FAQs related to usage of Lubricants

1. Do we have to use different lubricants for Petrol Engine and Diesel Engine?
This question cannot be answered as completely NO, but it is strongly not recommended.
There are multiple reasons as to why diesel engine oils cannot be used in petrol engines, however
here are two important ones.
a. Viscosity: Diesel engine oils have a higher viscosity. This causes heat generation due
internal fluid friction. Secondly, during cold starts, the oil may be very thick and difficult for the
oil pump to deliver to the vital engine components in time. This will lead to premature wear
b. Additives: Diesel engine oils have more additives, especially detergents. Diesel engines
create a lot of more soot and combustion byproducts than petrol engine. Therefore, a Diesel
engine oil has more detergent additives to neutralise acids and keep the engine clean. If
Diesel engine oil is put into petrol engines, the detergents will work as it is designed and try to
clean the cylinder walls. This can have an adverse effect on the seal between the piston rings
and liner, resulting in lost compression and efficiency.
However, as technology is advancing and engines are getting more refined, many lubricant
companies are working towards lubricant formulations to satisfy the requirements for both types of
engine. But utmost care must be taken that the right specifications are being chosen, as specified in
the vehicle’s owner manual.

2. Can a car engine oil be used in a motorcycle?

No! It is not recommended at all.
Motorcycles have to be as compact as possible and to do this, the engine and transmission have to
be combined together into one casing. This means that everything is lubricated by only one type of oil
including the valves, piston, transmission, and clutch. This is different in the case of a car where the
engine and other components are lubricated with different oils.
Car engine oils contain more friction modifiers which help reduce friction, and thus, increase fuel
efficiency. However, motorcycles require very little and/or no friction modifiers to help improve clutch
friction, and to prevent clutch slippage. But, if car engine oils are used, these friction modifiers cause
serious damages. The friction modifiers clog the clutch plates in a motorcycle's transmission causing
serious clutch slippage and disabling the motorcycle. Therefore, only high quality motorcycle oil
designed specifically for the type of motorcycle should be used.

3. Can a motorcycle engine oil be used in a scooter?

No! It is not recommended at all.
Scooters and motorcycles need different oils: The lubrication needs of gearless Scooters are different
from those of motorcycles. The major difference is that in motorcycles, the oil lubricates the engine,
wet clutch and gearbox, and in gearless scooters, the oil lubricates only the engine. In motorcycles,
high-friction oil is required for optimal clutch performance, and in scooters a low-friction oil is required
for better fuel economy, same as in car engine. Further, scooter engines are poorly ventilated
compared to motorcycle engines and run at much higher temperatures. A scooter oil must have ability
to maintain its performance at such high temperatures. Therefore, Scooters and motorcycles need
different oils.

4. Can a Consumer add additives in oil?

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

5. Can one put engine oil in gear-box?

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.

6. Can one mix two different types of oil?

Lubricants are always optimized to meet the requirements of international classifications (API, ACEA).
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
lower the superior quality.

7. Why 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 kilometers), 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).

8. Which oil should we use in turbo compressed vehicles?

In order to fulfil the lubrication and shaft cooling needs of the turbo-compressor, oil must answer to
very strict criteria. The shaft reaches, a very high temperature, due to the proximity of the exhaust
gasses, a very high temperature. Oil must lubricate the shaft continuously otherwise the high
temperatures would permanently damage it and the temperature would then very rapidly reach very
high levels.
These conditions mean the oil has to offer considerable detergent property, an important resistance to
oxidisation and deposit formation, but especially very high a thermic stability. The use of SYNTHETIC
oils is therefore the most recommended solution in these conditions. Turbo-compressors are
characteristic of the diesel engines, as it is very easy for petrol engines to reach the same power level
by other means, such as electronic injection, cylinder head multi-valves, etc.

9. 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.

10. Can one choose another viscosity grade when changing oil?
Yes, one has to adjust the viscosity according to the conditions of the vehicle's usage, the
environment and the climatic conditions.
FAQs related to usage of Lubricants

11. What should one do with used oil?

Used oil can pollute the environment and should never be poured down the drain. In many markets it
is also illegal to do this. The quality of oils and their biodegradability have improved but these
products are filled with particles of pollution which can be harmful to the environment. One may
deposit used oil in special containers which can be found at neighbourhood garages.

12. Sometimes the colour of the oil changes within short duration of putting it in application.
Does it mean the oil is of poor quality?
No. There are few additives incorporated in few types of oils (more common in case of gear oils) that
change the colour due to change in the surface chemistry immediately (or within short duration) on
coming in contact with rotating surfaces (dynamic load condition). This change is colour is within the
known behaviour of the oil and does not affect the performance of the oil adversely (or in any other
manner). In the case of engine oils, it turns dark on usage due to the detergency characteristics of the
oil. One may continue to use the oil till its intended life.
13. Does engine oil expire? If not, how long does it generally last?
Engine oils do not have documented expiration dates. When stored under optimal conditions, the
product remains stable for an extended period of time. It can be used as long as the American
Petroleum Institute (API) rating on the label continues to meet or exceed the requirements listed in
vehicle’s owner's manual. If the rating is still current, it is advised to shake the lubricant pack before
use to blend any additives that may have settled.

14. How does a lubricant become coloured? Does colour have any impact on performance of
the lubricant ?
Natural colour of any Base Oil varies from colourless or very light (Group II onwards) to light yellow or
darker (Group I). The ultimate colour of the engine oil, gear oils or any other lubricant become due to
the combined colour of the base oils and additives added to it. Apart from natural colour, appearance
of any other colour (like red, pink, golden or fluorescent yellow, green, blue etc.) is due to addition of
dye. Dye or colour has no impact on the performance of the product. It has only an aesthetic value.