Automotive

Published on January 8th, 2016 | by Daniel Sherman Fernandez

0

What role does viscosity play in a motor oil?

Fresh motor oil

You have seen it on your engine oil bottle and you have heard mechanics and car nuts speak of it……but do you know what viscosity means and its importance to your car? Engineers work to establish an optimal viscosity for an oil, based on load and speed conditions. They balance lighter…..or low-viscosity oil, which provides little resistance to motion thereby saving fuel and efficiently transferring horsepower, with a heavier or high-viscosity oil that resists being squeezed out of the contact area between metal surfaces.

The complicating factor is that the viscosity of an oil varies with changes in temperature thinner when hot, thicker when cold. At low temperatures, we need the motor oil to flow readily (not thicken too much or gel). At high temperatures, we need the motor oil to keep from becoming too thin and allowing metal-to-metal contact. Therefore, engineers developed multigrade motor oils.

Template BHP
So What does viscosity mean?

Viscosity is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. A fluid with low viscosity flows easily and is often called “thin.” Water is an example of a fluid with a relatively low viscosity. A fluid with high viscosity is often described as “thick.” Honey is an example of a fluid with a relatively high viscosity.

Goodyear banner dsf_650x85


About the Author

www.dsf.my is a service to the public and other website owners. www.dsf.my is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the site www.dsf.my. While the information contained within the site is periodically updated, no guarantee is given that the information provided in this website is correct, complete, and up-to-date. www.dsf.my is not responsible for the accuracy or content of information contained inside.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to Top ↑