noun
General oil, especially mineral oil or petroleum-related oil. In everyday Japanese, 油 or 石油 may be more specific depending on context.
タンカーから海にオイルが流出した。
Oil leaked from the tanker into the sea.
noun
lubricating oil; lubricant
Used for oil applied to machinery, chains, hinges, and similar parts to reduce friction. Thicker grease may also be called オイル in broad casual wording, though グリース is more precise.
自転車のチェーンにオイルを差した。
I oiled the bicycle chain.
noun
Cooking oil in recipes and product names, especially in compounds such as オリーブオイル and サラダオイル. The native word 油 is also very common.
フライパンにオイルを少し入れて、にんにくを炒める。
Add a little oil to the frying pan and sauté the garlic.
noun
massage oil; body oil; oil-based ointment
Oil used on the skin for massage, beauty care, or treatment; may refer to an oil-like ointment in context.
マッサージの前に背中にオイルを塗った。
Before the massage, oil was applied to my back.
noun
Limited use for kerosene or oil fuel, often in compounds such as オイルストーブ. For ordinary kerosene in Japan, 灯油 is the more direct word.
山小屋では古いオイルストーブを使っていた。
They were using an old kerosene stove at the mountain hut.
noun
engine oil; motor oil
Automotive and mechanical use, commonly seen as エンジンオイル or simply オイル when the vehicle context is clear.
車のエンジンオイルを交換した。
I changed the car's engine oil.