Can I add additives in oil?

The components of our oils have been proportioned to reach an optimum result. Add an additive may create unnecessary blends and even harmful. Certain manufacturers even forbid to incorporate an additive in the oil.

Can I put in my gear-box the same oil as in my engine?

The answer to this question depends on the technology used. Although some older vehicles allow the same lubricant to be used for both the engine and the gearbox, new vehicles require different products for each.

Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Can I use diesel engine oil in a petrol engine, and vice versa?

Petrol and diesel engines have different lubrication requirements. During development, lubricants undergo a number of tests, some common to diesel and petrol engines and others specific to one or the other type, that categorize their performances. At the end of this process, they are awarded an API compliance standard. These specifications characterize the acceptable functioning of the lubricant in each type of petrol or diesel engine. Lubricants for four-stroke engines usually comply with both petrol and diesel specifications. For example, an API SJ/CF lubricant meets petrol specification SJ and diesel specification CF. But this does not necessarily mean that it will perform in the same way in both petrol and diesel engines.

Can I mix two different types of oil?

Lubricants are always optimized to meet the requirements of international classifications. However, there are many ways of formulating a specific type of lubricant. Mixing two oils that have equivalent properties will not pose a problem, but final performance cannot be guaranteed. All market oils (petrol engine or diesel, mineral or synthetic) are mixable. However, a blending of two oil qualities lowers the superior quality.

Can I use car engine oil in my motorcycle?

No, because motorcycle four-stroke engines do not operate under the same conditions as those of cars (higher engine rpm and temperature). The engine lubricant can also be used to lubricate the gearbox and the clutch, which requires a formula with EXTREME-PRESSURE ADDITIVES. On the other hand, passenger vehicle lubricants contain DETERGENT ADDITIVES with a high ash content. In motorcycle engines, these cause deposits to form on the valve train and the piston crowns, which can result in valve burning or piston perforation.

What causes oil pressure to drop?

During normal vehicle operation, oil is vital to ensures leak tightness between the combustion chamber and the crankcase. The oil pressure indicator shows how well this is being done.

An unusual drop in oil pressure can result from either lower engine oil viscosity due to dilution by fuel (injector problem or use at low load) ; too little oil in the lubrication system (due to an oil leak, excess oil consumption, or failure of the oil circulation pump) ; or even mechanical part wear.

Does the oil have to be topped up?

The engine oil level should be checked regularly to prevent incidents. A small amount of the oil that circulates in the engine is always burnt (an engine in good condition consumes between 0.2 and 0.5 liters of oil every 1,000 kilometres), but successive top-ups are no substitute for an oil change.

Accordingly, it is natural that an engine consumes a small amount of oil, which can be offset by top-ups between oil changes; however, excessive need for top-ups can be an indication of mechanical problems (leaks, etc).

What does a lubricant do ?

Any vehicle owner knows that lubricants are vital to the correct operation of your engine:

Cooling engine hot spots and moving parts,

Ensuring that engine parts remain clean

Ensuring leak tightness between engine parts,

Protecting the inner surfaces of the engine against corrosion,

Additives bring their help, with the detergent and dispersant addives, and the additives against corrosion.

How can you judge lubricant performance?

Product labels provide a considerable amount of information about lubricant performance.

What are the advantages of a quality oil?

A good quality oil provides motorists with a number of benefits:

Easier cold start and reduced wear (20 to 30% of engine wear occurs between start up and the time the engine reaches optimal       temperature),

Longer engine life

Fuel savings as a result of reduced friction of moving parts and better engine performance.

Why choose a synthetic oil?

Semi-synthetic and synthetic oils are made from non-conventional bases using sophisticated chemical processes which confer special properties to the finished product. First, the high level of viscosity of the base oils used gives the finished lubricant remarkably stable viscosity whatever the temperature. This property is one of its major advantages over mineral oils, made from conventional bases which require a greater number of additives in order to improve viscosity. The stability of lubrication in all temperatures guarantees optimum efficacy in the cold starting phase which is particularly demanding on the engine? as well as under conditions of extreme heat. Synthetic-based lubricants show greater resistance to oxidation, which gives them longer effective life thus guaranteeing longer engine life. The use of non-conventional bases, finally, permits the elaboration of more fluid lubricants, without being more volatile; resulting in a reduction of oil consumption.

Therefore, choosing a synthetic based oil is the technologically advance choice, for greater efficacy, longevity and controlled oil consumption.

What are the advantages of a multigrade oil?

A multigrade oil is one whose proper

when the vehicle is not being used (for several hours), the engine oil sinks in the crankcase so that, on starting, it takes a certain       amount of time (a few microseconds) to again reach all parts of the engine that need to be lubricated. Since a multigrade oil is       more fluid at low temperatures, it reaches the various engine components more quickly than a monograde oil, thereby reducing       wear on starting.

Multigrade oil allow “saving fuel” around 1.5% to 3% then monograde oil Multigrade oils provide better engine protection at      low and high temperatures than monograde oils, in that they maintain optimum viscosity over the engine operating temperature       range.

Why change the oil?

The oil change is an essential operation in maintaining a vehicle in top condition:

Because lubricants collect particles of internal and external pollution (carbonic matter, particles of worn metal,?)

Because an oil’s efficacy diminishes because of: – dilution by water and fuel, – oxidation, – the consumption of additives, –       shearing

How often should oil be changed?

At least once a year

The frequency recommended by the manufacturer may be modified according to: – The lubricant used, – Vehicle use (country,       city, highway), – Thermal and mechanical requirements.

Never drive with an oil level below the minimum mark on the dipstick Below this mark there is not enough oil, thus causing       more rapid circulation of the fluid and accelerated wear on the oil.

It is recommended to check the level regularly every 1,000 km and especially before a long trip.

Can you choose another viscosity grade when changing oil?

Yes, you have to adjust the viscosity according to the conditions of the vehicle’s usage, the environment and the climatic       conditions.