Is it possible to mix motor oils

Normal functioning of the internal combustion engine is impossible withoutquality lubricants. Therefore, changing the oil is a common routine for every motorist. However, there is still no consensus among motorists on whether motor oils can be mixed.

There is no unequivocal answer here, but if such a need arises, first of all, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of the lubricant. Namely:

• producer;
• oil base;
• viscosity.

Is it possible to mix motor oils: mineral and synthetic

Depending on the base, the lubricant is:

• mineral;
• semi-synthetic;
• hydrocracking;
• synthetic

Already to this basis, manufacturers add various additives and thus achieve the desired characteristics from the liquid. And it is very difficult to predict how all this "chemistry" will react with each other. Therefore, this is a very risky undertaking, which, most likely, will lead to the breakdown of the car. It is better to pour products with one base into the engine.

What about viscosity?

Viscosity (or viscosity) is one of the key parameters of motor oil. If we do not delve into the technical details, mixing oils of different viscosities is permissible. But as mentioned above, it is better to choose a liquid with the same base.

At the same time, keep in mind that when adding products of a lower class, the viscosity of the mixture in the motor will decrease. It is also affected by the proportion of new and old oil. Therefore, you must be sure that the resulting mixture is still suitable for your car.

After reading this information, it may seem that it is quite possible to mix oils from different manufacturers. The main thing is that the base and viscosity coincide. But everything is not so clear.

Is it possible to mix oils from different manufacturers?

Most often, PMM manufacturers state that their oils cannot be mixed with others. There is a popular opinion among motorists that in fact brands are simply trying to attract more consumers. In addition, in real life it is not always possible to follow this rule.

For example, during the operation of the car, a situation can easily arise when the engine needs to be urgently topped up with oil, but there is no oil at hand. Mixing cannot be avoided even if the driver simply decided to switch to another brand. Even if you completely drain the oil and flush the engine, there will still be remnants of the old fluid in it.

In fact, these are only recommendations, there are no official bans from brands. The fact is that global manufacturers must adhere to the standards: ACEA for European countries and API for the USA.

Thanks to this, in emergency cases, it is allowed to mix certified oils from different manufacturers. Such a "cocktail" is enough to get to the service station in a calm mode. However, it will not be suitable for full operation of the car.

Often oils within the same brand are even better compatible with each other than with counterparts from other companies. Therefore, in the future, it is still better to make a complete replacement. And you should always strive to ensure that the oil in the engine is as homogeneous as possible.