Just read a great article from AMSOIL’s Monthly Magazine entitled: Three primary factors are normally responsible for oil failure.
I wanted to share this because I believe that many people do not understand what is going on in their oil sump. They see darker oil and think that the oil has broken down, when in reality pulling your dipstick is not a very good indicator of the health of your oil.
To start, it’s important to have an engine in good mechanical condition. One that is free of leaks, is not worn out and that is running efficiently. Next you will want to be sure to never overfill your crank case. This is just as important as having an under filled crankcase.
The article was written by: Dan Peterson | VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
Because they work to suspend contaminants and by-products of combustion, it is not uncommon for gasoline and diesel oils to become dark. It may be more noticeable in some applications.
It does not mean the oil is failing or must be changed. Fortunately, a number of different tools are available that measure motor oil’s condition and its ability to continuously
protect and perform its other key functions.
When motor oil exceeds its useful life or is impacted by a mechanical defect, it most commonly becomes too thin to
separate metal parts, too thick to pump or too acidic for continued use.
Oil Too Thin
When oil becomes too thin, it fails to provide the required oil l lm thickness to separate metal surfaces. Different engine designs require different starting oil thickness or viscosity. Viscosity at 100 °C is one of the most highlighted oil properties and is a good indicator of adequate oil l lm thickness in an engine at operating
temperature.
A number of things can cause engine oil to become too thin to protect engine parts. Excessive mechanical shear can thin oil to the point of causing issues with engine protection. As motor oil cycles through the engine, it is exposed to shear stress in the engine’s upper end, piston walls and bearings that reduces its shear strength. Continuous exposure to these conditions causes oils built with inferior shear stability to thin excessively, leaving
critical engine parts susceptible to metal-to-metal contact.
Fuel contamination of the oil sump is another major cause of excessively thin engine oil. Both gasoline and diesel fuel are thinner than engine oil and when mixed, the oil’s viscosity, l lm thickness and ability to separate parts are signilcantly reduced. While a small amount of fuel dilution is relatively common and
does not have a material impact on oil life, excessive fuel dilution in mechanically compromised equipment is much
more harmful.
Oil Too Thick
When it comes to oil, although it may seem like “the thicker, the better,” oil that is too thick is just as detrimental as oil that is too thin. Excessively thick oil is the most commonly discussed oil failure and the subject of many big oil company marketing campaigns.
When oil becomes too thick to flow to engine parts, these areas are starved of oil, resulting in metal-to-metal contact that can lead to catastrophic engine damage. The precursor to sludge is oil that has become much thicker than its original design. The cause is a complex chemical reaction involving heat, combustion by-products and oxygen combining to create
chemical attack on the oil molecules. The resulting chemical reaction creates a much thicker substance that does not m ow
or protect as well as the original oil. When the reaction continues, sludge begins to form in areas of higher localized temperature and low flow. While some varnish is normal, sludge is a sign of excessively degraded oil that needs to be replaced.
In order to inhibit sludge and varnish, the oil must resist attack by oxidation forces. Synthetic base oils have a much higher
level of saturated molecules that inherently resist this constant bombardment. Additionally, antioxidants are added to either reduce the formation of free-radical oxidation precursors or soak up these precursors once they form.
Another cause of oil thickening, primarily affecting diesel oils, is excessive soot-loading in mechanically unsound engines. Diesel oils are designed to handle some soot contamination, but when the soot overloads the available dispersants in the oil, the oil thickens. The agglomerated soot particles reach a critical size
and cause excessive wear commonly seen in diesel liners.
Oil Too Acidic
Acids are a normal by-product of burning fossil fuels. Different fuel types, engines and combustion conditions create varying
levels of acid formation. These acids, transferred via blow-by gases, are carried away to the engine oil. Oils are designed
with a detergent that neutralizes these acids before they accumulate and cause engine damage. The detergent level is
measured with a test called Total Base Number (TBN). This measure of alkalinity drops over the life of the oil and reaches
a critical level when the oil can no longer consume the acids created by combustion. When TBN reaches a critical level, acids build up quickly and attack the surfaces most susceptible, including yellow metals and lead-lined bearings. Without correction, this condition quickly worsens and results in excessive chemical wear. Although less common, this failure mode can cause significant damage if left uncorrected.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated to provide a broad level of overall protection, evidenced by guaranteed extended drain intervals. Synthetic base oils help resist oxidative decomposition, and a properly balanced, high-quality additive package helps keep contaminants in check and engines running for a long time.
As you can see, it is extremely important to use a quality motor oil. Synthetic oil’s like AMSOIL have have a proven track record since 1972 for protecting engines, staying in grade and reducing wear.
To find the proper oil’s and lubricants for your vehicles please visit the AMSOIL online vehicle look-up guide.
Michael Sparks AMSOIL Dealer / Direct Jobber
amsoil.lube-direct.com
931-801-9401
