It is a fact: Oil gets used up and there is no way to stop that from happening. But there are some things that can be done to slow down oil contamination.
There is no standard definition for oil degradation. According to Dan Arcy, technical marketing manager, Shell Lubricants, oil becomes non-useful when it becomes contaminated or when the additives in it are consumed.
The conditions the oil operates in impact its life expectancy, according to Eric Olsen, staff engineer, Lubricants Technology Team, Chevron Global Lubricants.
“The oil is exposed to high temperatures, combustion, reactive gases, acids and burning hot surfaces. It is a very severe environment.”
Oils are formulated with base oils and additive systems designed to survive these harsh conditions.
Six items are responsible for most oil contamination: Wear metals, dirt, soot, fuel, water and antifreeze/coolant.
There always will be some wear metals in the oil, but the oil must be monitored to ensure the amount of those metals does not become excessive.
