Why does engine oil turn black?

Why does engine oil turn black? There are several questions asked about engine oil. One of the frequent questions asked is “why does engine oil turn black?” and when the oil darkens, does it mean it is time to change it? When new oil is poured into the engine during service or top-ups, its colour […]

What components require lubrication?

What components require lubricantion? Mechanical components come in various types and designs that tie to their function. Being ‘mechanical’ often means there are surface contacts and movements relative to each other. This rubbing effect needs lubrication or oiling to allow for unimpeded operation. Three components we will discuss here are bearings, gears and cylinders. These […]

Why is viscosity index important?

As mentioned in the previous article, viscosity is a very important property of lubricant. However, knowing the right viscosity for the application is not enough. We need to know how the viscosity changes with temperature. This is especially true for machines that operate under wide temperature ranges. Viscosity Index or VI is the viscosity behaviour […]