The Science of Motor The Science of Motor OilOil

Petroleum vs. SyntheticPetroleum vs. SyntheticThe 3,000 mile oil change; The 3,000 mile oil change;

Fact or FictionFact or Fiction

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

The history of motor oilThe history of motor oil Functions of a motor oilFunctions of a motor oil What’s in it?What’s in it? What happens before it goes in the What happens before it goes in the

bottle?bottle? Petroleum oilPetroleum oil Synthetic oilSynthetic oil

Specialty oils, oil additives, and drain Specialty oils, oil additives, and drain intervalsintervals

History of Motor OilHistory of Motor Oil Lubrication dates back to Egyptian timesLubrication dates back to Egyptian times The first motor oils arrived around 1900The first motor oils arrived around 1900 In 1972 Amsoil started selling the first API In 1972 Amsoil started selling the first API

rated 100% synthetic motor oil for internal rated 100% synthetic motor oil for internal combustion enginescombustion engines

Tribology is the science and technology of Tribology is the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wearfriction, lubrication, and wear

Functions of Motor OilFunctions of Motor Oil LubricateLubricate

Increases efficiency, slows wearIncreases efficiency, slows wear CoolCool

Antifreeze only cools the upper engineAntifreeze only cools the upper engine Corrosion ProtectionCorrosion Protection

Stop/hinder oxidation & acid build up Stop/hinder oxidation & acid build up CleanClean

Stop deposit formation & hold particles Stop deposit formation & hold particles in suspensionin suspension

What's in it?What's in it? Basestocks ~ 70 - 80%Basestocks ~ 70 - 80%

PetroleumPetroleum ““Synthetic” Synthetic”

Chemical additives ~ 30 - 20%Chemical additives ~ 30 - 20% Improve viscosity characteristicsImprove viscosity characteristics

Pour point depressantsPour point depressants Viscosity Index (VI) improversViscosity Index (VI) improvers

Maintain lubricant stabilityMaintain lubricant stability Detergents and DispersantsDetergents and Dispersants Anti-foam and Anti-wear agents Anti-foam and Anti-wear agents Oxidation and Corrosion inhibitorsOxidation and Corrosion inhibitors

Petroleum Oil - How is it Petroleum Oil - How is it made?made?

Crude oil must be refined (API Groups Crude oil must be refined (API Groups I-III)I-III) Atmospheric Distilation – low boiling Atmospheric Distilation – low boiling

point components are removedpoint components are removed Vacuum Distillation – basestocks are Vacuum Distillation – basestocks are

separated into various viscosity rangesseparated into various viscosity ranges Solvent Extraction – removal of tar, Solvent Extraction – removal of tar,

resins, and aromatic compundsresins, and aromatic compunds Dewaxing – basestock is cooled solvent Dewaxing – basestock is cooled solvent

is added and wax crystals are filteredis added and wax crystals are filtered

Petroleum Oil - How is it made? Petroleum Oil - How is it made? (con’t)(con’t)

Hydrofinishing or Hydrotreating* - Hydrofinishing or Hydrotreating* - removal of sulfur, High temperature and removal of sulfur, High temperature and pressure with catalyst pressure with catalyst

Converts aromatics into useable non-Converts aromatics into useable non-aromatics aromatics

Works with or in place of solvent extractionWorks with or in place of solvent extraction Hydrocracking** - changes structure of Hydrocracking** - changes structure of

basestock moleculesbasestock molecules PSEUDO-SYNTHETIC (some Group II & III)PSEUDO-SYNTHETIC (some Group II & III)

Synthetic Oil - How is it Synthetic Oil - How is it made?made?

Designed to be better (API Groups Designed to be better (API Groups some III, all IV & some V)some III, all IV & some V)

Three main types of synthetic Three main types of synthetic basestocksbasestocks Polyalphaolefins (PAO’s)Polyalphaolefins (PAO’s)

Most commonMost common Diesters Polyolesters Polyolesters

1-Hexene; and example of and alpha-olefin

Pour Point DepressantsPour Point Depressants

Pour point is the lowest temperature at which an oil is observed to flow

Precipitated wax crystals stick Precipitated wax crystals stick together and cause the oil to geltogether and cause the oil to gel

Most commonly branched-chain polymeric additives that co-precipitate with the wax crystals and prevent them from agglomerating

Viscosity Index (VI) Viscosity Index (VI) ImproversImprovers

polymeric additives that are more soluble in oil at high temperature than at low temperature.

