10 things you need to know to understand your engine better

In a recent meeting I had with a friend who represents one of the leading distributors of motor oils in the country, I learned that until now people don’t really understand the importance of oil in how a car functions.

I have to admit that I don’t have that much technical expertise on how the car works either, and I am in this industry.

As I continued to listen to him, he stressed that inside the engine there are no plastics or foam, just metal-to-metal action which is why oil is so important. I was lost in my thoughts. People never really think about what happens when they push or turn on the ignition switch. Some just push and go. I have always taken for granted the things my hubby preaches during his auto maintenance seminars because I have him on speed dial.

I realize that some people aren’t as privileged, so I am sharing 10 things I think you should know about your engine.

1    BASICALLY, your engine is housed in an enclosed metal tupperware and is submerged in an oil bath. The oil is what makes the gears turn with less friction. There is an oil pump that circulates the oil from the bottom, and is distributed to channels all over the engine.

2    A BASIC telltale sign of a blown engine is when you see a discharge of water and oil. This can happen when your engine is not properly lubricated or cooled, giving way to the mixing of oil and water.

3    IDEALLY, oil and fuel don’t mix in the process of combustion. This only happens with a 2T engine like in motorcycles, which is not so earth friendly. A four-stroke engine, which is more fuel efficient and gives cleaner emissions, is standard nowadays.

4    WHEN YOUR car produces black or white smoke, it means that oil is getting into the process of burning fuel. This can be caused by a loose piston ring. Oil in your fuel makes your engine less efficient, and can result in more fuel consumed.

5    AN ELECTRIC car engine has no engine oil. In the future, cars will not need oil.

6    CHEAP OIL will be more expensive in the long run. Cheap oils usually break down easily and become less effective in lubricating your car parts, resulting to more frequent oil changes.

A higher quality oil will only have to be replaced from 10,000 kilometers and above.

There are three kinds of oil: mineral based, semisynthetic and fully synthetic.  In this case, cars are not pro natural and pure. Fully synthetic oil is regarded to be better for cars because it has more advantageous additives.

7    RAPID metal action results in friction, and heats up the oil in the engine. The cooling system of an engine keeps your car from overheating.

The movement of the water to the radiator to the engine block keeps the temperature down. A coolant is a liquid added to the water to increase the boiling point making the system more efficient.

Radiators, which are part of the cooling system, are usually pressurized in higher end cars; don’t attempt to open them because this will lessen the integrity of your cooling system.

8    RUNNING your gas low can cause the debris that settled at the bottom of the fuel tank to go to your engine. Cars are not like cell phones that you need to run empty before recharging.

9    YOUR AUTOMATIC Transmission Fluid can be also your Power Steering Fluid.

10     THE DIFFERENT fluids that go to your car actually come in different colors to make sure you don’t put the same one in a different container.

Motor oil usually comes in gold; transmission fluid in pinkish red; coolant is green or orange; clean brake fluid has no color; and the windshield washer is blue.

Due to the intense heat of the summer, regular maintenance will keep your car in tip-top shape and ready for action.

Imagine how much heat the engine has to go through and how much heat you will have to endure if your car breaks down. I think the car is better equipped for extreme temperature than you.

For comments and suggestions, please e-mail me at jnt@chicdriven.com; follow us at @chicdriven on Twitter and Instagram, or like our page on www.facebook.com/Chicdriven.