Do I need to change the engine oil in the hot summer? - Dr. Mobil tells you about car engines operating in high temperature

Since the beginning of May, the temperature has started rising. It is the season for good looking guys and girls to show off their figures; a treat for the eyes. However, there are also some technical nerds who approached Dr. Mobil to ask if they needed to gear up their cars with cooling equipment for the hot summer. Today, Dr. Mobil is going to talk about running the car in high temperature.
What challenge does heat pose?

Our vehicles, especially the engines, need to be maintained at an optimum operating temperature that should neither be too high nor too low. If the temperature goes out of range, it might increase fuel consumption and emission, or even wear out the parts and cause severe damage to the car.

Obviously, the temperature tends to exceed the optimum range more easily in the hot summer.

The engine generates power through the combustion of the fuel and it also generates heat. The heat of combustion is first transferred to the parts of the engine, such as the tank and the valves. After which both engine oil and coolant help to maintain the temperature of the engine. The coolant is the main element in providing the cooling effect. That is the reason why vehicles have complex systems, such as the cool radiator behind the car grille, the fans and other devices, for cooling the water.

Do we need to change the engine oil in the hot summer?

Generally speaking, a change of engine oil is not needed. However, since the cooling system is mainly responsible for maintaining the operating temperature of the vehicle, the coolant is maintained at a temperature of 90°C- 100°C regardless of it being winter or summer. Based on this fact, the main responsibility of the engine oil is not cooling, but to provide good lubrication for the engine.

The high-temperature viscosity of the engine oil at 100°C is marked on its label. In general, W means winter. The smaller the number before W, the better the low-temperature fluidity. The larger the number after W, the higher the viscosity of the engine oil at 100°C. For heavy vehicles and heavy wear, it is better to select an engine oil with higher viscosity. Car owners only need to choose the right oil products according to use and condition of the vehicle. They do not need to change the engine oil specifically during high temperature season.

It is actually more important to ensure sufficient engine oil!

"I do not need to change the engine oil temporarily because of high temperature. Is there anything about engine oil that I should pay attention when I use the car?"

Dr. Mobil thinks that it is very important to ensure compliance with the standard engine oil quantity this is to provide vital lubrication for the operation of vehicles. If there is insufficient engine oil, the resulting lack of lubrication might cause serious wear and tear to the engine even for a mere drive of a few hundred meters. Hence, Dr. Mobil earnestly cautions car owners against restarting the car when the engine oil warning light is on and the cause of malfunction has not been established.
Do not neglect regular maintenance!

Furthermore, engine oil is closely related to the regular maintenance of the vehicle. As engine oil has a certain life-span, it will be consumed in oxidation due to long term and high-temperature use. Its quality will also be affected due to continuous contamination by worn-of debris of the metal parts. Thus, it is very important to change the oil regularly. You can refer to the recommended maintenance cycle in the car manual and pay attention to the status of the engine oil according to different vehicle and road conditions. Only engine oil kept in good condition can ensure good performance of the engine!

Dr. Mobil's tips: In the bottom menu of the Mobil Engine Oil official WeChat, click "Car Maintenance" and then "Search for Stores", and find your nearest Mobil 1 car service shop immediately. Prepare for a trouble-free summer!