Friction in a car's engine and other moving parts can be significantly reduced with the right type of lubricant. Engine oil, as you know, is responsible for lubricating and protecting the moving parts of your engine. We generally use regular oil
(also known as mineral oil) or synthetic oil for lubrication.
The most common lubricants are usually oils or greases, but you can also find dry or penetrating lubricants. Penetrating lubricants generally contain very low viscosity base oils, making them very fluid and slippery.
Penetrating lubricants are highly refined; therefore, ideal for fast-moving engine parts that are slowed down by the drag caused by automotive lubrication.
Additives help improve oil quality and increase fuel efficiency, as lubricating oils are frequently used on engine parts. For example, engine oils are often used to improve fuel efficiency, while gear oils and gear lubricants are designed to lubricate high-pressure contact gear components. Gear oils are used where lubrication is required at extremely high temperatures, such as in
automotive differentials or manual transmissions.
Transmission oil is a brightly colored lubricant that keeps the transmission running smoothly. Gear oil does this by performing many functions, including lubrication, cooling, protection, and conditioning of the transmission and its many moving parts. Transmission fluid, this fluid is usually colored red or green to distinguish it from other lubricants.
Engine oil also neutralizes acids formed from oxidized fuels and lubricants (detergents), improves piston ring seals, and cools the engine.
The oil in an engine oil-based product breaks down and burns when used in an engine, becoming contaminated with particles and chemicals that make it a
less effective lubricant.
Traditional oils form a thin lubricating film on gears and other mechanical parts, while oils with higher viscosity coat a thicker film, providing a firmer finish that protects large
construction equipment from wear. Lubricating oil protects the engine by forming an insulating film between the surfaces of adjacent moving parts to minimize direct contact between them, reducing frictional heat and reducing wear.
Just as there are many different types of lubricants, automotive lubricants can also be used in many different ways.
The term "automotive lubricants" is a broad term that can be used to refer to a wide range of automotive products. Engine oil may consist of just a base lubricant in the case of a non-detergent oil, or a base lubricant with additives to improve the oil's cleaning properties, performance under extreme pressures, and ability to prevent corrosion of engine parts.
Engine oil and brake fluid may both be amber in color, but where engine oil is a lubricant, brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid and serves a different purpose.
Engine oils and automotive lubricants are also susceptible to oxidation at high temperatures (synthetic oils also oxidize after a certain point).