In the world of lubricants and motor oils, there are many offerings. But which one is best for you and your business to use? Which ones should you have on hand at all times? Below is a breakdown of five types of lubricants you should have on hand and the uses of each one. Motor Oils and Lubricants are important for any engine to ensure proper functions and avoid them breaking down.
1. ENGINE AND MOTOR OIL
Engine and Motor Oil is not only the most common type of lubricant, but also the most crucial lubricant for automotives. Engine oil is responsible for the complete lubrication of an engine and its combustion chambers to reduce friction in moving parts. These lubricants must maintain a consistent viscosity at higher temperatures. There are also a few additives in engine oils to increase engine life. These additives include dispersants, detergents, and anti-wear additives.
2. GEAR OILS
Gear oils are mostly used for manual transmissions, transmission boxes, and the differentials in vehicles. They are known for having very high viscosity and having extreme pressure additives in them that are called Phosphorus sulfur compounds to deal with the high-pressure.
3. GREASES
Greases are mostly made either with petroleum or synthetic products, thickener, and additional additives. Greases are very similar to oil, but its thickness is more ideal for lubrications of gears, bearings, and linkages.
4. TRANSMISSION FLUIDS
Transmission Fluids are a key component of a systems operation and overall performance t’s responsible for lubricating mechanical parts, maintaining fluid pressure, cooling, preventing oxidation, conditioning the gasket, and preventing rust. A lot of times people get both Gear oil and transmission fluid since they both have to do with the transmission. But, it is important to understand the difference in what they were designed to do. Mainly, transmission fluid is made to work with automatic transmission, where gear oil it mostly used to work specifically with manual-type gear boxes. Keep in mind that there are times where there are exceptions to these rules.
5. INDUSTRIAL OILS
Industrial Oils are made to protect machines from damage from extreme temperatures, dust and dirt, moisture, and high pressure. Industrial Oils are made from base oils and additives. Base oils can be either natural, mineral, and synthetic.
WHEN DOES EACH OIL/LUBRICANTS NEED TO BE CHANGED?
It’s important to understand the longevity of each type of lubricant and oils and when they need to be changed to ensure your using the best quality lubricant and oils at all times.
Engine Oil should be changed at regular intervals. Most of all vehicles and engines have a standard oil change time which depends on either distance driven or time since last changed. For generators, most owner’s manuals outline the change intervals, but a rough estimate would be around 50 hours of use for smaller generators or 500 hours for larger generators.
Gear Oil has a much longer life and does not have to be changed as much as engine oil and should be changed around 62,000 Miles.
Greases don’t need to be changed, but they do need to be reapplied a times. It’s important to not mix greases unless they are compatible with each other. If they are not compatible, you can run a risk of the mixture hardening, which results in an effectiveness of not even having any grease at all.
Transmission Fluids should be changed dependent how-to vehicles make and model, similar to engine oil. It’s very important to be diligent with checking the transmission fluid and changing it, and your vehicles transmission will last up to 200,000 and possibly more.
Industrial Oils are also very similar in how often you should change it to engine oil and Transmission Fluids in which you check the machines standards in when to change the oil on it.
RELY ON FOSTER FUELS FOR ALL YOUR LUBRICANT NEEDS IN VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about oil and lubricants for your vehicles, generators, or equipment, feel free to contact us today. We have a wide range of motor oil and lubricants to fit your business needs.
IS PROPANE GAS THE SAME AS NATURAL GAS? WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Propane and natural gas are both fossil fuels, and both are largely produced domestically. For homeowners, the main difference between the two is that propane is compressed into a liquid form and either sold in portable canisters, or delivered via truck to a permanent storage tank on their property. Natural gas, however, remains in its gaseous state and is delivered to the home via a pipeline.
Is Propane Made From Natural Gas?
Propane is primarily made as a byproduct of natural gas processing. This has become even more relevant as shale gas extraction increases.
IS NATURAL GAS CHEAPER THAN PROPANE?
For homes that have the option of choosing between natural gas and propane heat, cost is often the most important concern. Natural gas rates are measured in price per cubic foot, whereas propane rates are measured in price per gallon. Like all fuels, the cost of both propane and natural gas is prone to fluctuation over time.
Historically, when you convert between units and compare average rates, it may appear that natural gas is the cheaper option. However, the real cost for your home will depend on a number of factors, including where you live and the efficiency of your furnace and appliances.
Another, perhaps more useful comparison between the two fuels is not price per unit, but rather BTU. BTU is a measure of heating efficiency – in the case of propane vs. natural gas, propane has more than double the BTU rating (1030 to 2490). This means that, even if you are paying more for propane on a per-unit basis, the fuel you’re buying will burn cleaner and heat your home with greater efficiency.
Contact us to learn more.