Through every terrain, commercial vehicles need to work well. Therefore, drivers and fleet owners pay attention to the crucial parts of the vehicle to help enhance its performance. Selecting the right diesel engine oil for your commercial vehicle can be a daunting task. As trucks need to travel for longer durations, it is essential to keep engine parts safe and using the right engine oil would help it reduce friction between moving parts and keep your engine cool, and clean.
When choosing diesel engine oil, fleet owners and drivers should take three essential steps:
Understand the type of engine oil required for your diesel engine
Mineral Engine Oils
Mineral engine oils are made from refined petroleum products and are preferred for engines that sport a simple design without any turbochargers. It is recommended for drivers with regular driving styles driving in temperate climates.
Synthetic Oils
Synthetic engine oils are made from multiple synthetic components. They are chemically engineered and have higher performing additives that mostly showcase optimum performance under extreme temperature.
Semi-Synthetic Oils
Semi-synthetic oils are a formulation of mineral and synthetic components. It adds an extra resistance against corrosion and provides excellent performance under low temperatures.
Know the right viscosity for your engine
Viscosity refers to the thickness of the engine oil. Usually, due to lack of information, truck drivers and fleet owners end up putting the wrong engine oil and end up with unplanned repair and downtime. Therefore, when you select a diesel engine oil for your commercial vehicle, you need to understand the viscosity and the performance levels of your engine oil.
Numbers and alphabets like 15W-40, 10W-40 or 5W40 can be confusing. But keep in mind they are not random alphabests, there is a scientific explanation behind it. This is the grading scale developed by Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to specify engine oil. The grading scale describes the oill’s capacity to withstand degradation inflicted by temperature and wear & tear.
For example: 15W-40
15 W – stands for the start-up at lower temperatures
40 – Stands for the start-up at higher temperatures
“W” stands for Winter (not weight)
Commercial vehicles that run in lower temperatures need lower viscosity engine oils, such as SAE 5W-40 or 0W-40, these engine oils allow better oil flow at lower temperatures.
Commercial vehicles that run in warmer temperatures need multi-grade or multi-viscosity motor oils, such as SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40. These oil grades ensure better lubrication, cleaner engine, & effective cooling that helps resist vehicle breakdown due higher temperatures.
Consult with your original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Every engine has different requirements. To choose the right diesel engine oil for your commercial vehicle, it is always recommended to consult with your OEM. Generally there is a specified minimum standard for the oil that must be used in the engine. These specifications are present in the owner’s vehicle user manual.
So, what’s the right choice for your diesel engine?
If you have a Tata Motors Commercial Vehicle, Tata Motors have launched Tata Motors Engine Oil, a range of superior performance diesel engine oils specially formulated for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. It has a 40% better wear protection for all engine components, a 70% lesser oil consumption and 50% better in oxidation resistance. Tata Motors Genuine Oil delivers high performance diesel engine oil that provides proven protection of diesel engines operating in severe conditions for both On and Off-highway applications.
