Q : What’s the difference between OWS and the other additives in the market?

A : Because OWS works! At OWS, we put in the best quality synthetic additives that are safe for modern cars; and OWS Vitamins do not leave any harmful residues in the engine. This is the reason why OWS is the choice of Dealer Service Stations world wide.


Q : Does engine oils have additives? If so, why do I need OWS?

A : All engine oils use additives to protect engine internals eg., cleaning additives, anti corrosion additive, anti friction additive etc. However, this is often insufficient especially when the engine is always used under severe driving conditions.

For eg, the OWS 210, Engine flush can effectively remove contaminants from the engine internals even though the engine oil has cleaning additives. This is proven by thousands of compression tests we have conducted all over the world; after the OWS 210, engine flush, the engine performs much better.


Q : Should I use additives / engine treatments for my car engine ?

A : It is entirely up to you. Even the best quality engine oil has a maximum of 25% in additive and this may not be sufficient for extended oil change in a severe driving condition. So a good engine oil additive like the OWS 220, engine protector can be used to enhance the performance and protection given by the oil.

However, do not use any additive that claims to “coat” the metal surfaces as this may decrease oil passage clearances thus affecting oil pressure. These chemicals (Teflon, PTFE, etc) may form sludge in the engine in the long run. The OWS 220, engine protector is a pure concentrated synthetic additive package (more of the good stuff in a good oil) that does not leave any residue in the engine and is perfectly safe for all modern engines.


Q : What is the difference between mineral & synthetic oils ?

A : Engine oils are blended from base fluid and various performance-enhancing additives. (All oils need additives) The base fluid is usually mineral base oil derived from refined petroleum crude. However, for high performance lubricants, synthetic base fluid is used.

Synthetic based fluid undergoes complex treatment resulting in superior physical & chemical properties. By exploiting these inherent properties, it is possible to improve engine protection, especially at high and very low operating temperatures, lower emission via lower evaporation losses, and lower consumption via lower frictional losses and extend the oil change interval. Most modern cars require synthetic base fluid because of the extended oil change intervals recommended by the manufacturers.


Q : Can oils of different types be mixed ?

A : Generally, most mineral based (non-synthetic) oils are miscible with one another. However, it is not advisable to mix mineral with synthetic


Q : My car loses engine oil regularly. Is there something wrong?

A : The rate of oil consumption is dependent on various factors like Condition and design of the engine, Operating conditions and Viscosity and volatility of the oil Condition and Design of Engine –
most engine have oil control rings which prevents or limits the amount of oil going into the combustion
chamber where it is burnt up.

The extent to which oil flows into the combustion chamber depends on the engine design and also on the condition of the piston rings and cylinder walls. Thus it is important to note that different engines do have different oil consumption rate. In addition, older cars tend to have larger clearance and more tendencies for oil leakage. It is therefore common to use higher viscosity oils for such engine to help control lubricants consumption.

If this does not help, the engine should be checked. An overhaul may be necessary.
Viscosity and Volatility of the Oil – are to an extent, factors that affect oil consumption rates. A thinner oil has a higher tendency to be burned up in the engine, especially if the engine runs at high speeds. Volatility is the inversely related to viscosity. The higher the viscosity, the lower the volatility, and hence, the lower the oil consumption rate. If viscosity poses a problem, it is often the choice of viscosity that is the problem. If the engine manufacturer recommends a SAE 20W-50 oil, the usage of a 10W-30 oil rather than a 20W-50 oil may result in a higher oil consumption rate.

This however, does not mean that thicker oils are better. Motor oils which are too thick will cause other problems, such as loss of power, increased oil temperatures and poorer oil circulation. Therefore, you need to pick oils which are of the correct viscosity for your engine. Consult your car manual if necessary.

Operating Condition – higher speeds and higher temperatures may increase the oil consumption rate. This could be due to the fact that at higher speeds, more (excess) petrol is sprayed into the engine. This has the effect of diluting the viscosity of the oil, and hence the lower viscosity will result in higher consumption rates. Similarly, higher engine temperatures will reduce oil viscosity. If the correct oil viscosity has been chosen, it is unlikely that the rate of oil consumption is higher than that specified by the car manufacturer. Oil consumption rate is more a function of the engine conditions rather than the oil properties.


Q : Should I use a thicker oil for better protection ?

A : No, thick oils may not necessarily be better. A good motor oil has to be thin enough to move freely and smoothly through the engine when it is cold and thick enough to protect the parts when the engine is running and high temperatures are experienced. The best oil therefore is the one that remains stable throughout the wide extremes of the hot and cold. Therefore for the best protection, you should use a synthetic fluid with good quality additives.

Q : I have always changed my motor oil at the interval recommended in the owner’s manual. This used to be 5000km for my last car. I’ve recently bought a new car and am surprised to see that the recommended oil change interval has increased to 20000km. is this right ?

A : The current trend of car manufacturers has been to increase the oil drain period under normal driving conditions from typically 10,000km up to 15 or 25,000km. This sadly is to push up car sales by trying to convince consumers that maintenance cost is lower for their cars.

However, at OWS, we recommend that you examine your driving patterns before following these recommendations. In Singapore for eg., with so much start-stop, stop-go traffic (Severe Driving conditions) we recommend that even synthetic fluids should be changed every 10,000 km to ensure that your engine performs at peak efficiency all the time.


Q : Surely this longer oil drain interval will increase the level of stress on the oil in my car ?

A : Longer oil drain interval will increase the stress on your oil. Therefore, you have to read through the owners’ manual carefully and do not go to a lower quality oil to try to save money while maintaining the extended oil change. Most car manufacturers have an approved list of oils and their SAE classifications for extended oil change.

For eg., OWS 5W50 Fully synthetic oil is approved by Mercedes Benz for extended oil change upto 15,000 km whereas OWS 20W50 Mineral is not approved for extended oil change.


Q : It says in my vehicle handbook that if I drive under severe conditions, I should change my oil more frequently. What exactly does the term “severe driving conditions” mean ?

A : “ Severe driving conditions “ refer to the following :

- stop-start driving (e.g. getting caught in traffic jams)
- high speed driving
- short trips (up to 10km)
- dusty condition

Many people believe that the most severe driving condition is high speed motorway driving, particularly if carrying a heavy load. Whilst this type of driving can place considerable stress on the oil, driving patterns which include a significant amount of traveling under “stop and go “ condition, making frequent trips of less than 10-15km or often leaving the engine idling, can be even more severe.

In particular, “ stop and go” driving can result in greatly increased engine wear because of the high number of cold engine starts experience. Under all of these severe conditions you should change the oil more frequently than the normal drain period that is indicated in the vehicle owner’s handbook.


Q : If I don’t change my oil frequently, will I notice the difference ?

A : Yes, if you drive your car very consistently, you will notice a significant drop in performance and smoothness of the engine. Not changing your oil on a regular basis can significantly reduce the level of protection provided against wear. An engine oil acts as a reservoir for all kinds of by-products when the fuel burns, including soot, sludge, water and acidic material, as well as unburned and partially burnt fuel.

At the same time, the stress placed on the oil during engine operation gradually depletes the components which determines the oil’s performance. Changing the oil on a regular basis ensures that the right balance of components is present in the oil, and also removes waste materials which might otherwise result in increase deposit formation, corrosion of metal components and increase wear.


Q : If my driving pattern falls into the severe categories, should I change my oil frequently to give maximum protection to my investment ?

A : Yes, OWS recommends that you stick to the 5,000 km for mineral and 10,000 km for synthetic guidelines. Also ask for a OWS 210, engine flush to remove contaminants that is not removed by normal oil draining. This will give you even better performance.