When you want the very best for your car, oil additives play an important role as far as keeping the internal parts of your engine running smoothly and efficiently. These products are designed to offer additional protection qualities to your car’s oil by adding different formulated additives that improve the oil’s lubricating abilities, while also preventing corrosion and buildup of harmful particles inside the motor.
It’s always important to make sure you choose the right oil additive, as different types offer different benefits. You’ll need to think about if you want synthetic oil vs conventional and some could be more or less suitable for your car’s engine depending on its make and model.
There are a few important decisions to consider when deciding on which products are right for you, such as its specific purpose, the cost of the additive, personal customer reviews, and how it’s supposed
to be used.
Let’s take a close look at each of these factors, so that you can choose the most suitable additive for your vehicle, and keep your engine running smoothly.
The Different Types of Oil Additives
There are a wide variety of oil additives on the market, and each one is designed to offer enhanced protection and lubrication for engines as well as helping with common issues like engine noise or seized engines. Viscosity index improvers, detergents and dispersants, friction modifiers, anti-wear agents, seal swell agents, pour point depressants, corrosion inhibitors and extreme pressure additives are all commonly used to ensure optimal engine performance.
Viscosity Index Improvers: Improve the performance of your engine oil using viscosity index improvers to adjust the viscosity of the oil so it can be used over a wide range of temperatures without breaking down too quickly. This helps to protect your engine from wear and tear caused by extreme heat or cold which of course also saves you on costly mechanic bills.
Detergents and Dispersants: By breaking down large particles into smaller ones, detergents and dispersants help keep the oil clean to avoid a build up of sludge. This can then be easily drained out when changing your oil. They also reduce deposits on internal components, while also preventing oxidation of the oil over time.
Friction Modifiers: Increase your vehicle’s fuel economy using friction modifiers to help reduce friction within your engine, and reduce wear on internal parts. These additives can also help improve performance when using low-viscosity oils with lighter weights.
Anti-Wear Agents: Another way to combat wear on the internal parts of your engine is by using anti-wear agents to create a film around the components; this reduces metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing friction. This can help prolong the life of your engine when regularly used alongside other oil additives.
Seal Swell Agents: When used in conjunction with other oil additives, seal swell agents can help to prevent leaks around gaskets or seals by swelling them slightly. This can provide additional protection against leakages due to age or vibration.
Pour Point Depressants: By preventing oils from thickening at lower temperatures you can help to make sure they can flow freely even on a bitterly cold day. To do this you need to use pour point depressants. This helps ensure optimal performance throughout winter months when temperatures can drop significantly.
Corrosion Inhibitors: Water and acids present in your motor oil can cause rust and corrosion to the metal surfaces of your engine. You can remedy this by adding corrosion inhibitors to slow down the oxidation process in your engine oil. These inhibitors ensure your car stays running smoothly for longer periods, and prevents issues arising from corrosion or rusting components inside your engine block, or other metal components exposed to humidity and water vapour, which become present in motor oils over time.
Extreme Pressure Additives: Similar to anti-wear agents, extreme pressure additives create a protective film that prevents metal parts coming into contact with each other. As the name suggests, this product is designed for high pressure situations, such as shock loading when driving at higher speeds over bumpy terrain, like dirt roads. In these instances, the shocks could damage the more delicate areas of your engine if they were left unprotected due to a lack of the extra lubrication required.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Oil Additive
There are several things to consider when choosing what product, or products, are right for you. Different oil additives offer different benefits and could be more or less suitable for certain engines depending on their make and model. Let’s take a look at some of the main factors that you should take into account when selecting an oil additive:
Engine Type and Age: The type and age of your engine is likely to influence the type of oil additive most suited to you. Different oils can vary in composition according to your engine’s make and model, so it’s important that you select an oil which will provide effective protection without being too harsh or incompatible with existing components.
Driving Conditions: Depending on where you drive your car, a different type of oil may be more suitable for providing adequate lubrication and protection. For example certain driving conditions, such as off-roading or highway driving, would require different oil additives. Always ensure that you check the details of each product before making a purchase.
Climate and Weather: Depending on where you live, different climates can have an effect on how quickly oil degrades at various temperatures. Try to make sure that when you buy online, any additives selected are compatible with your climate in order to get optimal performance out of them over time. This means fewer oil changes are needed to maintain optimum levels within your engine during hotter or colder seasons.
Fuel Type: This may not be a concern to you, but for some enthusiasts who use specific fuel types, such as diesel or unleaded petrol, it can be important to check that any additives used are suitable for the type of fuel used in their vehicle. Failure to do so could actually cause damage to the engine, rather than offering the additional protection that was intended.
Performance Goals: If you’re looking for improved performance from your engine, then it’s important to select a product which offers additional features specifically designed toward this goal. As we mentioned earlier, friction modifiers or anti-wear agents reduce metal contact during times when engines come under extra stress due to acceleration or shock loading from bumpy roads, so if that’s a concern for you and your vehicle then consider adding these products to your engine maintenance routine.
Oil Type and Brand: Remember, not all oils are equal, so it pays to do research into trusted brands which have a good reputation amongst users in regards to how well they perform under various conditions. Any reputable brand should include information about each product, detailing the composition of their products along with instructions for best use practices, as well as customer support in case any questions arise while using them. It’s always better to find out more beforehand than take a chance on something new, especially if you don’t have previous experience with that particular brand.
Compatibility With Existing Engine Oil: Before purchasing an additive, check whether it’s compatible with other oils already present in your vehicle’s engine block, as mixing certain additives could lead to blockage build up within pipe works and other internal components. This can result in a lesser overall performance, and, if ignored, could potentially lead to expensive repair bills later down the line.
Choosing the Right Oil Additive for Your Car
We’ve established that oil additives are essential to ensure your car’s engine runs optimally. It’s always important to consult with your mechanic or speak to an oil expert, before selecting what products are right for your engine’s needs. These professionals can help you identify the best type of oil additive for your car based on its make and model, as well as helping you consider which of the other factors we discussed earlier could be relevant to your personal circumstances.
When you’ve obtained a clearer idea of what additives are right for you, use the internet to research and compare the different products on the market. Customer reviews can be an effective way of getting an idea of which brand has the highest quality and most durable results.
What’s more, it is always important to analyze your car owner’s manual and manufacturer’s recommendations when choosing an oil additive. This will give you an even more complete understanding of which type of oil should be used in your car.
It is important to understand the composition and benefits of each type of oil additive before making a final selection. Remember that they all have different properties that can affect performance in various ways.
Conclusion
Making an informed decision about the right oil additive for your car requires research, comparison, and consultation with experts. But, in the long term, it can provide numerous benefits in terms of performance and longevity.
You should always consult with a mechanic or oil expert, read customer reviews online, consider manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner’s manual, and understand the composition and benefits of each type of oil additive.
Additionally, it is important to carry out regular maintenance and ensure that you are changing the oil according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Keep these key considerations in mind when selecting an oil additive that meets your individual needs and preferences.