The engine is the heart of every car, undergoing years of development and testing before mass production. When all engine components work optimally, it increases the vehicle’s overall efficiency. Lubricants are considered a critically important area through which engine efficiency can be maintained and increased. Decades of engineers’ work and billions of collected data points form the foundation of the advanced Castrol EDGE engine oil, designed to meet engine manufacturers’ requirements so that efficiency is felt not only by the car but also by the driver behind the wheel.
By working for decades with car manufacturers and motorsport teams, Castrol has accumulated data on oil and engine behavior under various conditions. These billions of statistical records and the company’s expertise have helped identify the most important factors where engine oil has the greatest potential to unlock maximum engine efficiency. 7 key factors were identified that every driver should know when choosing engine oil: power, durability, high temperatures, pressure, wear resistance, cleanliness, and fuel economy. Let’s examine each factor separately.
- Why Power? Engine oil is a critically important component designed to help the engine deliver power when needed. It helps the engine use as much energy from fuel as possible while protecting it from damage. If engine oil does not protect the engine sufficiently, it can affect the output power.
- Why Durability? Engine oil is designed to provide efficiency and protection. It must repeatedly withstand the engine’s harsh conditions, ensuring a consistent level of performance and protection from the beginning to the end of the oil change interval. Engine oil that cannot withstand such conditions may start to break down before the scheduled change, negatively impacting engine performance.
- Why High Temperatures? The engine has many components that operate at high temperatures and require engine oil for lubrication and cooling. Engine pistons receive energy from combustion, meaning they are often exposed to the highest temperatures. Engine oil plays a key role in cooling the pistons, reducing friction at the contact point between the piston and cylinder liner. The oil’s inability to respond to high temperatures can lead to its breakdown and deposit formation.
- Why Pressure? In many parts of the engine, oil is subjected to high pressure in metal contact zones. Engine oil responds to this pressure by instantly increasing its viscosity, providing extra protection when it’s most needed. The inability to withstand pressure can disrupt the protective oil film, leading to contact between metal surfaces, increased friction, and accelerated wear.
- Why Wear? The engine consists of metal components that must work together flawlessly. Engine oil provides a protective film between them, minimizing friction and increasing efficiency. If the oil does not protect the engine components, it can accelerate their wear. Wear of any engine component leads to increased friction, which reduces efficiency and increases the likelihood of failure.
- Why Cleanliness? Engine oils are exposed to various factors during their service life. Temperature fluctuations along with natural oil contamination by water and fuel can lead to deposit formation. Engine oil must clean engine components prone to deposits and prevent their reappearance. Deposit accumulation can hinder oil flow to critical components, impairing heat transfer and increasing the risk of overheating.
- Why Fuel Economy? If an engine is efficient, it provides improved fuel economy. Engine oil contributes to this by reducing friction between moving parts. Oil viscosity is a key factor in improving fuel economy. Engine oil that cannot maintain its viscosity throughout the change interval will lead to worsened fuel economy.
Castrol EDGE is maximum efficiency across 7 key factors*. Learn more about oil testing via the link to our website: Castrol EDGE Efficiency Demonstration
About Castrol
Castrol, one of the leading lubricant brands, whose products are used worldwide. A passion for innovation, efficiency, and a partnership philosophy for over 125 years enables Castrol to create engine oil, coolants, and greases that have become part of numerous technological achievements of humanity on land, in the air, at sea, and in space. Learn more about Castrol in Ukraine on our website castrol.ua.
* Among Castrol engine oils, specifically Castrol EDGE exceeds industry specification limits, has approvals from several global car manufacturers, and in some cases a co-developed formulation, and demonstrates maximum efficiency across 7 key factors: pressure, engine power, durability, fuel economy, high-temperature operation, cleanliness, and wear resistance (>80% of the Castrol EDGE range based on global sales volume data for 2024)