The Garage 292

31 FOCUS Oils and Lubrication
to checking an engine’s oil
level.
Figures published by ECP
show frighteningly low levels
of oil level checking: “A
new study has found that as
many as 62 percent of drivers
are on the road with low
levels of oil, while a staggering
17 percent never check
their oil at all*. Not only
could this neglect be causing
serious internal damage
to a vehicle, it could also be
hitting motorists in the wallet,
with issues caused by oil
depletion usually expensive
to repair,” ECP reports.
Much of this low level oil
scenario problem can be
blamed fairly and squarely
at extended service intervals,
which by their very nature
mean cars are less frequently
in a workshop where, even
if a car was in for a totally
unrelated job, the oil level
could be checked. “This was
vital preventative maintenance,
which often identified
potential problems long
before they could cause any
damage to the car,” ECP
says.
For some time engine oils
have been more than refined
crude oils, and now feature
additives to help with longevity
and performance, the
latter being more important
today as engines become not
only smaller, but more powerful.
Today creating an oil isn’t
simply a case of refining what
comes out of the ground –
car makers will talk with oil
brands about just what their
engines will require, but also
influencing any new oils will
be API, the American Petroleum
Institute, ILSAC, the International
Lubricant Standardisation
and Approval
Committee and ACEA, the
European Automobile Manufacturers’
Association.
Oil companies have to
meet specifications laid
down by those organizations,
which then calls for a
blending of base oils and additives,
as Gulf Oils MP Sajeev
explains: “It is much the
same as a wine maker determined
to produce a fine wine
to suit the palate of someone
eating a certain type of food.
He will mix together specific
amount of the different varieties
of wine and then taste
the blend. In the oil industry,
in place of wine’s colour,
aroma and taste engineers
and chemists use more exacting
scientific techniques.”
The number of additives
– and in what amount – varies,
but among them are
anti-oxidants to prevent oil
breaking down under high
temperatures, anti-wear additives
and detergent and
dispersants to keep engine
components clean and suspend
dirt in the oil for trapping
in the filter.
The need for regular oil
level checks – as well as
oil changes for an increasing
number of cars covering
short distances – hands
any switched-on workshop a
greater revenue stream. Vehicle
health check-ups can
lead to more oil changes, but
income can be boosted by
showing the customer how
they can check their car’s
oil, and selling a one-litre
top-up pack.
One of the longest-estab-
lished players in the aftermarket
is Castrol, whose
Edge oil now features Fluid
Titanium Technology which
is said to reduce friction by
up to one fifth. The changes
The classic challenge
THE RISE in classic car interest has seen a change in the way these cars are looked
after, with a new generation simply not prepared to get their hands dirty by working on
their own cars. That puts the onus on workshops looking after the occasional older car
to research the service parts they need, which includes oil. As with a modern car, using
the wrong type can be disastrous.
Guy Lachlan of Bicester Heritage-based Classic Oils (www.classic-oils.net), which
supplies oils from the likes of Castrol, Duckhams and Millers, says while it’s tempting to
use an oil in the workshop, there’s every chance it won’t be suitable.
“It’s an important issue for the trade, particularly if they’re working on a variety of cars
of all ages: The dilemma is do they order the correct specification or do they use what
they already have? There’s a risk they might use an oil that is totally wrong.”
The solution is obvious – to use the correct type, and Lachlan recognizes workshops
might need only enough oil for that car – and they’ll need it as soon as possible.
“Workshops need small quantities quickly and efficiently – we have next-day deliveries
and that makes a workshop look professional.”
in Edge’s make-up – the result
of Castrol working with
the University of Edinburgh
– reflect the way engines
are becoming both smaller
and more powerful – when
running there can be up to
32,000 contacts per minute,
the company says.
“Put simply, friction is
the enemy of engine performance.
As innovators, we
set out to find a formulation
that would begin to tackle the
ever-growing problem of engine
friction – and with this
Castrol Edge formulation,
we believe we have made
more progress towards that
than any other lubricant
on the market. Our Castrol
Edge range with Fluid Titanium
Technology goes above
and beyond what previous
lubricants have achieved to
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