What is hydrocracked engine oil. Hydrocracked motor oil. All the truth. How to distinguish hydrocracked motor oil from synthetic

A novelty in the market of motor fluids - hydrocracking oil - received a mixed assessment among car owners. Some consider this lubricant the best modern development. Others pay attention to the features of the production of the material and speak negatively about it. Before drawing final conclusions, it is worth understanding hydrocracking oil - what it is, what are its advantages and disadvantages, and whether it is worth choosing lubricants of this quality for your own car.

What is hydrocracked oil

Hydrocracking is a process for refining base oils to produce base oils with high viscosity characteristics. The HC synthesis technology was developed by American chemists in the 1970s. During hydrocatalytic processing, "bad" oil fractions are converted into carbohydrates. The transformation of an ordinary “mineral water” into a “synthetics” of a higher quality occurs under the influence of chemical processes. On the one hand, HC-oil is produced from oil, like mineral oil, and on the other hand, the molecular structure of the base changes dramatically. The resulting composition completely loses the characteristics of mineral oil.

There are several types of hydrocracking

Production technology

To get a complete picture of the GK-oil will allow the study of production technology. Hydrocracking is a method of refining base mineral oil, which makes it possible to bring the characteristics of the final product closer to synthetics. The basis of the oil is oil, the molecular structure of which is changed using special chemical processes. Cleaning consists of three stages:

Dewaxing. The removal of paraffins from oil contributes to an increase in the freezing point of the composition.
Hydrotreating. At this stage, the hydrocarbon components are saturated with hydrogen and thus change their structure. The oil acquires resistance to oxidation processes.
Hydrocracking is the removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds. At this stage of purification, the rings are cleaved, bonds are saturated and paraffin chains are broken.

Three-stage purification allows you to rid the oil of unnecessary impurities and obtain an oil composition that differs from the usual mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic ones. Therefore, manufacturers classify HC-oil as separate category lubricants.

Hydrocracking technology

After the cleaning procedure, synthetic additives are introduced into the oil to give it the final properties and capabilities of high-quality lubricants.

Basic properties

The base of motor oils affects their viscosity. The thickest oils are mineral, the thinnest are synthetic. Hydrocracking oil, along with semi-synthetic, is in the middle position. The peculiarity of this lubricant is that in terms of production technology it is closer to mineral ones, and in terms of physical and chemical properties- to synthetic.

This type of oil has the properties of both mineral and synthetic oils.

The base created by hydrocracking technology has improved properties compared to the mineral one. In terms of purity, such oils are close to synthetic ones, but they have a much lower cost.

It is important! HC-synthesis makes it possible to obtain a lubricant with a viscosity index of 150 units, while mineral lubricants have a viscosity of only 100 units. The introduction of additives brings hydrocracking compositions as close as possible to synthetic ones.

Advantages and disadvantages

Multi-stage distillation of oil with subsequent enrichment with additives makes HA liquid a high-quality lubricating oil. The advantages of this lubricant are as follows:

Efficient operation under mechanical or thermal overloads;
Minimal aggressiveness to elastomers;
Resistance to the formation of deposits;
resistance to deformation;
Optimum viscosity;
Low coefficient of friction;
High solubility of additives;
Environmental friendliness.

Hydrocracked oils have distinct advantages and disadvantages

With clear benefits this species oil has a number of significant disadvantages:

Increased evaporation;
Tendency to provoke the formation of corrosion;
Rapid aging and, as a result, the need for frequent replacement.

Despite some shortcomings, many car owners speak quite positively about its use. In terms of quality, it is slightly inferior only to high-class synthetic oils with the maximum cost. The advantage over synthetics of similar characteristics is a much lower price.

HC or synthetic: what to choose and how to distinguish

At the end of the chemical transformation of the HA base, its characteristics are significantly ahead of mineral oil, but it does not reach the level of high-quality "synthetics". The main idea of the developers of the new oil is proximity to synthetic varieties while reducing production costs. Theoretically, the strict ideal observance of all technological processes can guarantee a product that practically does not differ from synthetic. However, such complexity will immediately affect the price, so the goal is unlikely to be justified. Therefore, manufacturers prefer the “golden mean”: there are no properties of mineral lubricants in the new product, but it is not yet synthetic.

The choice of oil should be based on the needs of the car engine

But nothing's perfect chemical industry car owners can not yet offer. Synthetics and hydrocracking have their advantages and disadvantages:

Synthetic oil withstands incredible overloads, high speeds, ingress into the fuel composition without compromising quality. "Synthetics" works twice as long as HA and withstands overheating.
However, in terms of stability during temperature changes, hydrocracking has a clear advantage. This product retains viscosity at both high and abnormally low temperatures. Therefore, it can be safely used in winter and summer. It is enough just to change or add lubricant more often than "synthetics".
When using GK-oil, the parameters of starting the engine and the characteristics of its power are improved. The product has better lubricating properties compared to "synthetics". however, the declared properties of the additives lose quickly enough, and the lubricant ages.

It is important! When choosing a lubricant for the engine, you should focus on the characteristics of the car motor indicated in the instruction manual. It is necessary to take into account the operating conditions of the vehicle: in some regions, road conditions affect the rate of oil clogging, so it is not advisable to purchase an expensive product for long-term use.

Switching from synthetic to hydrocracked oil

The technology of the procedure for switching from synthetic to hydrocracked oil depends on the age and condition of the engine. On an old car, after draining, it is better to remove the pan and remove all the dirt and soot, which no amount of flushing helps get rid of.

