Lubricating the insides of combustion engine of an automobile can be done with the use of motor oil. The oil, derived from natural or synthetic compound is an important factor over the life of the internal combustion engines of automobiles. The lubricant is not only utilized to lubricate the moving parts of the engine, it is also applied to clean the engine parts and to inhibit the onset of corrosion.

Motor oil, also called engine oil, is the key in the functioning of the car engines even if the cams, crankshafts and valves are moving in hundred or thousand motions or rotations per minute. The oil is also an important ingredient in prolonging the usable life of the engine parts.

The movement of the parts in the internal combustion engine of automobiles often creates friction with other parts. Friction can lead to heat and heated parts.  Applying the motor oil can cool down the engine and its parts. The motor oil carries the heat away from the moving engine parts. Aside from that, it helps in decreasing friction, and thus wearing, between two moving parts in the combustion engine.

Viscosity of oil is higher compared to that of water. It is the property that determines the oil’s resistance to flow easily. The thickness in the composition of motor oil is a factor that the intensity of friction between metal-to-metal contacts in the internal combustion engine is minimized to a certain level.

Most of the motor oils are derived from petroleum-based mineral oil which comes from crude oil. The petroleum hydrocarbon is thicker in motor oil. For the motor oil to increase its viscosity, additives are needed to enhance the property.

Detergents and dispersants are among the additives applied to the motor oil to increase its viscosity performance. These additives are known as corrosion inhibitors. They are added to minimize the sludge buildup keeping the engine clean. Alkaline additives have also been supplemented in motor oils to neutralize acidic oxidation.

Viscosity of the oil has indirect proportion to temperature. At low temperature, the viscosity of oil is higher. At high temperature, the oil becomes thin. The changes in the viscosity of oil in response to temperature changes can be measured in viscosity index.  The application of viscosity index improvers such as additives can help in having a desirable viscosity index during high and low temperature levels.

Moreover, motor oil should also have low pour point. The pour point is the indication of the oil’s property to pour satisfactorily at the lowest temperature.

 Motor oil should be able to flow to internal moving parts of the engine during cold winter temperature upon engine ignition. The petroleum-based motor oil is likely to be more viscous during cold temperature largely because of its wax content. Synthetic oil, on the other hand, does not react that much during cold weather. Hence, it has a desirable lower pour point which can better facilitate in the engine ignition reducing the effect of wear and tear in engine moving parts. Synthetic oil is designed to have a wide temperature range although the viscosity of the oil still changes in proportion to the changes in temperature.

As being mentioned, motor oil is mostly derived from petroleum which comes from crude oil. The motor oil that forms from the natural fossil fuel is the mineral oil. On the other hand, the synthetic oil can come from mineral base or non-mineral components. True synthetic oils can include synthetic esters, polyalpha-olefins and other synthetic blends.

Compared to petroleum-based oils, true synthetic oils do not require viscosity index improvers. The improvers can degrade as the oil ages and when the oil is exposed to particulate matters. True synthetic oil may not degrade as easily and can last longer than traditional motor oils.

Moreover, synthetic oil can perform well in reducing oxidation and sludge formation than conventional motor oil.  It is considered to be ideal motor oil according to Consumer Reports.

The major setback in synthetic oil is that it is more costly to acquire than petroleum-based motor oil. However, when it comes to performance it is much better than the latter.