How motor oil performs under heavy load conditions
When you push your vehicle harder than usual, whether it’s towing a trailer, carrying heavy loads, or driving at high performance, your engine oil faces considerably more stress than during everyday driving.
Understanding how motor oil behaves under these conditions is key to keeping your engine protected and performing at its best.
Heat and stress on the engine
Heavy-load driving naturally increases engine temperatures. Engine oils must be able to withstand this heat without thinning excessively or breaking down, maintaining the protective film that keeps components lubricated. Without the right oil, thermal degradation can:
- Reduce viscosity
- Diminish protection
- Accelerate wear
High engine speeds and pressures can also cause oil to shear to a lower viscosity, weakening its ability to maintain a consistent lubricating layer. Using engine oils formulated with shear stable viscosity modifiers can help to resist shear, helping to ensure that a strong protective film remains between moving parts even under extreme conditions.
Protecting against wear
Heavy load conditions place additional friction and pressure on engine components. To prevent damaging metal-to-metal contact, the oil must contain effective anti-wear additives. These specialised compounds can help to:
- Reduce friction
- Protect critical components
- Extend engine life, even when the engine is under maximum stress.
Keeping the engine clean
Driving under heavy load also increases fuel consumption and introduces more combustion by-products, such as acids, soot, and fuel residues, into the engine oil. To combat this, modern engine oils include detergent and dispersant additives that keep contaminants suspended and prevent sludge formation, helping maintain engine cleanliness and efficiency.
At the same time, the elevated temperatures generated under load accelerate oxidation, which can lead to varnish and deposits. Oils with robust antioxidant packages help to resist these effects, helping protect both engine performance and longevity.
Choosing the right oil
For vehicles that regularly tow, haul, or are driven aggressively, it may be beneficial to use engine oils with higher operating-temperature viscosities, such as 5W-40, or to adopt shorter oil change intervals to maintain optimal protection.
Always consult your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for the correct oil grade and maintenance schedule. Using the right oil, at the right interval, helps to ensure your engine stays protected no matter how hard you push it.
The takeaway
There’s no doubt that heavy-load driving puts your engine oil to the test. Choosing a high-quality oil designed to resist heat, shear, wear, and contamination helps ensure your engine stays protected, performs efficiently, and lasts longer. Fortunately, Texaco Lubricants’ extensive range of engine oils is on hand to help meet the demands of even the most challenging driving conditions.
Find out more about Texaco Lubricants’ range of engine oils.
