5 Things to know about additives in a car engine oil

Additives are like energy drinks for your engine or at least that is how they are marketed. The additives supposedly help your engine to run smooth, become more powerful and fuel efficient, protect wearing of the engine parts and keep the engine clean among other things. Here are five things that you have to know about additives in a car.

1. Modern day engine oils already come added with the necessary additives. Adding more additives to engine oil is like adding sugar to your soft drink.

2. Beliefs like additives reduce oil consumption or enhance engine protection of engine oil are fiction. Do not waste your money on additives.

3. When oil companies decided to fight sludge formation, they added various performance additives to give them additional protection to work harder for a long time and to protect the engine.

4. Engine oils nowadays contain various additives like

• Detergent oil additives: they help in keeping the engine clean and counteract the corrosive acids that form when the fuel is burned
• Dispersants: these remove soot and sludge and hold it in the oil to prevent blockages
• Anti-wear additives: these additives form a chemical layer between the moving parts of the engine and protect it. The anti-wear additives come in handy the engine is labored with high loads or during engine start-up.
• Antioxidants:  the antioxidants delay the natural degradation of engine oil and protect your the engine for a longer of time and wear
• Friction modifiers: they reduce the drag between the components inside the engine and increase fuel economy
• Anti-rust additives: these are the additives that, obviously, prevent engine corrosion

5. Do not forget to change your oil regularly or as recommended by your car company. Just topping up engine oil repeatedly without proper maintenance and oil change will lead to serious trouble.