The oil pump pushes oil through passages that end up in bearings and other components. The pressurized oil leaks out past small openings around the bearings, and as the bearings wear out the openings become larger.
When the oil is cold it is thicker and when the oil is warm it becomes less "viscous", yet the oil pump continues to pump the same volume of oil. Thicker oil leaks past the openings around the bearings a little more slowly.
When the engine is running faster the oil pump is also turning faster, and moving more oil through the passages. Yet the oil still leaks past the bearings at the same rate.
In other words, if your engine is getting worn, change the oil to a higher viscosity (higher numbers, ie, If you're currently using 5W15, change to 10W30 or even 15W50 if necessary).
If your engine isn't quite as new as it once was, changing to a heavier (higher viscosity) oil can give you a LOT more miles.
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Oil pressure can increase due to factors like higher engine RPM, cold oil viscosity, or a clogged oil filter. Conversely, it can decrease due to low oil levels, a failing oil pump, or an oil leak. Monitoring oil pressure is crucial for maintaining engine health and performance.
Above the bubble-point pressure, the oil formation volume factor decreases. This is due to the expansion of gas released from the oil as pressure decreases, causing the volume of oil to increase for a given mass.
Factors that can cause oil viscosity to decrease include an increase in temperature, shearing forces from mechanical stress, contamination by fuel or other solvents, and oxidation or degradation of the oil over time.
When oil is heated, its volume increases due to thermal expansion. This is because the heat causes the oil molecules to move faster and spread out, leading to an overall increase in volume. Additionally, the expansion of the oil can also be attributed to the decrease in its density as it becomes less dense when heated.
Oil expands about 0.07% for each degree Celsius increase in temperature. This expansion can lead to changes in volume, pressure, and viscosity in the oil.
The price of oil went up after Hurricane Katrina due to the disruption of oil production and refining facilities in the Gulf of Mexico region. The hurricane caused widespread damage to infrastructure, leading to a decrease in supply which drove up oil prices. Additionally, concerns about potential long-term impacts on production further contributed to the increase in prices.