Engineering Explained spent some time discussing these questions with Mobil 1 engineers and shares what he learned.
- Can thin motor oils protect your engine?
- What do oil weights mean, 5W-30 for example?
- Do thinner oils get better fuel economy?
- Do thin oils like 0W-20 protect your engine?
There’s an incredible amount of testing and verification that goes into labeling a motor oil’s viscosity rating, which is the single most important factor for how a motor oil will perform in an engine.
Motor oil is responsible for protecting your engine, removing contaminants, reducing friction, and cooling your engine. Plus, motor oil creates a protective barrier between moving metal parts allowing for your engine’s longevity.
In this video, a 6.2L V8 engine cutaway from the C8 Corvette is used to better show, demonstrate, and understand how oil interacts with automotive engines.
