Motor Oil Info

Of all the characteristics of a Synthetic oil may possess, the most important is its viscosity. The viscosity of a fluid and how that viscosity reacts to variables will determine how well a fluid can perform the basic functions of a lubricant. There is no compromise for the proper viscosity!

What is viscosity? When a fluid is subjected to external forces, it resists flow due to external molecular friction. Viscosity is a measure of that internal friction. Viscosity can be referred to as the measurement of a fluid’s resistance to flow. You can think of this as the energy required to move an object through a fluid. It takes little energy to stir water with a spoon. However, significantly more energy is required to stir honey with the same spoon.

There are also other ways to refer to a fluid’s viscosity. Some of the more common terms are thin, light or low. These terms suggest how a relatively free-flowing fluid such as water flows. Terms such as thick, heavy or high suggest that the fluid demonstrates a strong resistance to flow. Honey is a good example of a fluid with a high viscosity.

A fluid’s viscosity is important because it is directly related to its load-carrying capabilities. The greater a fluid’s viscosity,the greater the loads it can withstand. The viscosity of a fluid must be adequate to separate moving parts under normal operating conditions ( temperature and speed).

Knowing that a fluid’s viscosity is directly related to its ability to carry load, one would think that the more viscous a fluid, the better it is. The fact is, the use of a high- viscosity fluid can be just as detrimental as using too light an oil.

Too low = Metal-to Metal contact ( friction and wear), poor sealing and increased oil consumption.

Too high = Increased fluid friction, reduced enery efficiency, higher operating tempertures and equipment starting difficulties particulary at cold tempertures. The key is to select a fluid that is not too light and not too heavy.