Lubrication System

- an Automatic Lubrication System (ALS), often referred to as a Centralized Lubrication System, generally comprises a controller or timer, a pump and reservoir, metering valves and fittings and supply and feed lines. It typically delivers a controlled amount of lubricant (either grease or oil) to multiple, specific locations on a machine while the machine is operating, at specific times from a central location.

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

- SAE International (SAE) is an organization for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a standards for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others.

Viscosity
- is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear or tensile stress. In everyday terms (and for fluids only), viscosity is "thickness" or "internal friction". Thus, water is "thin", having a lower viscosity, while honey is "thick", having a higher viscosity. Put simply, the less viscous the fluid is, the greater its ease of movement (fluidity).
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the property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow.

- the measure of the extent to which a fluid possesses this property. Oil viscosity is affected by temperature: higher temperatures reduce the viscosity of the oil, leaving the engine vulnerable to damage from friction.

Types of Oil
There are three types of automotive oils commonly used today: Straight oil Multi-viscosity oil Synthetic oil

Straight Oil and Multi-Viscosity Oil

Straight oil was first used as engine lubrication, but had limited use. The viscosity of straight oil is maintained at only one end of the temperature spectrum. Oil with a high viscosity is good for protecting engines at high temperatures, but will become stiff at cold temperatures, which can prevent engines from turning over. Multi-viscosity oil was engineered to protect engines at high temperatures, and still be fluid enough to all engines to turnover in freezing temperatures.

Synthetic Oil

Over time, conventional oil breaks down and loses its lubricating properties. In the 1970s, synthetic lubricants were developed for use in military jets. This technology was then adapted for use in privately owned vehicles. According to AMSOIL, a leading manufacturer of synthetic oil, "These oils possess an ability to reduce friction and wear on engine components, an ability to function dependably at severe temperature extremes and an ability to withstand rigorous and lengthy engine operation without chemical breakdown." The downside of synthetic oil is the cost, which can be double the cost of conventional oil. Some of this cost is reduced by the longer life of synthetic oil.

Multi-grade Oil
Multigrade oils are essential for the longevity of modern engines as the oil needs to be capable of giving the best possible protection, when both hot and cold. Most modern oils are multigrades and you identify these as they will have an oil grade on the label along the lines of 10w-40.