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Every mechanism requires lubrication !
Without lubricant, any engine or transmission would seize or wear out in only a few minutes !
In cars and trucks:
 |
Motor Oil is used for engine lubrication |
|
Gear Oil is used for manual transmission or differential lubrication |
|
ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) is used for automatic transmission lubrication |
|
PSF (Power Steering Fluid) is used in Power Steering as well as in GM Hydroboost systems. |
|
Grease is used for lubrication of drive shafts, CV (Constant Velocity) joints and various cables and mechanical linkages |
When the proper lubricant is
lacking the result is obvious failure of the mechanism.
However, the difference between poor, adequate and superior
lubricant is not as easily seen.
With adequate lubricant
the mechanism will usually perform well and will last for long time.
With poor lubrication the service life
will
be significantly less than the design life.
With superior lubricant the same mechanism
may last many years longer or even "forever".
Lubrication is
therefore most important in
all cars, trucks and other motor vehicles,
especially if a long and trouble free service life is desired.
The recommended type of
lubricant, the oil and oil filter change
frequency, are considered optimal for vehicles that are operated under
ideal conditions,
and which are not expected to be used much beyond their design life.
Currently 5,000 to 7,500 mile
engine oil and oil filter change
interval, and 24,000 to 36,000 mile transmission oil change is most
commonly specified by
OEM's. These recommendations are based on use of premium petroleum
based lubricating oils
with an
API SL & ILSAC GF-3 performance rating for Motor
Oil
and Dexron
III for
ATF.
If a longer reliable and trouble free service life than 5 years or 50,000 miles is required, or if the vehicle is operated under severe or super severe operating conditions, the recommended service intervals need to be two to three times frequent.
This means that if you desire long and trouble free vehicle service life you should change the engine oil and filter every 3,000 to 4,000 miles and transmission oil every 12,000 to 15,000 miles.
However, if you also operate
the vehicle under severe conditions, as
most vehicle owners do, the service interval should be only 2,000 to
2,500 miles between
engine oil changes and 7,500 to 10,000 miles between transmission oil
changes, if
petroleum products are used.
When the engine and
transmission is operated under high and frequently
cycling loads such as fast high performance or racing driving or the
more common
"stop-and-go" driving, driving in dust or sand, short trips, especially
in cold
weather where the engine is not allowed to fully warm up, or carrying
heavy loads, pulling
trailers, especially during hot summer, or sustained high speed driving.
HOW TO READ AN OIL CONTAINER
To protect the consumer, API requires that all lubricant suppliers using the API Service Symbol obtain a license to use the symbol and sign an affidavit stating that test data is available to support performance claims.
Many changes with motor oil have occurred recently. The ILSAC GF-3 rating is in place but there remain concerns regarding the rocker arm sludge and piston varnishing tests to be resolved over the next few months. The SL category will be licensed by July 1, 2001, a year later than expected.
