Decoding oil marking: What is written on the label?

Marking engine oils - a great opportunity to learn the product, without risk for the engine of your car. On the product label, many manufacturers indicate the level of viscosity, the manufacturer tolerances, product specificity, and other aspects that will help the driver to make the right choice.

To delve into the essence of the question, consider all the syllables that can be listed on the oil label.

Decipherate designations

On most packs, the manufacturer specifies the following parameters:

It turns out to explore, now it is not necessary to go to the store and torturing the seller-consultant. A competent assessment of the goods can be given by himself, having studied the meaning of some oil indicators.
Now consider each above indicator in more detail to understand the value of each of them.

SAE - Split oil by viscosity degree

Viscosity is one of the most important parameters for any fuel. This value indicates the degree of wear resistance of the engine and the process of friction. SAE is divided into three subclasses - winter, summer and all-season. Viscosity is a very important parameter for motorists from northern latitudes. The quality of automotive oils directly affects the quick start and the correct lubrication of the engine elements.

For example, liquid oil is relevant to the car engine in winter - it does not freeze and reduces the consumption of fuel consumed by 2-3%. Thick oils (value of SAE 15W-40), on the contrary, are in demand in hot climatic zones and are recommended for use for older, worn engines.

To understand what SAE value is suitable for your car, consider several examples:

With SAE everything is clear. On the degree of viscosity of the oil in many respects will depend on the operation of the car and its operational qualities. But there are other indicators that we now consider.

Specification on API and ACEA

This indicator means, and more precisely helps to determine the choice of professionals and lovers. The use of the machine-needed category will allow to extend the durability of the engine (gasoline and diesel), it will reduce the level of highlighting the "Nagara", will help reduce fuel consumption and improve high-quality indicators of the motor operation.

Among the sought-after oil brands in the specification, the following can be allocated:

• API SN - Motor oils for gasoline engines from American and Asian car manufacturers;
• ACEA A3 / B3 - This type of oil has high performance. Designed for diesel and gasoline engines.

Production tools and barcodes

Unlike American and Asian oil producers, Europeans have come up with a production tolerance system. If we consider specifically European products, then the production tolerance is the most important parameter when choosing a product. The indicator means that the product has been certified and "quality control" from the automobile plant and is recommended precisely for a particular car.

As an example, consider some of them: Ford WSS M2C, MB-Approval 229.5.

With the help of the barcode, you can get information about the country by the manufacturer, the manufacturer or branch itself (if any), in which the fuel is made. To determine all the above parameters, there is a special table in which comparing all the numbers, the buyer will be able to find all the necessary information.

Term time and party number

The shelf life of such a product as oil is 3 years. But even despite such an impressive period, expired oil products often come across. In order not to become another victim of a poor-quality lubricant (not only the driver, but also the engine of the car), is required to do the following:

On many modern oils, you can find such inscriptions as the "luxury", "Ester", "contains smart molecules", etc. Each label is loaded by various information that does not have technical background, which is designed to attract the attention of the buyer and allocate the product from a number of similar. When you buy a new fuction on these parameters, you can not pay any attention - here it is simply no necessary information.

We got acquainted with different data. Now it is necessary to apply them in practice and understand how it will "work" all the information received in practice.

Basics of the proper choice of oil

Many models are different in the design features of the motor. What does this mean? This suggests that for a certain brand, the car is suitable not every type of oil. Each car has its own factors that can affect engine operation: oil pump power, heat sink level, bandwidth diameter, etc.

As mentioned above, special attention should be paid to the viscosity of the oil. If you can not decide on the brand of fuel and its viscosity, on the sites of manufacturers (Castrol, Shell and a number of others) there are special "SAE" computers - you need to "score" all information about the brand of your car, engine type and its power. As a result, you will receive the necessary numbers and a list of products that are relevant for your car and your engine type.

The second important point is the climatic conditions in which the car will be operated. Here everything is simple - the lower the degree Celsius, the less the SAE class should be.
For example, for especially cold regions, oils are suitable: 0W-30, 5W-20, 5W-30.

Engine operating deadlines as defining factor

After long-term operation of the motor, the wear resistance of the parts becomes low, and the oil consumption is large enough. To give the indicators to the norm, it is necessary to use an oil with a high degree of viscosity - this means that the oil of class 15W-40, 20W-40, etc., is ideal for a worn out motor.

Pay special attention to the fact that the oil with a high degree of viscosity, at extremely low temperatures, will not be a panacea from all diseases of your engine, and his killer.

Save or chasing?

Properly selected oil for the car will help not only maintain the quality characteristics of the motor for many years, but also slightly reduce fuel consumption. If you have a savings in the first place for you - choose a product with a low viscosity class (5W-30, 0W-20, etc.).
If you feel about the category of riders and do not mind squeeze out of your steel horse all the power, you should give preference to high viscosity oils, which can protect the motor from wear, when working in extreme conditions.

A few more words about the specification

API and ACEA are the most common types of engine oils in the world. The first, checked and classified in the Americas, the second - belong to European industrialists. The first brand (specification) is provided exclusively for American and Asian cars, which are widespread in the world.

As for ACEA. These products are focused on European cars with different engine designs. For example, products with the designation of ACEA and with the index E, indicates that this product is intended for use in diesel engines on trucks. Indices A and B, suggest that oils are used in diesel and gasoline engines of passenger cars, etc.

The assimilation of the information received

It turns out that choosing a high-quality product itself, it is quite simple for your own engine. It is enough to have a simple idea of \u200b\u200bhow and where the car will be operated and have a table at hand.

Remember that the durability of your engine directly depends on that you pour into it. You should not neglect the information provided and use it at the first opportunity.