Maintaining your diesel engine for peak performance is important for the well-being of your vehicle or rig as well as for getting the right price while selling your car. You can attain this through correct maintenance and regular oil changes. One of the most important priorities of every vehicle owner is to identify a few top synthetic oils for diesel engines. But how to do that?
With various viscosity grades, engine requirements, and driving habits, it can be a bit challenging task to find an ideal oil for your diesel engine. Everyone wants something that provides great wear protection and lubrication to keep the engine running smoothly. Here, we are going to discuss the few top Synthetic oils for diesel engines.
Diesel engines need high-quality diesel for them to be lubricated properly. Keep in mind that diesel oil and diesel fuel are different, even though both have lubricating qualities. Diesel oil makes sure that the components of the diesel engine run in a smooth way without any issues or setbacks. It does not work in gasoline engines as they need a different kind of oil.
Difference between Conventional and Synthetic Oils
Synthetic oils for diesel engines provide better lubrication when compared to traditional oils. The difference between the two is that mineral oil is more natural and synthetic oil uses chemicals. Not just the impurities are removed from the crude oil, but the individual oil molecules are more constantly shaped than the natural oils, and customized to meet the demands of the modern engine. They are manufactured to provide improved performance and protection than conventional fuels. This makes the base for synthetic oil which requires the correct mix of additives for creating the perfect synthetic oil.
Most of the brands that manufacture synthetic oil use performance-enhancing additives like alkylated aromatics, synthetic esters, and polyalphaolefin. Between these two, it is always recommended to use synthetic oil as your engine’s lubricant as it maintains constant viscosity even in tough conditions.
It also provides better lubrication while starting up, which is when most of the motors get stressed out. In simple language, synthetic oil is more effective at increasing engine life and enhancing your car’s performance and efficiency.
Why Synthetic oil for your diesel engine
There are different kinds of synthetic oils meant for diesel engines and the best fuel for your car is one that is compatible with your engine. Both diesel and gasoline engines have similar base oils while dissimilar additives alter the oil’s properties. So, the difference between the two lies in the total number of additives that are used in the oil.
Diesel is known to absorb more carbon while gasoline cars absorb more tar and moisture, diesel oils contain more anti-wear additives and dispersants. Diesel engines also require oil with a high viscosity, unlike the cars that use gasoline that only generate more heat. Full sensitive diesel oils consist of more additives as they work under tough conditions.
Few Top Synthetic Oils for Diesel Engines
There are two kinds of diesel oils for engines: synthetic and traditional. The traditional is generally cheaper but will not do a good job of lubricating the components of the engine. You must change the oil frequently. Synthetic oils are more costly but will lubricate the components longer. They are specially formulated with additives which improve their lubricating ability. That is why individuals always prefer synthetic oils.
Lucas Synthetic CJ-4 – This kind of diesel oil is formulated to perform well in pickup trucks and SUV’s, regardless of how new or old they are. It has been proved by tests that Lucas Synthetic CJ-4 will continue to satisfy the industry specifications even after you have reached 30,000 miles with it. The best part is that it comes with thermal breakdown resistance.
Motul 8100 X-cess – It is unique as it can be used in either gasoline engines or diesel engines. The oil is formulated to be 100% synthetic, which means less oil will be consumed. Therefore, you can drive with this oil in your engine for several more miles than you could do with traditional diesel oil. This is truly one of the most popular diesel oils on the market due to its low volatility formula and capability to keep the engines cooled off.
Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel Engine Oil- Castro Edge is great for the new diesel engines. It offers full wear protection and improves the performance of the engine, for both long term and short term. When your diesel engine is put under the pressure, the Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel Engine oil keeps it cool and helps in smooth running. It is even one of the most affordable diesel engine oils available in the market.
Shell Rotella Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Oil- It is 100% synthetic oil that suits gasoline and diesel engines. It is immensely popular as it keeps the engines clean and provides them to wear protection. It is even a multi-functional oil which implies that it can handle different types of driving conditions. Whether you require low-temperature protection or high-temperature protection, this oil will satisfy these needs.
Schaeffer Supreme 7000 – This synthetic diesel engine oil has several advanced features, like resistance to oxidation, additional wear protection, and good handling of soot. It is better to use the Schaffer Supreme 7000 in conjunction with diesel fuel that has low sulfur levels. The diesel engine must not be functioning on any over than 500 parts-per-million. If your diesel engine has these traits, then it could start ten times faster with this oil.
Selecting the Right Oil
There are many factors that should be considered while choosing the best diesel oil. First thing, you must consider the viscosity grade your maker recommends. This will help you to determine the right starting temperatures of your engine. The oil must be able to ensure ideal engine performance when under high pressure.
Price is another factor, but you should not go for the cheap ones that may not improve the performance. Also, it is not always that a costly oil always must be of high quality. Fix your budget and compare the prices of various diesel oils. Keep in mind that all oils do not have the same formula. You should look for an engine that is compatible with your car’s engine. Therefore, you must pay attention to the viscosity and performance levels of your oil. Make sure you check the manufacturer’s chart of recommended viscosity grades. You should also select an oil that will keep your engine parts clean without causing any damage to it.
Benefits of a Diesel Engine
Having a diesel engine has a lot of benefits than a gasoline engine. Let us find out why it is more efficient and why maximum people prefer a car with a diesel engine.
- Old models of diesel engines created a lot of noise and were costly to maintain. However, today’s diesel engines are quiet and do not need much maintenance.
- Diesel engines are rugged and more reliable
- You will see that there are no spark plugs in your diesel engine. The reason is that instead of the hot compressed air is used. So, spark plugs and wires are not required, lessening the maintenance costs
- Diesel engines are now mainly used for transportation like trucks, buses, and cars. They are now being used in the aircraft industry too. Also, they are used for the combustion engines of some trains also
Next time when you go to purchase a vehicle and are confused about which engine to go for, recall these things. It will help you to choose the right engine and the best oil among the few top synthetic oils for diesel engine