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The Ancient Art of Refining: How John Ellis Created Motor Oil History?
In the mid-19th century, the rapid development of mechanical power increased the demand for internal combustion engines, in which the role of lubricants became particularly important. This is not only to reduce friction and wear, but also to extend the service life of the machine. A key role is John Ellis. In 1866, he founded the Continuous Petroleum Refining Company and began exploring the potential of our country's oil.
John Ellis originally developed a career in the medical field, but he became keenly interested in the potential applications of petroleum, and eventually he developed a new lubricant for internal combustion engines.
Initially, when Ellis was studying the medical value of oil, he did not find any significant efficacy. However, he was fascinated by oil's potential as a lubricant. His goal was to develop a high-viscosity, all-petroleum lubricant to replace the animal and vegetable oils still in use at the time, which were extremely inefficient in high-temperature environments. His breakthrough came when he successfully developed a lubricant that could effectively operate at high temperatures, which allowed internal combustion engine parts to operate more smoothly and reduced valve sticking and cylinder corrosion.
Functions and types of engine oil
The main task of lubricating oil is to reduce friction and wear between internal combustion engine components, while cleaning sludge and yellow paint inside the engine. In addition to preventing corrosion and inhibiting oxidation, lubricants also have the function of optimizing piston ring sealing and cooling the engine. Today's engine oil is usually composed of base oil and a variety of additives to make its performance more stable.
Motor oil effectively maintains consistency at high temperatures and helps carry heat away from operating components, reducing the risk of engine overheating.
Operation principle and daily use
In various internal combustion engines, such as cars, motorcycles and generators, the role of engine oil is simple but crucial. These machines have many parts inside that rub against each other, and friction wastes energy and causes component wear. Proper lubrication reduces fuel consumption, increases efficiency, and extends the life of your engine.
When motorcycle piston rings operate at temperatures up to 160°C, the viscosity of the lubricant is key to maintaining a lubricating film. This film reduces direct contact between metal parts and therefore reduces friction and wear, ultimately protecting the entire engine structure.
Maintenance and replacement of engine oil
For a long time, engine oil replacement and filtration have been an important part of vehicle maintenance. This process is generally called oil change. According to local laws, car owners are usually required to recycle used engine oil when performing oil changes. Regular oil changes can effectively maintain the performance of the lubricant and reduce the accumulation of metal particles.
If you run your engine for an extended period of time without changing the oil, you may cause engine damage or even "seizure," where the engine suddenly stops running due to lack of lubrication.
Therefore, many vehicle models have their own specific oil change time and driving distance tips. Although these tips are rough indicators, they can reflect the actual operating conditions. With the advancement of technology, modern automobile engine computers can calculate the condition of the oil based on various operating parameters, further increasing the potential service life.
Classification and standards of engine oil
Lubricating oils are classified according to their viscosity characteristics, usually using SAE standards. This digital code system enables consumers to select the appropriate oil based on their vehicle's needs, thereby improving engine performance and durability. Medium and large engines often require multi-viscosity oils to adapt to different operating conditions.
Each engine oil's formulation and additives are designed to address a specific problem, such as reducing oxidation, anti-wear or inhibiting foam.
Future challenges
Against the backdrop of increasing environmental regulations, the engine oil industry is also developing rapidly, striving to make products more environmentally friendly and efficient. The emergence of new oil products and the elimination of old oil products have also continued to change the industry. Consumers are now paying more attention to the environmental protection and economy of such products. As technology advances, how will future engine oils adapt to these changes and still maintain their essential functions?
