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 In the previous issue, we showed you what the numbers and letters on the sidewall of your tire really meant. On this one, we are doing the same for engine oil. Engine oil, widely known across the country as “Mobil” acts like the blood of any vehicle, two-, four- or ten-wheel­ers. If it has an engine and wheels, chances are it needs Mobil to run. While petroleum acts as a means of propulsion, engine oil does every­thing else, from proper cleaning and lubrication to efficient usage of fuel.There’s a wide range of engine oils to choose from so it is difficult to know what type would be best for your vehicle. Thankfully, you never have to, because the vehicle manufacturers already know what oil you need when you go for your routine service and they use what is best for your ride. But it doesn’t hurt knowing a little more about the “Golden Blood” that makes the wheels go round.

Okay, let’s start with the basics. There are three core types of engine oils in the market: mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic.

Mineral oil is the cheapest and is essentially a constituent of crude oil, produced after it is refined.

Synthetic oil is the most expen­sive, but for a reason. It has been engineered by scientists to work over a wide range of tempera­tures and conditions, while reducing drag on the engine to help reduce fuel consumption. It also actively cleans the engine’s internals as it’s pumped around.

Semi-synthetic oil is a blend of mineral and synthetic oil, the blend made basically to bring the price down.

Next is the most important and widely heard term when it comes to engine oil, “Viscosity”. This is the large numbers on a bottle of oil like 5W30 or 10w40. Simply put, vis­cosity is the ‘flowability’ of oil. Put another way, thin oil has low viscos­ity, while thick oil has high viscosity.

The viscosity of oil changes with temperature. When it’s cold, the oil will flow more slowly and when it’s hot, the oil will flow more quickly. However, in order to lubricate an engine properly the oil must be able to flow at a consistent rate through a broad range of temperatures.

To put this in perspective, imag­ine a bottle of ketchup, put it in the fridge (at roughly 1-3 degrees Celsius) for a few hours, then take off the lid and try to pour the ketchup out. It will start to flow but extremely slowly as the cold temperature has made it more viscous. Now take your bottle of ketchup and stick it in the oven for 20 minutes at 100 degrees Celsius then take the lid off and pour it out. It should flow out extremely easily. The heat has reduced the viscosity and allowed the syrup to flow more quickly.

The same thing happens with engine oil. If you live in Lukla and its -20 degrees outside, when you go to start your car’s engine, the oil inside it needs to be thin enough to flow and lubricate all the internal com­ponents as soon as you turn the key. Similarly, if you live in Birgunj and its 40 degrees outside and you’re driving in heavy traffic your engine oil needs to stay viscous enough to lubricate properly.

Most oils these days are multi-grade (multi-viscosity) and will have two numbers instead of one on the label separated by a ‘W’. Multigrades were first developed some 50+ years ago to avoid the old routine of using a thinner oil in winter and a thicker oil in summer. The numbers look somewhat like this: 10W-40

The first number followed by the letter W describes the viscosity of oil at low temperatures (the W stands for winter). The lower the number the thinner the oil. A thinner oil at low temperatures is good because it flows more easily and is therefore able to protect the engine when it is first started from cold. If the oil is too thick when cold, it will not circulate freely and will reduce fuel economy.

The second number describes how thick the oil is at the engine’s normal operating temperature. The higher the second number, the thicker the oil. If it’s too thin when hot, it may not protect effectively. If it’s too thick, you lose efficiency. The correct viscosity grade will be displayed in your car handbook.

Apart from this, there’s one more thing to engine oil. The oil speci­fications, which is the answer to what engine oil is best for you. Oil specifications define what type of engine a particular oil is suitable for and its performance against a range of criteria. There are a handful of specifications but we’ll only talk about OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) as they’re most used in our country.

All OEMs have their own engine oil for their cars: Honda has its own, Volkswagen has its own and so on. So be advised that the oil you put in your car at the autho­rized service station is the best for you. Most OEMs publish lists of all the oils they have approved, so the consumer knows which prod­ucts are suitable for their vehicle if they want an oil change outside the service station. These approvals are especially important for cars under warranty. Usage of unap­proved oil will instantly render it null and void.

 If you go to GG Machan in Pulcho­wk before August 30, you will be able to marvel the works of visual artist Sabita Dangol. The free exhi­bition “Interconnected Affection” is Dangol’s fourth solo effort. The vivid colors of her artworks exude positivity and love. You will quickly notice that in all her paintings, the central motif is comb. “The purpose of a comb is to untangle hair, so metaphorically speaking, it signifies resolving prob­lems. This is why I have been using comb as a symbol that solves prob­lem and brings harmony,” she says. Also, married couples are the other key feature of her paintings. Sooth­ing and peaceful, these paintings suggest pure conjugal bliss.

