What is Viscosity?
One of the most important properties of motor oil in maintaining a lubricating film between moving parts is its viscosity. The viscosity of a liquid can be thought of as its "thickness" or a measure of its internal resistance to flow. Water for example is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher iscosity. The viscosity of motor oil must be high enough to maintain a lubricating film, but low enough that the oil can flow around the engine parts under all conditions. The iscosity index (VI) is a measure of how much the oil's viscosity changes as temperature changes. A higher viscosity index indicates the viscosity changes less with temperature than a lower viscosity index. Thus motor oils with higher viscosity indices thin less at these higher temperatures, ensuring a constant oil film
What is Viscosity Index?
The viscosity index (V.I.) of an oil is a number that indicates the effect of temperature changes on the viscosity of the oil. A low V.I. Signifies a relatively large change of viscosity with changes of temperature. In other words, the oil becomes extremely thin at high temperatures and extremely thick at low temperatures. On the other hand, a high V.I. signifies relatively little change in viscosity over a wide temperature range. An ideal oil for most purposes is one that maintains a constant viscosity throughout temperature changes. The importance of the V.I. can be shown easily by considering automotive lubricants. An oil having a high V.I. resists excessive thickening when the engine is cold and, consequently, promotes rapid starting and prompt circulation; it resists excessive thinning when the motor is hot and thus provides full lubrication and prevents excessive oil consumption. Another example of the importance of the V.I. is the need for a high V.I. hydraulic oil for military aircraft, since hydraulic control systems may be exposed to temperatures ranging from below –65°F at high altitudes to over 100°F on the ground. For the proper operation of the hydraulic control system, the hydraulic fluid must have a sufficiently high V.I. to perform its functions at the extremes of the expected temperature range. Liquids with a high viscosity have a greater resistance to heat than low viscosity liquids which have been derived from the same source. The average hydraulic liquid has a relatively low viscosity. Fortunately, there is a wide choice of liquids available for use in the viscosity range required of hydraulic liquids. The V.I. of an oil may be determined if its viscosity at any two temperatures is known. Tables, based on a large number of tests, are issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). These tables permit calculation of the V.I. from known viscosities.
