Common engine oil additives include detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, anti-rust additives, anti-corrosion additives, viscosity index improvers, pour point inhibitors, anti-wear additives, defoaming agents, colorants, alkaline additives, and extreme pressure additives , emulsifiers, moderate extreme pressure additives and complete extreme pressure additives.
The functions of various additives are as follows:
Detergent Additives: These additives help keep your engine clean by preventing the formation of harmful deposits and sludge. They help remove and disperse contaminants and keep engine parts clean. Detergent can remove carbon deposits and gumming.
Dispersant additive: Dispersant can evenly disperse sludge in the engine oil to prevent sludge from depositing in places such as oil filters. Similar to detergent additives, dispersant additives also help keep your engine clean by preventing deposits and sludge from forming. They work by dispersing and suspending contaminants so that they can be expelled from the engine along with the oil.
Anti-wear additives: These additives form a protective film on the engine’s moving parts, such as pistons and bearings, to reduce friction and wear. They help extend the life of your engine and improve its overall performance.
Anti-rust additives: Anti-rust additives prevent the metal parts of the engine from rusting. These additives protect the engine’s metal surfaces from rust and corrosion caused by moisture and acidic combustion byproducts. They form a protective layer on metal surfaces, preventing contact with moisture and corrosive substances.
Friction modifiers: These additives reduce friction between the moving parts of the engine, thereby improving fuel efficiency and reducing wear. They form a thin film on the metal surface, reducing direct metal-to-metal contact and minimizing friction.
Viscosity index improver: Viscosity index improver can increase the viscosity index of engine oil so that the engine oil can flow smoothly at low temperatures. These additives help maintain the viscosity of the oil over a range of temperatures by reducing the oil’s tendency to thin at high temperatures or thicken at low temperatures.
In general, different oil additives have different characteristics, uses and safety. Choosing the right additives can effectively improve vehicle performance, extend engine life, reduce emissions and protect the environment.