Lexikon

Additives that improve the cleaning effect of the engine oil.

Additives that affect the engine oil's ability to bind dirt particles and keep them in suspension. The aim is to transport these dirt particles in the oil circuit to the oil filter.

Modern, highly additive engine oils, which are based on fully synthetic base oils, can behave aggressively towards old sealing materials and make them brittle. There is also a risk that they will loosen the deposits that have been accumulated in the engine over the decades. Both of these can lead to leaks and, in the worst case, to the engine damage.

RAVENOL engine oils are specifically designed for the different materials used. Our oils behave neutrally towards all sealing materials used. They highly exceed the performance of simple mineral oils and provide the best protection for the engine.

Oil made by distilling natural crude oil. Hydrocarbon molecules are extracted in the refinery. The cost-effective manufacturing process means that a relatively broad mixture of hydrocarbons of different lengths is obtained. Disadvantage: The existing, undesirable shorter or longer chain hydrocarbon molecules have a negative influence on the behavior of the oil in operation.

Multigrade oils are engine oils that can be used in a wide range of temperatures. The oils are fluid at cold temperatures and can reliably lubricate the engine. When hot, the oil does not become too thin and remains resistant to loads. Today's oils are more independent of temperature due to additives (see "Additives"). Multigrade oils are suitable for both summer and winter.

Mixture of fully synthetic base oils and mineral and / or HC oils. The proportion of synthetic base oils is not defined, so it is not possible to draw any conclusions about the quality of the respective oil.

Motor oil ages being used or stored. Reactions with oxygen (formation of peroxides, hydrocarbon radicals), heat, light and the catalytic effects of metals and other impurities accelerate aging. Anti-aging substances, so-called antioxidants, delay aging.

Synthetic base oils (API group IV and V oils, e.g. polyalphaolefins [PAO] and synthetic esters) are being synthesized in a complex and cost-intensive refinery process and are characterized by a precisely defined molecular structure and chemical-physical properties. Synthetic base oils form the basis for particularly high-performance engine oils. Fully synthetic engine oils, matched to modern engines, offer optimal wear protection and very good cold start properties. In addition, the smooth running properties reduce fuel consumption and keep the engine clean.

It is the measure of the internal friction of a fluid. It depends very much on the temperature and is classified for engine oils by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) in a number-letter combination. The ordinal number before the "W" (5W = winter) provides information about the behaviour at low temperatures, while the ordinal number after the "W" (e.g. 30) is the key figure for the flow behaviour at high temperatures (100 °C). In principle, the following applies: small number = low viscosity, large number = high viscosity. The engine life is essentially dependent on the base oil used and the viscosity. "

Basically, the following applies: small number = low viscosity, large number = high viscosity. The engine life depends mainly on the base oil used and the viscosity.

To improve the viscosity-temperature behaviour, viscosity index improvers (oil-soluble polymers) are added to engine oils. A stable and wear-resistant polymer structure ensures high shear stability. This prevents the polymers from breaking due to shear forces that occur, for example, on oil between the cylinder and the piston wall. If shear stability is low, wear quickly turns a 10W-40 oil into a 10W-30 oil whose high-temperature properties are greatly reduced.

Chemical additives that are added to the engine and transmission oil to enhance desired properties or suppress undesired properties. They can be surface-active to fulfil special tasks (corrosion protection, friction value optimisation, wear protection) or directly influence the properties of the oil (e.g. avoid foaming, improve viscosity-temperature behaviour).

In addition, there are additives that are added to fuels or radiator antifreeze agents to optimise or influence their properties.