Olive oil has almost no lubricating properties suitable for a modern combustion engine. The engine bearings would be running metal on metal, scoring and abrading each other. The wear would be apparent within a few seconds, and within a minute or two of idle the engine would seize completely in smoking ruin. Lubricating oil is a class of refined products used to reduce friction and wear between bearing metallic surfaces. It is distinguished from other fractions of crude oil by its high (>340°C) boiling-point region.Motor oils made from paraffin-based crude have a reputation for causing deposits in the engine, because wax is one of its major components.The composition of a typical engine oil is as follows: 78% base oil. 10% viscosity improvement additive (to improve flow) 3% detergent (detergent substances which clean the engine).
