Engine oil is held to special requirements

Engine oil plays an important role in how a car works. That's why it's held to special requirements. Poor-quality oil can cause a car to break down.

Engine oil serves as the lubricant for the pistons and rotors in internal combustion engines. It's matched to one fuel type or another. There are oils for diesel engines, oils for their petrol counterparts, and universal-purpose products that let you service both engine types. All of them enhance the base properties of their additives. On top of that, depending on the season, the engine oil used may be formulated as a seasonal product or, again, as a universal one. All of these features affect the quality composition of the oils and their price.

Practically all modern engine oils are modifications of base oils, which are blends of various components (residual and distillate) and synthetic products. Universal oils are obtained by thickening standard blends with modest softness using various macropolymer additives.

Engine oils are classed as synthetic, mineral and semi-synthetic. This split comes from the different composition of the base blends used in production.

Today, neither operation, nor preventive maintenance, nor repair of a Mazda or any other car can do without engine oils. Given just how important these substances are for vehicles, oils are held to certain requirements.

First, they must have a strong stabilising and dispersing effect on various insoluble contaminants, take part in cooling the pistons and cleaning the engine. Second, their thermal and oxidation properties must guarantee a high heat threshold for the oil in the sump. Third, a strong oil film helps protect the metal surface. And finally, the oil is required to keep all its qualities stable. Most important of all, the oil must be a reliable lubricant despite any extreme conditions and loads, must be compatible with seal materials and with the catalysts in the exhaust after-treatment system, must not foam during transport, and must burn off sparingly. It's exactly this kind of quality oil that supports professional servicing, preventive maintenance and all kinds of repairs — of a Mazda automatic transmission, say, or its engine.

You can get advice on which oil your car needs at outlets such as a Mazda, BMW or Volvo service centre, among others.