Left: Motul NGEN HYBRID blend for each vehicle.” To access the Duckhams look-up tool, visit: www.duckhams.com/uk/find-my-oil/?country=GBR Lower temperatures Commenting on the lubrication during the winter, Exol Product Development Manager Simon Matthews said: “During colder times of the year, it is vital for a lubricant to flow the instant an engine is started. Engine oil has to travel from the sump to every part of the engine straightaway to avoid wear, particularly in areas of high load. OEM recommendations are based upon climatic conditions, be they +40 or in some areas well below freezing. If the recommendation is a 0W-20 and you use a 15W-40, then flow rates will be compromised dramatically at lower temperatures.” Simon continued: “The way engines are lubricated has changed dramatically. Engines are no longer low revving engines reliant on boundary lubrication but high speed, high torque engines with high machining tolerances such that oil is now a carrier moving between surfaces, giving chemical lubrication at the surface where metal to metal contact occurs. Development is very much centred on lower viscosity fluids, for example 0W-8 is asked for especially in some plug-in hybrid electric Toyota vehicles.” He added: “Wet belt technology has also become very important, especially in light of recent failures with smaller, high output engines with higher levels of technology required to prevent unwanted issues such as low speed pre-ignition (LSPI).” LSPI On managing the risk of LSPI, Oliver Kuhn, Deputy Head of the Oil Laboratory at LIQUI MOLY, said: “Modern highcompression engines with direct injection have an increased risk of premature ignition at low speeds. Here, the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber ignites before the ignition spark is produced. This knocking can lead to serious engine damage. “The injection systems in modern, direct-injection turbocharged petrol engines are subject to high levels of stress. The injection nozzles extend directly into the combustion chamber, so they are exposed to high temperatures, pressures and the impact of combustion residues. Deposits form at the nozzle outlets within a short time, resulting in the petrol no longer being atomised so finely. This impacts negatively on exhaust gas levels and increases fuel consumption. The deposits can begin to glow due to the high temperatures, which can result in engine knocking.” “It has been found that this risk can be reduced by using a special engine oil. This is why Vauxhall and General Motors prescribe such an oil for certain models. LIQUI MOLY Special Tec DX1 is such an oil.” Oliver added: “The LIQUI MOLY oil guide allows the garage to check quickly and easily whether it has the correct oil at hand. Special Tec DX1 is only suitable for certain petrol engines and may not be used in diesel engines.” To check the LIQUI MOLY oil guide, visit: www.liquimoly.com Practical applications According to Lucas Oil’s Sales and Operations Director Dan Morgan, when money is tight for customers, additives can provide a solution: “For example, Lucas Oil has an answer 50 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2024 OIL AND LUBES www.aftermarketonline.net
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