Inside your diesel engine is a tough environment. Metal parts in close contact move at high speed in extreme heat. Because of this, the engine’s lubricating oil is the one fluid that stands between a smoothly running engine and total engine failure. Let’s take a look at some of the components of engine oil as well as some good maintenance practices.
Engine Oil
Engine oil comes from crude oil pumped out of the ground all over the world. Refineries process the crude oil into various products including engine oil. But the oil lubricating your engine is more than just refined crude oil. Refineries also include additives to improve the quality of the oil and to protect your engine. Here are the purposes of some of these additives:
- Viscosity additives help oil adhere to engine parts for better lubrication. This helps to reduce friction between the moving parts.
- Dispersants keep solid contaminants suspended in the oil so they are flushed out of the system with the next oil change.
- Detergents prevent the build-up of deposits in the engine.
- Friction modifiers help to reduce friction in the engine which increases fuel efficiency.
- Antioxidants slow down the sludge-forming reaction of oil with oxygen in the high temperatures of the engine. Antioxidants help to keep the engine clean.
- Anti-foam additives prevent mixing air and oil which forms bubbles in an engine. If bubbles are present, the oil cannot properly lubricate all the moving parts.
- Rust inhibitors create a barrier film. This prevents any moisture in the engine from attaching to metallic engine parts and causing rust.
- Pour-point depressants keep oil flowing freely, especially in the winter. During cold weather, engine oil may thicken because wax particles in the oil solidify. Keeping the oil fluent in the cold ensures a properly lubricated engine.
Both conventional and synthetic engine oil is available to lubricate your engine. What is the difference? Is one better than the other?
First of all, the base oil used for both conventional and synthetic oils is refined from crude oil. Using a synthetic product does not reduce the amount of oil pumped out of wells. But the chemical engineering that goes into synthetic oil improves its characteristics and enhances engine performance. Let’s look at some of the improvements.
Purity. Synthetic oil begins with a higher-quality, more refined base oil than conventional oil. So synthetics have fewer impurities to start with. In fact, some synthetics have natural gas-derived base oil, making the product 99.5% pure. Fewer impurities in the base oil mean less build-up of sludge and deposits in the engine. Synthetic oil also cleans up engines that already have a sludge problem.
Chemical stability. Engines produce high temperatures that cause conventional oil to degrade and lose its protective properties. This is critical because the high-speed engine parts are always in contact. Synthetic oil resists thermal breakdown and provides better wear protection. This quality allows for an extended drain interval compared with conventional oil.
Better flow in the cold. When an engine starts, oil begins flowing to prevent friction. However, conventional oil tends to thicken during cold weather and begins to flow better after the engine has warmed. Synthetic oil is designed to flow quickly even in the cold to give you better protection against friction as soon as your engine starts.
Oil Filters
Even though high-quality engine oil will keep your engine in prime condition, don’t forget about the quality of your oil filter. When selecting a filter, you can choose between OEM or aftermarket.
OEM filters are made specifically for the engine they are designed for, so the dimensions of the filter are always correct. However, aftermarket filters are made to be universal. They may be slightly too big or too small and may have an incorrect thread size. So pay attention to how the filter fits.
While some aftermarket oil filters are well-built, others are not. Aftermarket filters can have poor-quality housings. If the metal housing is too thin, the filter might bulge or crack. It could also crush when you try to remove it. A gasket made of low-quality materials may become brittle and allow oil to leak.
The pleated filter inside the housing is where the work happens. OEM filters use thick filter media, and the pleats are tightly packed and equally spaced. Many aftermarket filters skimp on the pleated filter. Unfortunately, the consumer usually never knows this because the filter must be destroyed to see the pleats. A low-quality pleated filter will clog and allow dirty oil to return to the engine, increasing wear and tear.
Conclusion
For your diesel engine to operate at optimal levels, change the oil and filter per manufacturer recommendations. Be sure to use the correct oil and oil filter specifications. And regardless of the brand of oil and filter you choose, engine oil maintenance must be completed routinely to prevent breakdowns or failures.