The price range of the artworks is between Rs 10,000-Rs 195,000. Rahul Shrestha, 28, an art enthusiast who was visiting the exhibit, reckons the paintings are relatively cheap considering the quality of work. He says that these artworks “would look especially good above the mas­ter bed in the bedroom of married couples.” Also, he observes that the paintings are vibrant, with unusual color combinations like blue and golden blending perfectly.

If you are an art lover, you can spend time analyzing the meta­phors, techniques and motifs Dangol uses in her paintings. You can see many symbols of her native Newari culture in her artwork, and reli­gious symbols too. “I am including Astamangala or the eight auspicious signs which are religious symbols of Buddhists and Hindus,” she says.

To see the exhibition, visit GG Machan anytime between 11 am-6 pm.

Manisha Bidari, 19, has been contemplating if she should switch to menstrual cups from sanitary pads. But there are many things to consider before she makes the switch. First, a menstrual cup costs Rs 2,200. “Why are they so expensive?” she questions. Second, she does not know how to use and clean it. “Will it fit? I am scared if it will feel uncomfortable. Additional­ly, none of my family members use it,” she lays out her concerns. Despite being environment and user friendly, many are unaware about even the existence of men­strual cups. Others are confused where to get proper information. Right now the main users of this cup in Kathmandu seem to be teenagers and women in their early 20s (at least on the basis of our conversa­tions with its users). After talking to six women who use menstrual cups and a quick chat with Shristi Shakya, the executive assistant at Putali Nepal, a non-profit which distributes and spreads awareness about menstrual cups, we believe it is an investment worth making. Here is why.

Easy to use

According to Shakya, 21, who has herself been using menstru­al cups since 2014, it is “the best thing to use during your menstru­al cycle”. First, the users do not have to worry about stains. The cup, once inserted into the vagina, holds the blood inside. You then take the cup out, throw the collected blood, and clean it with warm water to use it again.

“I love traveling and trekking so when I am using a menstrual cup I don’t have to worry about changing pads frequently. A menstrual cup is both portable and comfortable.” Using a menstrual cup, you can go for a swim during your period. You can run and jump. “There is a lot of freedom,” she says.

Worth it

“I’d guessed the menstrual cups cost around Rs 600. When I found their real price, I was shocked. I was in a dilemma whether to buy it. However, it only took me a day to decide I wanted one for myself when I discovered its many bene­fits,” says Devashree Niraula, 23, an environmentalist.

But for someone who uses sani­tary pads for say Rs 100 a month, why should they make the initial investment of Rs 2,200 on a men­strual cup?

Shakya explains: “You may not be willing to part with Rs 2,200 initially but you have to consider that the cup can be used for ten years. If you spend Rs 100 a month on pads, you spend Rs 12,000 in ten years. A menstrual cup becomes a cost effec­tive product if you take a long view.”

Menstrual cups are not produced in Nepal and since they are import­ed, usually from India and Europe, the cost increases.

Putali Nepal has been importing and selling the cups from Europe since 2014. They currently sell 15-20 cups a month through their exclusive Kar.ma Coffee, Jham­sikhel outlet. “We hope increasing awareness will lead to higher sales,” Shakya says.

Use by young girls

Since menstrual cups have to be inserted into the vagina, many women are concerned that these may be difficult to use for young girls who are having their period for the first time. Additionally, as Nepali society still prizes virgin­ity, won’t using a menstrual cup destroy your virginity?

“One of the main reasons why menstrual cups have not been able to sell more in Nepal is the social taboos associated with them,” Shakya says. “There is a misconcep­tion that once you insert something into your vagina, you are no more a virgin. Yes, menstrual cup stretches your hymen but it does not have any other health issues.”

So can a girl as young as 13 use a menstrual cup for her first period? Shakya replies in the affirmative: “This is why menstrual cups come in two sizes: medium and small. So young girls can use the small ones.” Does the size affect how much blood it can hold? “No. Only the width of the two cups are different but both will hold an equal quantity of blood,” she clarifies.

Other benefits

There are other benefits of using menstrual cups as well. They are environmentally friendly. If you use a menstrual pad or a tampon, you have to toss them aside after use. But you can use the same menstrual cup for a decade.

Additionally, there are health benefits. Chances of infection are high if you use a pad or a tampon. But not for menstrual cups. Shakya informs that they are made of medical grade silicon and have no side effects.

Shreeya Sharma, 21, who started using menstrual cups only a month ago, also vouches for the benefits of menstrual cups. “There are risks of contracting a ‘toxic shock syn­drome’ if you use a tampon. There is a pungent smell when you use a pad. But menstrual cups have no such complications.” She admits that inserting and releasing the cup into your vagina may be uneasy for first-timers but it does not take long to get used to.