5 Engine Oil Treatment Benefits Every Car Owner Should Know

If you have heard of engine oil treatments and oil additives, you probably wonder, "Why all the hype?" You are not alone. We've investigated this topic and found that automotive enthusiasts and mechanics alike tend to criticize rather than support the use of engine oil treatments. So to set the facts straight, we've researched further to answer all of your questions about engine oil treatment benefits.

Servicing your engine with an engine oil treatment is beneficial because it 

  1. improves block leaks and seals in older engines,
  2. prevents wear and tear of engine components,
  3. prevents corrosion,
  4. promotes oil cleanliness, and
  5. improves viscosity.

What are oil treatments? What are the types of additives? Are they harmful? Because your questions keep coming, we've put answers about this topic together for you. Keep reading for all the details about engine oil treatments in this comprehensive post.

Oil change in car service., 5 Engine Oil Treatment Benefits Every Car Owner Should Know

Engine Oil Treatment Benefits

1. Improves Seals And Blocks Leaks In Older Engines

If your vehicle is five years old or older and you have not yet replaced the engine, regular maintenance may not be enough to keep the engine in top condition. Engine oil treatment can help to improve older engine issues.

Fuel leaks, caused by fuel lines and their fittings, occur when parts crack or sustain damage due to normal wear and tear. Treating engine oil keeps older lines and fittings healthy to increase effectiveness at containing the fuel in the fuel tank. Oil treatment can be a delicate process, so if you are unsure how to administer an oil treatment to an older engine, please employ the services of a professional.

2. Prevents Wear And Tear Of Engine Components

Some parts move against each other in an engine. Without lubrication, friction between these parts causes wear and tear on engine components. Engine oil typically lubricates but occasionally does not serve its purpose effectively, primarily if using the wrong fuel.

Engine oil treatment helps engines stay at their best by coating parts and surfaces and minimizing friction to prevent excess wear and tear. Treating engine oil can avoid seizing an engine.

5 Engine Oil Treatment Benefits Every Car Owner Should Know

3. Prevents Corrosion

Engine oil contains acid, which, when unrestrained, can damage the engine. Most modern oils contain additives to fight the acid buildup in the oil. With time, however, the contaminated oil becomes acidic. Treating the engine oil slows oxidation by neutralizing acids in the oil to protect the engine from potentially damaging chemicals.

4. Promotes Oil Cleanliness

As engine oil works to keep the engine running successfully, it burns and creates chemical byproducts similar to ash. Byproducts both stick to the cylinder walls and move through the engine with the oil.

Impurities affect the oil's effectiveness and may result in a shorter lifespan for your engine. Engine oil treatment helps get rid of these impurities, therefore restoring the purity of the oil.

5. Promotes Viscosity

Engine oil loses its viscosity when it's cooled and heated in an engine. The viscosity thins, or decreases, with increasing temperature and thickens, or increases, with decreasing temperature. 

Most oils cannot remain constant regardless of the change in temperature; a feature referred to as the fuel's VI or viscosity index. A high VI means there's a reduction in fuel consumption at lower temperatures, as well as less wear, and lower oil consumption at higher temperatures. Engine oil treatment helps keep the viscosity at the right level for all temperature ranges.

What Are Engine Oil Additives?

Oil additives are unique chemical compounds added to a base oil by either adding aftermarket oil supplements or supplementing during manufacturing.

Engine oil loses crucial additives with time due to decomposition and oxidation. It also loses them through adsorption of oil additives onto water surfaces, particles, and metal. Separation by settling or filtration loses oil additives. 

Engine oil additives help motor oil perform crucial functions such as cooling the engine, protecting against corrosion and removing contaminants. Aftermarket oil supplements can also be used to enhance engine operation and oil further.

Oil change in car service., 5 Engine Oil Treatment Benefits Every Car Owner Should Know

Are Engine Oil Additives Harmful?

Engine oil additives aren't harmful. On the contrary, they bring out the best in fuel and promote a healthy engine.

When Should I Use An Engine Oil Treatment?

Use engine oil treatment when you notice irregularities in your engine, such as fuel leaks or smoke spewing from the hood. You should also treat oil if your vehicle has high mileage, if it's old (mostly), or if unusual sounds are heard from your engine. 

However, it's best to prevent a problem rather than cure it. Don't wait for disaster to strike. As we shall see in the next section, there are various types of additives, and each has its purpose. If you're not sure about using additives, you can always ask an expert to help you make the right choice.

Types of Engine Oil Treatments (Additives)

There are six main types of engine oil additives. Though most engine oils contain one type, synthetic and conventional motor oils usually have a combination of various kinds of additives formulated for a particular type of engine.

Antifoaming Additives

Antifoaming treatments are designed to prevent engine oil from foaming while circulating through the engine. These additives lower the surface tension between engine oil and air bubbles, enabling air bubbles to dissipate easily.

Viscosity Modifiers

Viscosity modifiers improve an engine oil's viscosity index. These additives help maintain the viscosity of your engine oil within the right range, no matter the temperature.

Shell's Rotella T4 Triple Protection Conventional Engine Oil is an ideal example of a superior viscosity modifier. It comes in superb packaging and has an improved shear stability performance for viscosity control as well as other useful features.

Click here to view this product on Amazon.

Detergents

Detergents that keep your engine running clean by preventing rust and removing deposits from engine parts. The Royal Purple Max-Clean Fuel System Cleaner and Stabilizer keeps new engines clean.

Click here to view this product on Amazon.

Anti-wear Additives

Anti-wear additives keep engine parts and surfaces from wearing excessively. Archoil AR9100 Oil Additive not only reduces wear and tear of your engine but also minimizes friction.

Click here to view this product on Amazon.

Dispersants

Dispersants suspend solid particles in engine oil, preventing deposition in the process. The Chevron 65740-CASE Techron Concentrate gives a shine like no other.

Click here to view this product on Amazon. 

Corrosion Inhibitors

The CRC 06020 Heavy Duty Corrosion Inhibitor protects and preserves metal surfaces, especially engines, and provides fast results.

Click here to view this product on Amazon. 

Is Thicker Engine Oil Better?

Yes, thicker oil is better because it seals better and maintains a better lubrication film between moving parts.

When going for thick engine oil, ensure that it's not too thick because excessively thick oil causes the engine to use up more energy to turn the crankshaft. More viscous oil can also make it more challenging to start the engine, which lowers fuel economy.

Yes To Engine Oil Treatments

Now you know about engine oil treatment and all the benefits for your vehicle. No matter how old your engine, whether it is corroding or neds a viscosity adjustment, oil treatment is likely available to improve the issue. Treat your engine right using engine oil treatment, and it will serve you longer than you expect!

Share this article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *