A Deep Dive into Engine Oil Additives
When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, engine oil additives play a crucial role. These additives enhance the performance and longevity of your engine by providing extra protection against wear and tear, reducing friction, and preventing corrosion. Here at Truckstop Group, we understand the importance of choosing the right products for your vehicle.
Types of Engine Oil Additives
There are four main components in an engine oil additive; Detergents, Dispersants, Anti-Wear Agents, Viscosity Improvers.
Let’s go into these in more detail…
- Detergents
Function: Clean engine parts and neutralise acids formed during combustion
Benefits: Help to clean deposits, sludge and varnish formation on engine parts
Action: Work to remove existing deposits, while dispersants prevent these contaminants from clumping together and causing engine damage
- Dispersants
Function: Keep contaminants suspended in the engine oil additive, preventing them from forming sludge or varnish
Benefits: Prevent small particles and contaminants from agglomerating, keeping them suspended in the oil until they can be filtered out
Action: Help keep the engine clean by preventing deposits and sludge formation
- Anti-wear agents
Function: Form protective films on metal surfaces
Benefits: Reduce friction and wear, extending the lifespan of engine components
Action: Form a protective layer on metal surfaces, reducing friction and wear between moving parts. This helps to extend the lifespan of the engine components
- Viscosity improvers
Function: Improve the viscosity-temperature behaviour of the engine oil additive
Benefits: Enhance the oil’s viscosity stability across temperature ranges, ensuring it remains effective in both hot and cold conditions
Action: Regulate the oil’s viscosity, ensuring it remains stable across a wide range of temperatures. This is important for maintaining proper lubrication in various operating conditions
Choosing the Right Additives
Selecting the right additives depends on your specific needs and vehicle type. For instance, heavy-duty trucks might require more robust anti-wear and viscosity index improvers, while regular cars may benefit more from detergents and dispersants.
Truckstop Group Recommendations
The three main oil treatment products all have different benefits. Including;
Oil System Protector – A preventative maintenance
Oil System Protector is designed for continuous protection, maintaining oil stability during extended service intervals and preventing oil burning.
- Optimise engine oil performance
- Maintain oil stability during extended service intervals
- Prevent oil burning
- Oil System Protector is sold as part of the Clean & Protect Set
Top End Treatment targets the upper part of the engine, addressing specific issues such as valve noise and sticking valves.
- Prevent and eliminate noisy Hydraulic Valve Lifter (HVL) operation
- Free off and prevent sticking Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Systems
- Free off sticking oil pressure control systems
Oil Fortifier – For older engines
Oil Fortifier is ideal for high protection to engines operating under high load and for older engines showing signs of wear, reducing oil consumption and exhaust smoking.
- Reduce engine oil additives consumption in engines showing signs of wear
- Minimise exhaust smoking by providing better piston ring sealing
- Restore performance to tired engines
- Improve oil pressure to better protect moving parts
By integrating these additives into your maintenance routine, you can ensure that your engine remains in peak condition, reducing the likelihood of costly repairs and extending the lifespan of your vehicle.
For more information and to explore our range of products, visit our Vehicle Engine Additives page. Our experts are always available to help you make the best choice for your vehicle's needs.
