FAQ

Why do cars need motor oil?
Engine oil prevents the engine of a car from being damaged while driving. It lubricates the moving parts in the engine, e.g. the pistons, thus reducing mechanical friction. It also cools the parts that become hot during the journey and which cannot be reached by the coolant, protects against corrosion and cleans the engine from ash, soot and metallic abrasion.

Why do you have to change engine oil?
Engine oils wear out and must therefore be changed regularly. Reasons for wear and tear are natural oil ageing, degradation of additives and viscosity index improvers as well as contamination by combustion residues such as soot, sulphur oxides and water, dust from the atmosphere and mechanical abrasion. Filtering or topping up with fresh engine oil is not sufficient. In gasoline engines, which usually run short distances, the engine oil can also be diluted by unburned gasoline components. This lowers the viscosity and reduces the lubricity of the engine oil. Oil dilution can also occur in diesel engines with particulate filters.

Is it allowed to mix motor oils?
Oils of the same specification or quality can be mixed together, but it is not ideal. In exceptional cases, such as when the warning light for oil lights up on the way, it is certainly possible to top up low-grade oil (according to the vehicle manufacturer's specifications). Attention: In the long run, mixing different oils can cause engine damage! Therefore an oil change should be made as soon as possible.

How long can engine oil be stored?
Engine oil can be stored for a relatively long time in the sealed original container. However, the manufacturers recommend storing it for a maximum of three to five years. After this period, components of the chemical additives dissolved in the oil can precipitate, the additives are then no longer dissolved but form small lumps.
In addition, each container "breathes" because of changing ambient temperatures, i.e. it draws in outside air including moisture. This also reduces the performance of the engine oil through chemical-physical reactions with the additives.
In addition, technical progress in engine development requires oils with ever higher performance. Oil that has been stored too long no longer meets these requirements. It should be stored in opened containers for a maximum of six months.

Measure & check the oil level but correctly!
An incorrect oil level can cause engine damage. It should therefore be checked regularly when the engine is warm. Wait about two minutes after switching off the engine. During this time the oil has run out of the engine and into the oil pan. Only then pull out the dipstick, clean it with a cloth and then reinsert it until it stops.
Then pull it out again and read the level. The minimum and maximum oil level are marked on the dipstick, the oil film should reach at least to the middle between the two marks (more in the direction of the max line), but under no circumstances below or above it. One reason for too high an oil level can be oil dilution. A reason for too high an oil level can be oil dilution.

Why does oil need to be topped up?
If the measured oil film only reaches the minimum mark or is even below it, you must top up the oil as soon as possible. The filler neck is usually located on top of the engine, where exactly it is described in the operating instructions. How much oil you need to fill depends on the fill level and the amount of oil specified in the logbook. As a rule of thumb, there is approximately one litre of oil between the min and max marks. It is better to approach it slowly before you fill in too much oil. Important: Always wait a few minutes before measuring again so that the oil can settle.

Change interval according to OEM