Is high viscosity good for engine oil?
Engine oil viscosity refers to how easily oil pours at a specified temperature. Thin oils have lower viscosity and pour more easily at low temperatures than thicker oils that have a higher viscosity. Thick oils are better at maintaining film strength and oil pressure at high temperatures and loads.
Why does motor oil have high viscosity?
High Viscosity oils have molecules with greater cohesion ability (Higher resistance to flow) were as low viscosity oils have lower cohesion ability (Low resistance to flow) allowing faster flow rates to occur. When temperature increases, the lubricant becomes thinner and the viscosity becomes lower.
Why does the viscosity of motor oil matter?
If the oil is too thick when the engine is turned on and cold, it won’t be able to flow and protect components. If the oil thins down too much when the engine is running hot, it won’t lubricate the components adequately.
How does engine oil affect your car’s performance?
Wonder no longer. The oil you choose for your car’s engine makes a difference in its economy and power production. Engine oil viscosity is the main focus here, and it all boils down to the basic laws of physics. The lower the engine oil viscosity, the better.
When to use thick or thin motor oil?
Depending on your engine, a thick or thin oil may be necessary. Oil must also be able to function in various temperatures. It must be able to flow in the cold of winter, while also maintaining the correct thickness in the heat of summer, all while going through temperature changes during normal engine operation.
Can you use 20w50 oil in high mileage cars?
The viscosity level of engine oil 20W50 is geared toward racing engines, as opposed to high-mileage engines, that run extremely hot and need heavy load operation. The thickness is not meant for daily, older vehicle use.
What should the viscosity of engine oil be?
The less viscous the oil, the more smoothly it moves through your engine and lubricates the moving parts. The best engine oils have a viscosity that is neither so high (thick) that it will barely flow or so low (thin) that it will slip through your engine like water.
What makes water flow faster than high viscosity oil?
g. 0W-20) flows faster than high-viscosity oil (e.g. 20W-50). To illustrate, think of water and honey. When poured from a container, water flows much faster than honey. That’s because, when external forces act on a fluid (such as gravity), the molecules within the fluid move against each other, resulting in molecular friction that resists flow.
What happens when viscosity of lubricant is too high?
But there are limits to this relationship. If the viscosity is too high, it won’t flow as readily and your engine will work harder and burn more fuel. The key is to use a lubricant with the correct viscosity for the application.
How does oil affect the performance of an engine?
Oil quality, condition and specifications are critical to the performance of the system. The passages and orifices can be very small and prone to sludging. Also, the oil acts as hydraulic fluid to move the actuators. If the oil does not have the correct viscosity, the behavior of the actuators will change.