Every car owner who cares about hiscar pays special attention to the quality of engine oil. Indeed, from its properties and quality depends not only the reliable operation of all moving parts of the engine, but also the durability of their service. In addition, poor quality or incorrectly chosen oil can cause the failure of the entire lubrication system.
In order for the motor of your car to work like a clock, and its parts served for a long time, you need to learn to understand the types of lubricants on the market today.
Правильно подобрать смазку для двигателя или The transmissions can only be known what the labeling of the oil means. The set of incomprehensible at first glance letters and numbers applied to the container with lubricant determines its manufacturer, composition, the possibility of using it in various types of engines or transmissions, as well as the limiting temperature conditions for operation. In addition, the marking of oils allows to determine their classification by quality group and viscosity properties.
To understand all this, first you need to understand what the symbols represent on the label of the container with lubricant. Without looking ahead, let's start with engine oils.
When choosing a lubricant, the first thing is to ask the seller about its purpose, characteristics and manufacturer, and then compare the information provided with the data indicated on the label.
Typically, engine oil markings contain such information:
Today on the market you can find products likeworld leaders in the production of lubricants, as well as unknown half-underground import and domestic firms that manufacture motor oil. The price of the brand and “samopal”, of course, is different, but it is hardly worth chasing the cheap when it comes to lubrication for your personal car.
When choosing an oil, there are usually no questions with the manufacturer and the name. Advertising and recommendations of experts here are the best criterion.
Номер партии и дата изготовления масла указывают on the suitability of the use of lubricants. Although lubricants are not perishable, it is best to refrain from using expired goods.
If with manufacturer, name and datethe manufacture of lubricants is more or less clear, then with other quality indicators contained on the label, it is necessary to understand in more detail. Proper interpretation of the labeling of engine oils will help not only to understand how lubricant corresponds to the engine of your car, but also to choose the best quality product.
Absolutely all lubricants are graded according to the composition into three groups:
Mineral oils are made from naturalmaterial - oil. They do not have ultra-high lubricating characteristics and dramatically change the viscosity when changing temperatures. Such lubricants are used mainly for use in old domestic cars and tractors. The labeling of oils derived from petroleum contains the inscription “Mineral”.
Synthetic lubricants representis an artificial product obtained in the course of organic synthesis. These oils in terms of their performance properties have a huge advantage over mineral ones. They were created by artificial means specifically for use in critical temperature conditions. The labeling of synthetic oils contains the inscription “Fully Synthetic”.
Synthetic lubricants have minimalevaporability when used, have a long service life, and also provide the most stable operation of mechanisms in low temperature conditions. They are used for both diesel engines and gasoline, including high-powered ones.
Для преимущественного большинства современных Car used exclusively synthetic oil. The price of it is much higher than the mineral price, however, the use of the latter in the newest engines is simply unacceptable.
Semi-synthetic lubricants are universal.lubricating product obtained as a result of proportional mixing of mineral and synthetic oils. Possessing all the best qualities of "organic" and "synthetics", they are a universal lubricant for any type of engine. You can determine the semi-synthetic oil by marking “Semi Synthetic”.
The main characteristic of motor lubricantsmaterials is viscosity. That it should be guided in the first place, choosing the oil for the engine. Today, the SAE classification is considered to be the generally accepted system for separating engine lubricants by viscosity. It was developed by the American Automotive Engineers Society and is one of the most important in the labeling of oils.
According to her, the viscosity of motor oil is twospecies: kinematic and dynamic. The first is characterized by the ability to flow through a special capillary tube for a certain time period. The second shows how the viscosity changes under the influence of temperature and speed of movement of the rubbing elements.
Oil, like any other liquid, hasproperty vary by ambient temperature. Its viscosity is higher in winter and lower in summer. With strong drops, this indicator can increase or decrease hundreds of times. Oil marking on SAE takes into account the seasonality of its application with a gradation of:
Summer lubricants have a higher viscosity, which provides the best lubrication of friction parts with the least friction. However, this oil when the temperature drops below 00C becomes too thick, which makes starting the engine almost impossible. The starter simply can not rotate the whole mechanism because of this viscosity.
The summer series of motor lubricants has a digital designation from 20 to 60 units, which determine the class of viscosity depending on temperature with a discreteness of 10.
Таким образом, маркировка масел для летнего The application has the designations SAE 20, SAE 30, SAE 40, SAE 50 and SAE 60, where the numbers indicate the minimum and maximum viscosity at a working temperature of 100-1500C. The higher this indicator, the thicker the lubricant when heated.
Winter oil label contains numbers from 0 to25 with a discreteness of 5 units, denoting the operating temperature, as well as the letter W, indicating the season of use (from the English. "Winter" - winter). In order to determine the minimum temperature of its use, it is necessary to subtract 40 from the indicated number. For example, for winter oil 5 W it will be -350C, for 20W -200C etc. This is the lower boundary temperature at which the lubricant can be pumped through the system.
However, another criterion is important for winter lubrication,determining the lower limit of temperature at which the starter will be able to rotate the engine mechanism to start it - this is turning. To find it out, it is necessary to subtract 35 from the indicated number. Thus, for 10 W oil, the lower temperature limit for engine start is -250FROM.
