In the early days, motorcar lubrication requirements were not particularly complicated but, even then, oils of the time struggled. The result was that most owners expected to dismantle the engine periodically to remove accumulated carbon. Differentials and gearboxes would also be lucky to reach 80,000 miles without becoming obviously ‘tired’. Much of this was down to the basic oil technology of the day.
As cars have become more powerful and complex, lubricants have evolved. Automatic/automated transmissions, hydraulic braking, power steering, air-conditioning and even folding hard/soft top roofs all have lubrication requirements, which are very different to those of the engine. In keeping with the modern obsession, lubricants drive efficiency. While thinner oils mean less CO2 and fuel consumption, mechanical harm will result without advanced additives and accurate formulations.
While discussing engine oil alone would be sufficient to fill this magazine, we shall give an over view of the main types you will encounter. While brake fluid and coolant possess lubrication functions, we have excluded them on purpose.
Choosing the right lubricant
A significant issue with modern cars is that there is an enormous range of lubricants from which to select. Engine oils especially have become so diverse that they are virtually manufacturerspecific. As this topic can be so baffling, we partnered with the experts at Duckhams, a company that is well-known, especially, among the classic car contingent. Yet, the company has a comprehensive range of products for modern vehicles and, therefore, is wellversed in their lubrication requirements.
Most cars on UK roads have a manufacturer’s specification code, particularly for their engine oil requirements. This is to ensure that the lubricant complies with the technical needs of the particular component. Duckhams advises that you prioritise the manufacturer’s specification first, followed by any North American (API) or European (ACEA) standards and then the viscosity. While choosing between mineral, semi-synthetic and fullysynthetic is not a major factor any longer, Duckhams advises that it is possible for a blender to make a semi-synthetic oil, with its theoretically lower quality base oil, perform to equivalent standards as a synthetic by
