you can imagine the whole picture - the first letter is responsible for the type of engine, and the second - for the performance of the oil.

Motor Oil Classes

As can be easily guessed, the first oil will be SA or CA - it will have the lowest performance, and will refer to the thirties of the twentieth century. To understand the full picture, it is worth looking at diesel and gasoline engines separately. So, if we talk about gasoline engines, then for all history there were ten classes - from SA to SL. From the thirties to the eighties, five were used - to SE, to date they are considered obsolete. In the eighties and nineties there appeared oils SF, SG and SH, which can be found even today - however, there are two actual classes left - SJ and SL. They have the highest operational properties. As for diesel engines, the story was similar, but slightly different. Initially there were three classes of oil, then two more, and today there are five actual classes - CF, CF-4, CG-4, CH-4 and the best C1-4. As it was said before, sometimes you can find CD / SE designations and similar ones - what do they mean? All is simple - this is motor oil, which is suitable for both petrol and diesel engines. Naturally, the level of performance properties when used for different motors is different, therefore for each of them there is a designation of the second letter.