Why don`t we use extremely thin oils in engines











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I understand that lower viscosity oils are way easier to pump and move around engine parts, also they form a thinner "film" on friction surfaces which could improve parts measurements precision etc.
Is it only due to increased piston rings leakage that we don't use extremely thin oils?
Are they more prone to failure in operating and high temperatures?
Are these oils easier contaminated? Maybe they are very expensive to produce???










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    up vote
    11
    down vote

    favorite












    I understand that lower viscosity oils are way easier to pump and move around engine parts, also they form a thinner "film" on friction surfaces which could improve parts measurements precision etc.
    Is it only due to increased piston rings leakage that we don't use extremely thin oils?
    Are they more prone to failure in operating and high temperatures?
    Are these oils easier contaminated? Maybe they are very expensive to produce???










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      11
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      11
      down vote

      favorite











      I understand that lower viscosity oils are way easier to pump and move around engine parts, also they form a thinner "film" on friction surfaces which could improve parts measurements precision etc.
      Is it only due to increased piston rings leakage that we don't use extremely thin oils?
      Are they more prone to failure in operating and high temperatures?
      Are these oils easier contaminated? Maybe they are very expensive to produce???










      share|improve this question













      I understand that lower viscosity oils are way easier to pump and move around engine parts, also they form a thinner "film" on friction surfaces which could improve parts measurements precision etc.
      Is it only due to increased piston rings leakage that we don't use extremely thin oils?
      Are they more prone to failure in operating and high temperatures?
      Are these oils easier contaminated? Maybe they are very expensive to produce???







      oil engine-theory oil-viscosity






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      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked yesterday









      kokobill

      360116




      360116






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          16
          down vote



          accepted










          Thin oils tend to have a very poor shear stability, especially when they are hot. The function of the oil is to protect and lubricate the engine and ancillaries (i.e. turbo chargers). In certain applications it also makes up some (where an oil cooler is employed) or all (for aircooled engines such as the Beetle) of the circulated liquid cooling system.



          I'm not sure that an oil which is consistently thin and remains so once upto operating temperature exists. Most engine oils are chosen so that they will provide some protection at cold start but optimum protection when they reach their target temperature.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            4
            down vote













            Tribology is a huge topic...



            But, the thinner the oil, then the more oil in terms of volume and/or the higher pressure is needed for a given tolerance between bearing and surface.



            So many things are taken into account when specifying the oil for a particular use. Operating temperature, load on the bearings, relative speed of the bearing etc etc






            share|improve this answer




























              up vote
              1
              down vote













              We are, or are starting to, for exactly the reasons you quote.



              New vehicles (VAG group for example) are starting to use 0W20 oil, with 0W8-capable engines likely coming soon.






              share|improve this answer








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              Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                Your Answer








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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                16
                down vote



                accepted










                Thin oils tend to have a very poor shear stability, especially when they are hot. The function of the oil is to protect and lubricate the engine and ancillaries (i.e. turbo chargers). In certain applications it also makes up some (where an oil cooler is employed) or all (for aircooled engines such as the Beetle) of the circulated liquid cooling system.



                I'm not sure that an oil which is consistently thin and remains so once upto operating temperature exists. Most engine oils are chosen so that they will provide some protection at cold start but optimum protection when they reach their target temperature.






                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  16
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  Thin oils tend to have a very poor shear stability, especially when they are hot. The function of the oil is to protect and lubricate the engine and ancillaries (i.e. turbo chargers). In certain applications it also makes up some (where an oil cooler is employed) or all (for aircooled engines such as the Beetle) of the circulated liquid cooling system.



                  I'm not sure that an oil which is consistently thin and remains so once upto operating temperature exists. Most engine oils are chosen so that they will provide some protection at cold start but optimum protection when they reach their target temperature.






                  share|improve this answer























                    up vote
                    16
                    down vote



                    accepted







                    up vote
                    16
                    down vote



                    accepted






                    Thin oils tend to have a very poor shear stability, especially when they are hot. The function of the oil is to protect and lubricate the engine and ancillaries (i.e. turbo chargers). In certain applications it also makes up some (where an oil cooler is employed) or all (for aircooled engines such as the Beetle) of the circulated liquid cooling system.



                    I'm not sure that an oil which is consistently thin and remains so once upto operating temperature exists. Most engine oils are chosen so that they will provide some protection at cold start but optimum protection when they reach their target temperature.






                    share|improve this answer












                    Thin oils tend to have a very poor shear stability, especially when they are hot. The function of the oil is to protect and lubricate the engine and ancillaries (i.e. turbo chargers). In certain applications it also makes up some (where an oil cooler is employed) or all (for aircooled engines such as the Beetle) of the circulated liquid cooling system.



                    I'm not sure that an oil which is consistently thin and remains so once upto operating temperature exists. Most engine oils are chosen so that they will provide some protection at cold start but optimum protection when they reach their target temperature.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered yesterday









                    Steve Matthews

                    19.1k22968




                    19.1k22968






















                        up vote
                        4
                        down vote













                        Tribology is a huge topic...



                        But, the thinner the oil, then the more oil in terms of volume and/or the higher pressure is needed for a given tolerance between bearing and surface.



                        So many things are taken into account when specifying the oil for a particular use. Operating temperature, load on the bearings, relative speed of the bearing etc etc






                        share|improve this answer

























                          up vote
                          4
                          down vote













                          Tribology is a huge topic...



                          But, the thinner the oil, then the more oil in terms of volume and/or the higher pressure is needed for a given tolerance between bearing and surface.



                          So many things are taken into account when specifying the oil for a particular use. Operating temperature, load on the bearings, relative speed of the bearing etc etc






                          share|improve this answer























                            up vote
                            4
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            4
                            down vote









                            Tribology is a huge topic...



                            But, the thinner the oil, then the more oil in terms of volume and/or the higher pressure is needed for a given tolerance between bearing and surface.



                            So many things are taken into account when specifying the oil for a particular use. Operating temperature, load on the bearings, relative speed of the bearing etc etc






                            share|improve this answer












                            Tribology is a huge topic...



                            But, the thinner the oil, then the more oil in terms of volume and/or the higher pressure is needed for a given tolerance between bearing and surface.



                            So many things are taken into account when specifying the oil for a particular use. Operating temperature, load on the bearings, relative speed of the bearing etc etc







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered yesterday









                            Solar Mike

                            16.8k21030




                            16.8k21030






















                                up vote
                                1
                                down vote













                                We are, or are starting to, for exactly the reasons you quote.



                                New vehicles (VAG group for example) are starting to use 0W20 oil, with 0W8-capable engines likely coming soon.






                                share|improve this answer








                                New contributor




                                Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                                  up vote
                                  1
                                  down vote













                                  We are, or are starting to, for exactly the reasons you quote.



                                  New vehicles (VAG group for example) are starting to use 0W20 oil, with 0W8-capable engines likely coming soon.






                                  share|improve this answer








                                  New contributor




                                  Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                  Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote









                                    We are, or are starting to, for exactly the reasons you quote.



                                    New vehicles (VAG group for example) are starting to use 0W20 oil, with 0W8-capable engines likely coming soon.






                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    We are, or are starting to, for exactly the reasons you quote.



                                    New vehicles (VAG group for example) are starting to use 0W20 oil, with 0W8-capable engines likely coming soon.







                                    share|improve this answer








                                    New contributor




                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer






                                    New contributor




                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                    answered yesterday









                                    Tobias Weiß

                                    1111




                                    1111




                                    New contributor




                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                    New contributor





                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                    Tobias Weiß is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                    Check out our Code of Conduct.






























                                         

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