Oil types fall into three main types: straight mineral, ashless-dispersant, and synthetic.
Reciprocating Engine Oil 101 Oil types fall into three main types—straight mineral, ashless-dispersant, and synthetic— and all need to be changed regularly.
BY RICHARD SCARBROUGH
T he rough concrete pressed into my cheek, leaving small indentations and tiny shards embedded in my skin. I smelled burnt oil, axle grease, and lord only knows what else that lived in the undercarriage of a 1977 Ford Thunderbird. A voice resonated in my head, a constant loop saying, “righty-tighty, and it better not back out.” How the hell could I screw this up. Maneuvering around the shallow metal pan that held the spent motor oil freshly drained from the oil pan, I positioned the 3/8 drive ratchet hoping not to drop it into the dark, murky abyss. “Right to tighten, don’t let it come loose, get her snug,” my dad’s voice echoed in my brain. The 7/16 socket slipped onto the drain plug, and I felt it turn. Footsteps, then a loud bang from a clenched fist on the black metal fender. “All set,” he began “is it tight?” “Sort of,” I replied. My father blinked a few times, leaned closer to his 9-year-old son, and repeated, “sort of?” “Well, I worked hard and got it tight, but then it started getting loose again, and now it sort of spins.” I managed to say.
The next words he uttered—the ones I am allowed to publish— were, “get cleaned up; we are going to NAPA.” And thus, my mechanic career began. The Basics I am about to dispense some knowledge you have come to know and love. Lean in close, and listen with your ears when I tell you: change your oil. By now, you’ve probably abandoned at least some of your New Year’s resolutions. So what if you won’t complete a marathon, patent revolutionary AI technology, or pen the next great American novel, there is one you can still keep. You guessed it. Change your oil! You know the drill. Let’s check in with the Federales and see what they say about lubrication for reciprocating engines. Part 33 Subpart C 33.39 Lubrication System is a great place to begin our journey. This CFR addresses several key points, including lubrication levels to operate effectively, cooling the lubricant, and atmosphere venting. How you catalog your reference points and resources is your business,
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