Have you prepared your car engine for the challenge of summer heat? | Business

How does summer heat affect engine oil?

Car manufacturers usually indicate two main terms when it is recommended to change engine oils: following covering a certain number of kilometers or, regardless of the mileage covered, following a certain time has passed, for example, a year following the last change.

However, drivers often do not pay attention to the fact that even if in theory the oils do not need to be changed yet, in practice they may have already lost some of their good properties, and the summer heat accelerates the degradation even more.
“All the main parts of the car feel the summer heat, especially the engine and its oil.

Agency STORM photo/Engine oil

For example, if you drive mainly in the city, where you have to stand in traffic jams, as a result of which effective cooling is not ensured, the engine heats up a lot, the oils can start, in the vernacular, “burning”. This means that additives in lubricants that provide lubrication and cleaning properties lose their effectiveness. This can cause even very big problems, for example, due to insufficient lubrication, the liners can be cracked, which often indicates an overhaul of the engine”, warns Ramūnas Kieras, Xado customer manager.

One more thing should be taken into account – whether the car manufacturer recommends using a different viscosity or even a different type of oil during the summer. For example, some manufacturers indicate that more viscous oils should be used in summer – if 10W40 should be used as a standard, it is recommended to replace them with 15W40 or even higher viscosity oil in the hot season.

“There are also examples when manufacturers recommend replacing synthetic oils with mineral ones. Why? Because mineral oils are less sensitive to high temperatures, they do not liquefy like synthetic oils. But you can’t just make it up yourself. It is always necessary to check whether the manufacturer has foreseen such rockers,” R. Kieras observes.

Monitor engine performance

The fact that the engine is not satisfied with the existing lubricants and is feeling the effects of the summer heat can be revealed by certain signs of its operation – uneven work, speed jumps. According to experts, you may not notice these symptoms right away. For example, if you leave the car in the morning, it can work without problems, because the oils are not yet overheated and are sufficiently viscous. But later in the day, following a longer distance has been driven and the engine and oil have reached operating temperature, these signs may become apparent.

If only the initial malfunctions of the engine are felt, it is still possible to avoid major problems by replacing the old oils with new ones, but sometimes drivers can also hear the sounds of metal rubbing or even grinding. In this case, it is very likely that the internal components of the engine are already mechanically damaged, so it will not be possible to eliminate these causes without repair.

Are there additional measures?

If you want to avoid possible problems, the first rule is to evaluate your engine oils, whether they meet the manufacturer’s recommendations, whether they are still sufficiently new and have not lost their good properties. However, if you want even more peace of mind and guarantees, experts advise using additional accessories designed to improve engine performance.

“You can use metal conditioners, which create an additional layer on the internal parts of the engine – this reduces friction, makes the engine run smoother and easier, improves cooling, and reduces the risk of metal friction. Such additives extend the service life of the grease and reduce the negative influence of high temperature on its main properties”, observes R. Kier.

Please note that it is not only us who feel the summer heat, the high air temperature also affects our cars, especially the engines. However, with proper care, summer trips can be enjoyed without any problems, even if you plan to go on long trips.