Viscosity Index Improver
Providing your vehicles with the best possible engine oil is important for long lasting engine performance. Understanding what type of oil is best for our vehicles may be a little more difficult. Following your car manual will give you the best idea of what type of motor oil to use in your car’s engine, however there may be times in which your driving conditions may cause you to need a change in the type of oil you use or you may need to use viscosity index improver's.
The viscosity of the oil may be effected depending on weather conditions, driving speeds and how heavy a load your vehicle is expected to carry. If you are unsure what the viscosity of your oil means it is a term used to determine how thick the oil is. An oil with a high viscosity level means that the oil is thicker. Oil that has a low viscosity level is one that is thinner. Viscosity is the term used to measure the thickness of all liquid forms, not just oil.
The reason there are so many different motor oil types available is because there are many reasons why you would need thicker or thinner oil when driving. The hotter the oil in the car becomes the thinner the oil will become causing the viscosity to become to low for some vehicles. If the viscosity becomes to low in a car it will not have the lubricating effect that it needs to allow the engine gears to function properly. This can cause a lot of engine damage. At the same time if an engine’s oil becomes too thick due to being cold and the viscosity level of the engine oil gets to high this can cause clogging and prevent the oil from reaching the engine at all and therefore the engine could be permanently damaged as well.
The viscosity of the oil can also be affected when an engine is running constantly at high speeds or if the vehicle is a towing vehicle or carrying cargo. Diesel trucks that are constantly driving through the mountains, carrying a lot of weight, would not need the same type of oil that a car driven in on a race track would need or a small car driving in Alaska would use. Knowing the type of motor oil your car needs can really help keep your engine running for a long time without any complications.
Often time people choose to use viscosity index improver's in their vehicle's motor oil. This is a chemical additive that can help regulate the oil’s temperature in the vehicle. It prevents the oil from becoming too hot or too cold which will prevent the oil's viscosity levels to fluctuate. They can be very helpful for vehicles that will be exposed to extreme driving conditions. They have proven to work well however they can lose effectiveness over a relatively short amount of time and should be added often to the car's oil.
These additives are usually already added to most multi-grade oils so you would not need to add more to the oil if you are already using an oil that contains these. Make sure to check the type of oil you are using to see if your oil already contains these additives. If not then your car may benefit from viscosity index improver's. If you are unsure whether or not your car has these additives and you have your car's oil changed professionally then ask your mechanic about the type of oil used in your car. If you change your own vehicle's oil then you should be able to read the label to see what additives are included in your oil. Making sure your vehicle has the proper type of oil and the right viscosity level will ensure your engine is safe and will be running properly for years to come.
