Can You Use Vegetable Oil For Engine Oil?
Your car’s most important fluid is engine oil. It is important to regularly check your engine oil level so you don’t run out. What if you do run low on engine oil? Is it possible to use another oil as an engine oil substitute?
Many people wonder if vegetable oil is safe to use as an engine oil. Let’s take a look at this article to find out the answer.
Also, read: Can you mix Gear Oil with Engine Oil?
Contents
Can You Use Vegetable Oil For Engine Oil?
Different oils can have different uses and compositions. It is important to find out if there are things they share. What is the impact of replacing the oil? Low oil? on engine oil Are you curious if vegetable oil can be used as an engine oil?
Practically speaking, vegetable oil cannot be used as engine oil. To understand why, it is important to examine the compositions of both. Let’s take a look at the differences in Vegetable Oil and Engine Oil, based on various factors. This will help you understand why vegetable oil is not suitable for engine oil.
Difference between vegetable oil & engine oil
| Factors | Vegetable Oil | Engine Oil |
| Composition | They are mostly composed of triacylglycerols or diacylglycerols. | Engine oil, which is primarily made from petroleum, contains 78% of the base oil. |
| Source of extraction | It comes from plants like fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. | Petroleum, crude oil, and minerals are the main ingredients. |
| Uses | Primarily used to make soaps, skin products and perfumes. | It is used for lubrication and protection from corrosion. |
| Viscosity | Very high viscosity | It is comparable to vegetable oil in viscosity. |
Let’s take a closer look at the differences between them and see why vegetable oil cannot be used as an engine oil.
Also, read: How To Open Engine Oil Cap?
Vegetable oil is not allowed to be used for engine oil.
Vegetable oil cannot be used for engine oil because of a number of reasons. Let’s take an in-depth look at the reasons why vegetable oil cannot be used for engine oil.
- The difference in composition: As we mentioned, the composition of both the oils It is quite different. Although vegetable oils can be made up of fatty acids and triacylglycerols as well as many other things, engine oil is primarily based on petroleum and includes commercial chemicals.
- Viscosity is the main reason why vegetable oil should not be used as an engine oil. Vegetable oil, as mentioned, has a high viscosity. This makes it thicker than engine oils. The oil must not be too thick to make it suitable for the engine. It will prevent it from flowing easily and it must remain lubricated.
- Water resistance and prevention of corrosion: Engine oil is used not only for lubrication, but also serves as a water resistor and prevents internal corrosion. These properties are not available in vegetable oil.
- Molecular break down: The engine produces a lot of heat, which we all know. Engine oil can be reduced to a very low level, but it still lubricates well. The engine oil’s breakdown point is higher than vegetable oil.
Last words
Different factors can make oils different. There are many differences between vegetable oil and engine oil, as we’ve already mentioned. Vegetable oil cannot be used as engine oil.