Owners of diesel cars must pay extra attention to the maintenance of these engines, especially the lubricant used. Here’s what the best diesel engine oil is and what type of oil you should put in in the winter.
To choose the best engine oil for diesel you have to take into account several aspects.
First of all, the mode of operation of the vehicle and the area where you will drive in the next period. Also, the age of the car, the number of kilometers traveled and the technical condition are important aspects.
How often should oil be changed in diesel engines?
Cars that run on diesel need to be maintained more carefully than those that run on gasoline. Their injectors can clog much faster, and the lubricating oil is a special one, different from that for gasoline engines.
Diesel engines absorb more carbon, so the oils contain more dispersants and anti-wear additives. Also, the viscosity is higher.
„My recommendation is to change the oil and oil filter twice a year, before the cold season and before the heat wave comes. Theoretically, the oil is changed about every 10,000 kilometers. But, those who drive more in the city should do this exchange at 6,000-7,000 kilometers”, explained mechanic Robert Marin for ProMotor.
The difference between motor oils
The main types of motor oils are synthetic, fully chemically processed and semi-synthetic. The latter are composed of a mix of mineral oils and synthetic oils.
Engine oils have different viscosity grades and specific properties for each type of engine. The viscosity and the way the oil behaves at extreme temperatures are specified in the form of a code such as: 5W30, 10W40, 20W50, etc.
„In general, if you use the car in the city or drive at high speed, 5w40 viscosity is recommended. If you’re going easy and flat, I usually recommend 5w30. But it depends on each individual engine, how old the car is and what the car manufacturer’s specifications are”, explained mechanic Robert Marin for ProMotor.
For all codes, the number before the “W” describes the viscosity of the oil at low temperatures.
The lower the number, the thinner the oil and the better the cold starting performance.
The number after the W describes how thick the oil is at normal engine operating temperature.
So multigrade oils like 5W30 or 10W40 are widely used because they are thin enough to flow at low temperatures, but thick enough to lubricate the engine at high temperatures.
What is the best engine oil for diesel
In the past, mechanics recommended a lower viscosity diesel engine oil in winter. And in the summer a more viscous one. But with the advent of synthetic oils, there is no need to choose the oil according to the season.
„Almost all motor oils are good in both winter and summer. Basically, we can use the same type of lubricant regardless of the season. But, the most important thing is to follow the recommendation of the car manufacturer regarding the type of viscosity. In the car’s manual, the manufacturer specifies what type of oil it recommends for the engine with which that vehicle is equipped. So basically that is the best oil for your car“, said the mechanic.
Diesel engines need oils with a higher viscosity than gasoline engines. Thus, they produce less heat. In general, diesel engine oil contains more additives to cope with harsher operating conditions.
Therefore, it is best to use the motor oil indicated by the manufacturer. Because it was tested under various conditions, over a long period of time, before being recommended.
Source: www.promotor.ro
