Automotive
Properties of Engine Oil 

Engine oil, (sometimes called motor oil) is a clean or refined form of crude oil. Crude oil, which is taken out of the ground must be must be refined to meet industry standards. Engine oil is specially formulated so that it does the following things:

• Cools 

Your cars engine oil removes much of the heat generated by the engine. Engine oil is the only liquid that comes in direct contact with the internal moving part of an engine. It must and does carry the heat away from the moving parts it comes in contact with. The oil is then returned to the oil pan where it is allowed to cool. The air passing under the car and by the oil pan cools the oil.

• Cleans 

Engine oil also cleans the internal parts of the engine. As it passes by the internal part of the engine it removes and holds in suspension, dirt and metal filings that get in the engine. The dirt and metal filings are carried back to the oil pan. Some of the dirt and filings settle to the bottom of the oil pan and remain there. The rest is carries to the oil filter and most is filtered out. Some just continues to circulate with the engine oil. (Hence the need to change the oil on a regular basis.)

• Lubricates 

Engine oil must of course lubricate the internal parts of the engine to slow down and reduce wear.

• Seals 

The engine oil also helps seal the engine. The gasket on the engine absorbs the oil which causes the gasket to swell creating a seal.

• Cushions 

Engine oil has property call cohesion. This keeps the oil from compressing under pressure. The oil acts as a cushion to the forces exerted on many of the engines internal parts.

 

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