From a manufacturer’s point, the quality of the motor oil is defined by its base ingredients. All motor oils are composed of two major components – the base oil and additives. Base oil is the fundament of the motor oil. It is either mineral or synthetic oil and is available in different grades. Cheaper oil lubricants are most likely to be made of mineral oil, which is considered to be inferior to synthetic oil. The other component, which is the additive, usually determines the performance of the motor oil. Therefore, the more and better quality additives are put into the product, the more it will increase the motor oil’s quality. This is the reason why cheap oil offers less performance and little protection for the engine.
For most motorists, it is difficult to judge the quality of motor oil just by looking at it. But there are a number of indicators helping to tell which motor oil is below average and which one offers the benefits of a high quality product. The first indicator would be manufacturer approvals. If the said motor oil is officially approved by a certain car manufacturer, the manufacturer warrants for the quality of the oil. When oil carries the manufacturer approval the car needs according to the manual, so one can be sure that this is definitely the best oil for your car. So manufacturer approvals are a very strong indicator for high quality motor oil.
While there is no miracle potion that can offer which can cut your fuel consumption in half, but there are a number of ways to save money on fuel. German lubricant and fuel additive specialist Liqui Moly offers some tips on lowering the cost of maintenance and repair work by following some basic engine management advice. “Basically there are two things reducing the fuel efficiency of an engine: wear and improper combustion,” explains Harry Hartkorn, application engineer at Liqui Moly. “Part of the wear is caused by deposits in the oil system. They stem from ash, soot and fuel residues. These deposits can easily be removed during the oil change. Just pour Liqui Moly Motor Clean in the oil and let the engine idle. Now the agents dissolve deposits and sludge. After approximately 10-15 minutes the engine is turned off. The solved contaminants are drained together with the used oil. The new oil gets in a clean system where it is able to deliver its maximum performance.” adds Hartkorn.
Another tip is to use high-quality motor oil – most motorists tend to think that by choosing cheap lubricants will mean it saves them money. “In the short run that seems to be logical but in the long run they are likely to pay more. High-quality motor oil offers extended oil change intervals and always refer to the driver manual. Less oil changes means less oil means less spending. Considering this, high quality motor oil may be more economic per mile that the alleged “cheap” oil. Better oils offer superior lubrication properties that reduce friction and thereby also fuel consumption. Using the wrong oil will speed up the agglomeration of deposits and may lead to severe engine troubles and even to expensive damage. The owner’s manual of each car clearly states the type of oil to be used for that particular model and type of engine,” said Hartkorn.
For high-performance engines or even worn out engines, Hartkron recommends the Cera Tec high tech oil additive to further increase protection and to reduce wear. This additive contains minute ceramic particles that fill in the uneven metal surfaces of pistons and cylinder walls, levelling the microscopic unevenness and preventing the direct contact of metal on metal. Cera Tec is mechanically and thermally very stable and supports lubrications even under extreme conditions. Its ceramic particles stick so strongly to the metal surface even after another change of oil. Liqui Moly claims that Cera Tec still performs even up to 50,000 kilometres. It is also suitable for engine gearboxes, pumps and compressors to reduce friction and wear, except for automatic transmissions and wet clutches.
Lastly, he further recommends using fuel additives like the Liqui Moly Injection Cleaner for gas engines and Super Diesel Additive for diesel engines to remove contaminants from the fuel injection system. “Deposits at the injection system hamper the combustion. The exhaust gas values get worse, you get less power and experience higher fuel consumption. The Injection Cleaner and Super Diesel Additive helps to keep the heart of the engine clean. Just pour them into the fuel tank. You benefit not only by prolonged lifetime of the engine. During a year-long field test with a German transportation company it turned out that busses with Super Diesel Additive consumed 3.2 per cent less fuel than the other buses,” says Hartkorn.