Expand or stretch at high Expand or stretch at high temperatures, decreasing the effects temperatures, decreasing the effects of thinningof thinning

Detergents & DispersantsDetergents & Dispersants

Main objectives are to:Main objectives are to: prevent deposits on hot surfaces neutralize corrosive oxidation products

and other contaminants they suspend insoluble oxidation

products and debris in the oil

Anti-Foam & Anti-Wear Anti-Foam & Anti-Wear AgentsAgents

Anti-foaming agents Anti-foaming agents lower the surface tension thereby breaking the foam

Anti-wear agents react at rubbing metal Anti-wear agents react at rubbing metal sites creating a very tough sites creating a very tough wear-resisting boundary lubricating films ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyl DithioPhosphate) EP additives

Oxidation & Corrosion Oxidation & Corrosion InhibitorsInhibitors

Oxidation is a chain reaction caused Oxidation is a chain reaction caused by heat that forms free radicalsby heat that forms free radicals Three main groups of additives that stop Three main groups of additives that stop

the chain reactionthe chain reaction Free radical scavengersFree radical scavengers Hydroperoxide decomposersHydroperoxide decomposers Metal deactivators and corrosion inhibitorsMetal deactivators and corrosion inhibitors

Corrosion Inhibitors form a thin layer Corrosion Inhibitors form a thin layer of protection over metal surfacesof protection over metal surfaces

Industry Recognized Industry Recognized Advantages of SyntheticsAdvantages of Synthetics

Improved viscosity at low temperatures Improved viscosity at low temperatures Better high temperature performance Better high temperature performance Decreased oil consumption Decreased oil consumption Reduced friction and engine wear Reduced friction and engine wear Improved fuel consumption through better Improved fuel consumption through better

engine lubrication engine lubrication Resistance to oil sludge problems Resistance to oil sludge problems Crude oil doesn't have to be used for the Crude oil doesn't have to be used for the

production of the lubricants production of the lubricants Some synthetic motor oil producers offer Some synthetic motor oil producers offer

extended intervals between oil changes extended intervals between oil changes (extended drain intervals) (extended drain intervals)

Reduction of environmental impact (due to Reduction of environmental impact (due to lower oil consumption) lower oil consumption)

Oil Drain IntervalsOil Drain Intervals Since the dawn of time….. Since the dawn of time…..

Is this still necessary? Is this still necessary? Europe has maintained an average drain Europe has maintained an average drain

interval of around 10,000 miles for decades interval of around 10,000 miles for decades Automobile manufacturers recommending Automobile manufacturers recommending

5000-7500 mile oil changes5000-7500 mile oil changes GM’s oil change algorithmsGM’s oil change algorithms

All with high quality petroleum basestocksAll with high quality petroleum basestocks Benefits increase DRAMATICALLY with use Benefits increase DRAMATICALLY with use

of synthetic of synthetic

The 3000 mile oil change!

HOWEVER…HOWEVER… Oil industry & mechanics still push Oil industry & mechanics still push

for the waste of resources with the for the waste of resources with the 3000 mile oil change3000 mile oil change September 2006 issue of September 2006 issue of Oil & LubeOil & Lube

Magazine ran and article titled Magazine ran and article titled ““Mechanics Veto Extending Oil Mechanics Veto Extending Oil Changes” Changes”

WHY??WHY??

Specialty Oils & Oil Specialty Oils & Oil AdditivesAdditives

Specialty oilsSpecialty oils Semi-SyntheticSemi-Synthetic High mileageHigh mileage 4x4, SUV 4x4, SUV High HorsepowerHigh Horsepower

Marketing BS (OH! This bottle is shiny!)Marketing BS (OH! This bottle is shiny!)

Oil additivesOil additives Slick 50Slick 50 Dura LubeDura Lube

Both use Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFEBoth use Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE

ReferencesReferences

Lubrication and LubricantsLubrication and Lubricants, James R. Dickey, , James R. Dickey, Lubricants Consultant Lubricants Consultant http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/kirk/articlhttp://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/kirk/articles/lubrboos.a01/pdf_fs.html es/lubrboos.a01/pdf_fs.html

http://themotoroilsite.comhttp://themotoroilsite.com - - The Motor Oil BibleThe Motor Oil Bible www.noln.net/columns/2006/9-06/features/www.noln.net/columns/2006/9-06/features/

mech_veto.htmmech_veto.htm www.lidstonepub.pe.ca/articles/engineoil www.lidstonepub.pe.ca/articles/engineoil

guide.htmlguide.html http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/

ViewContentServlet?Filename=Published/ViewContentServlet?Filename=Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0180520501.html EmeraldFullTextArticle/Articles/0180520501.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil