Your oil questions, answered
Practical, plain-language answers to the questions we hear most from drivers, workshops, fleets and plants.
Why is my engine using oil? Causes and fixes
Where does engine oil go? Burning oil, leaks, worn rings and valve seals, the wrong grade — how to tell which one it is and what to do.
API oil standards explained: what SN, SP and CK-4 mean
What do the API letters on an oil bottle mean? SL, SN, SN Plus and SP for petrol engines, CI-4 and CK-4 for diesels — and how to choose.
Can you mix two different engine oils?
Is it safe to mix engine oils of different brands or grades? When it is fine, when it is not, and what to do afterwards.
Does engine oil expire? Shelf life explained
How long does unopened and opened engine oil last? Where to find the production date and the signs that stored oil has gone bad.
Engine oil warning signs — and what the colour tells you
What the oil light, engine noises, burning smells and oil colour on the dipstick mean. A simple guide to reading your dipstick.
What happens if you overfill engine oil?
Is too much engine oil harmful? Foaming, pressure on seals, burning oil — how to spot overfilling and how to fix it.
Diesel vs petrol engine oil: what is the difference?
Can you put diesel engine oil in a petrol car, or the other way round? Additives, TBN, API categories and dual-rated oils explained.
Motorcycle oil vs car oil — and what JASO MA means
Why you should not put car oil in a motorcycle: wet clutches, JASO MA and MB, two-stroke oils and choosing the right grade.
Engine oil for CNG and bi-fuel cars
Does a CNG car need a special engine oil? How natural gas affects engine temperature, oil ash, drain intervals and oil choice.
GL-4 vs GL-5 gear oil: what is the difference?
GL-4 vs GL-5 gear oil, 80W-90 and 85W-140 grades, synchroniser compatibility and when to change gearbox and differential oil.
When should you change coolant — and can you mix types?
Coolant change intervals, OAT vs conventional antifreeze, the right water-to-coolant ratio, mixing colours and using tap water.
When to change hydraulic oil — signs your hydraulic oil is failing
Hydraulic oil change intervals and the signs of contamination and failure — foam, colour, pump noise, heat — plus filters and oil analysis.
Choosing the right grease: NLGI, thickener types and mixing
Lithium, lithium-complex, calcium or moly grease? What NLGI 2 means, dropping point, grease compatibility and common greasing mistakes.
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