Motor oil is a lubricant used in internal combustion engines. These include motor
or road vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, heavier vehicles such as buses
and commercial vehicles, non-road vehicles such as go-karts, snowmobiles, boats
(fixed engine installations and outboards), ride-on lawn mowers, large agricultural
and construction equipment, trains and aircraft, and static engines such
as electrical generators. In engines there are parts which move very closely against
each other causing friction which wastes otherwise useful power by converting
the energy to heat. Contact between moving surfaces also wears away those
parts, which could lead to lower efficiency and degradation of the motor. This
increases fuel consumption and decreases power output and can, in extreme cases,
lead to total engine failure.
Lubricating oil creates a separating
film between surfaces of adjacent moving parts to minimize direct contact between
them, decreasing friction, wear, and production of excessive heat, thus protecting
the engine. Motor oil also carries away heat from moving parts, which is
important because materials tend to become softer and less abrasion-resistant
at high temperatures. Some engines have an additional oil cooler for this purpose.
|