These lubricants are universal.and provide an opportunity to apply them year-round. This is the most popular and popular automotive oils. The marking of all-season lubricants consists of two numbers and an English letter W between them. The first indicator indicates the boundary minimum temperature at which cold engine start-up is possible, and the second indicates viscosity at maximum operating heating.
For example, the marking of oil 5W40 means that starting the engine with this lubricant will take place at -350C. The letter W separating winter and summer indicators indicates here universal seasonal applicability.
Maximum viscosity at + 100-1500C will be 40 units.
The Russian classification of motor oils meets the requirements of GOST 17479.1-85. It divides lubricants into viscosity grades and according to the intended use.
Summer oils are marked with the numbers 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24. They indicate viscosity in mm2/with. The higher the number, the thicker the lubricant. Marking winter oil provides only three digits - 4, 5 or 6.
All-season lubricants have doubledivided designation, where the numerator is the winter class, and the denominator is the summer class. In addition, the decoding marking often contains the letter "h", indicating that the oil is thickened with special additives (4з / 10, 6з / 16).
In order to determine which domesticAccording to the GOST classification, the oil corresponds to the imported analogue, special tables are created. With their help, you can easily choose our lubricant for a foreign car and vice versa. For example, oil marking 5W30 corresponds to our designation 4/12, 15W50 - 6з10, 20W40 - 8з / 16, etc.
In addition to viscosity grade, lubricating products are accepted.classified by degree of performance and scope. Their study and systematization is engaged in the American Petroleum Institute (API). According to this system, all engine oils are divided into two groups:
Lubricating products for gasoline engines are designated by the letter S and are intended for use in the internal combustion engine of cars, vans and small trucks.
Oils for diesel engines are marked with the letter C, which focuses on the use in industrial, commercial and agricultural automotive equipment.
Кроме этого, классификация по API включает еще one letter indicating the quality level of operational characteristics. The further it is from the beginning of the alphabet, the better the quality of the product. For example, the marking of SJ indicates that it is an oil for gasoline internal combustion engines with an average quality indicator.
However, most overseas manufacturersLubricants for engines produce universal products, the use of which is possible in gasoline and diesel engines. Marking of oils for both types of ICE contains 4 letters, 2 each by fraction. For example, SD / CJ.
This greatly simplifies the choice of lubricatingliquid, but you should pay attention to the first letter marking. If it is S, then this product, according to the manufacturer, is more suitable for gasoline engines, if C, then for diesel engines.
So, having dealt with all possible characters,present on the engine oil label, try to read the standard labeling. For example, the inscription “BP Visco2000 SG / CC SAE 15W-40 Min. No. 234567/96 04.22.2013 ”says that this is a universal mineral product of British Petroleum called“ Visco2000 ”, intended for use in all types of internal combustion engines (gasoline and diesel) year-round at a temperature not lower than -250C, produced on 04.22.2013.
In addition to SAE and API, there are otherclassification of oils. For example, the Association of European Automakers (ACEA) imposes more stringent requirements on their quality. This is due to the difference in the design of the internal combustion engine and the conditions of operation of vehicles. Firstly, European machines have less weight and volume of the power unit, and secondly, their engines are high-speed and more powerful.
The classification according to ACEA provides 12 classes and organizes motor oils into 3 categories:
Международный комитет по изучению и Lubricant systematization (ILSAC) together with the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) have developed their own classification, which includes only 3 classes of oil quality for gasoline engines (GF-1, GF-2, GF-3).
The world's leading car manufacturers haveown classifications of lubricants or put forward certain requirements for the products. This is due to the fact that the engines of different cars have significant differences in design. Autoconcerns independently conduct research and testing of motor oils, the results of which create their own specifications or provide specific recommendations on the use of existing products on the market.
Gear Lubricants undeservedly paidmuch less attention than motor, although they perform almost the same functions. The only difference is the lack of high temperatures caused by the operation of the internal combustion engine. Due to this, gear oils have a much longer service life. Their purpose is to lubricate and reduce the friction force in gearboxes, control mechanisms, transfer systems and drive axles.
The marking of transmission oils is not as detailed and complex as that of motor lubricants, but also requires understanding, since the stability of the listed units will depend on this.
Всего по классификации SAE различают 9 уровней viscosity lubricants for cars with mechanical transmissions: 5 year olds (80, 85, 90, 140, 250) and 4 winter (70W, 75W, 80W, 85W). However, in practice, most often, motorists use all-season automotive transmission oils. The marking of such products also consists of a combination of two numbers with the letter W between them. For example, SAE 70W-85, SAE 80W-90, etc.
Gear oils, as well as engine oils,classified by API system. Its accepted standards divide lubricants into groups, depending on the type of construction and operating conditions. In addition, it also takes into account the presence and quantity in the lubricant product of special additives that prevent wear.
According to the API, transmission oils are designated with GL letters and numbers from 1 to 5, which correspond to the class. The larger the class, the tougher the conditions in which the lubricant can be operated.
Что касается автоматических коробок передач, то for them, conventional gear oils are not suitable. It has its own working standards ATF, which have nothing to do with SAE and API. Lubricating products for automatic transmissions are even painted in bright colors in order to prevent accidental use in mechanical structures.
Knowing these simple rules, you can avoid many problems.