The procedure for changing the oil is simple and within the power of any car owner

In relatively new cars, it is enough to make a double oil change. After draining the synthetics, they fill in hydrocracking and drive 200–300 km. Then this portion of the oil is drained and a new one is poured.

It is important! Many experts believe that when switching from an oil of a higher class to a lower one, a simple change is sufficient, without flushing and refilling.

How to distinguish hydrocracked oil from synthetic

If the car owner has opted for hydrocracking oil, he may have some difficulty in identifying it. The only guideline for most inexperienced consumers is the corresponding inscription on the package. Some manufacturers designate hydrocracking with the Latin abbreviation HC. But often there is no such identification mark on the package, so the consumer should get acquainted with the distinctive features of the product:

Price. The production cost of the HA product is much less than the "synthetics", so the price of the final product is much lower. At the same time, this oil is several times more expensive than mineral oil.
Characteristics that are vague in meaning. The American Petroleum Institute has equated hydrocracked oils with synthetic ones, so many manufacturers introduce some ambiguity into the designation of the product category: they do not label “100% Synthetic” on the label, but write about the use of “synthetic technologies”. If there is a similar wording on the bank, HC oil is in front of the buyer.

To distinguish hydrocracking oil from synthetic, you need to know some of the nuances

These indicators only indirectly indicate the basis used by the manufacturers. It is possible to really distinguish hydrocracking from synthetics only in the laboratory. But there are several obvious indicators that you should pay attention to when choosing a lubricant:

The inscription "Vollsynthetisches" is sufficient when the lubricant is made in Germany: here the concept of synthetic oil is clearly defined at the legislative level;
Oils marked 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W are most likely “hydrocracking” or “semi-synthetics”;
ZIC oils and almost all original lubricants for Japanese cars are exclusively hydrocracked.

Video: HC lubricants

Due to the ratio of price and quality, hydrocracking oils are becoming increasingly popular. Experts predict that with the constant improvement of production technology, this type of lubricant can overtake "synthetics" in terms of frequency of use.

Although consumer properties modern lubricants are determined by the amount of additives, its basic qualities are directly dependent on the base. Among them are the service life and the dependence of viscosity on temperature.

All motorists know that there are two types of bases:

Mineral oil (produced from petroleum);
(produced artificially).

The difference in quality and cost led to the creation of a compromise oil: semi-synthetics. Everything is clear here: we mix two types of base in a certain proportion, we get a composition that is not too expensive, but already with acceptable characteristics.

Everything seems to be simple: three main types. However, manufacturers threw us another problem: hydrocracking oil. Depending on the country of origin, it is sometimes referred to as a mineral water, then as a synthetic.

To understand what hydrocracking is, consider the production technology

The illustration shows a typical primary oil refining process.

To obtain lubricants, such products of oil distillation as gas oil and fuel oil are used. Hydrocracked engine oil base is made from gas oil. To do this, a hydrocracking unit is being built at the refinery.

This is a large-scale facility, the cost of its construction is comparable to the price of a small full-cycle refinery. However, the product obtained with its help is so popular that all costs pay off in a short time.

Note

Hydrocracking reactors purify crude oil derived gas oil with wax. Harmful impurities are removed: nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus. After that, long 8-12 atomic chains are broken (this procedure is called cracking).

Short compounds of molecules having a homogeneous structure are connected back. But it is no longer chaotic, but with the help of hydrogen molecules (the process is called hydrogenation). Hence the word hydro.

What is the advantage of short hydrocarbon molecules?

Such compounds are little dependent on the ambient temperature, that is, the viscosity changes smoothly, without harm to the final product (oil);
The production and further use of hydrocracking products is environmentally friendly, since toxic reagents are not used: only natural hydrogen;
Majority harmful impurities are not deleted, but converted into useful ones.

What is hydrocracked oil, synthetic or non-synthetic?

Why is hydrocracked oil called synthetic? It has nothing to do with reality. From the point of view of the chemistry of the process, only the product whose molecules are obtained artificially can be considered 100% synthetic.

How hydrocracking appeared - video

In the process of obtaining a hydrocracking base, hydrocarbon molecules are first split (crushed) and then glued together again.

do we get a new product? Definitely yes. An argument in favor of those who consider hydrocracking to be a synthesis;
new molecules are created artificially? Definitely - no. This is a chemical transformation, not a pure synthesis.

Then why did such an ambiguous interpretation of seemingly clear terminology arise? The answer is simple. If it concerned science in its purest form, no one would call hydrocracking synthetics. But oil is sold, so marketing comes to the fore.

Synthetic oil has a cost that is significantly higher than mineral, and even semi-synthetic. The consumer pays for high quality and features. When the base obtained in the hydrocracking process appears, it turns out that the final product is not much worse than pure synthesis. It is possible to sell as if synthetic oil at competitive prices.

An inscription like “fully synthetic” appears on the packaging, and a happy (but not very deceived) buyer saves money by getting a really high-quality product. A small deception lies in the terminology: after all, 100% synthetics are made from gas molecules.

Then the national legislation comes into force. In some European countries, it is mandatory to indicate the abbreviations HC (hydrocracking), or PAO (synthetics). It seems like the buyer should get reliable information.

Other national legislation requires voluntary notification: for example, you can indicate on the label HC - synthetic, who knows - he will understand.

American and Japanese manufacturers have convinced the certification authorities that the splitting and re-combining of molecules is also a synthesis. Therefore, in these countries, the hydrocracking product rightfully refers to synthetics.

The only fact of real deception can only occur on the shelves of retail chains. Initially, the manufacturer determines the cost of hydrocracking significantly lower than synthetics. But unscrupulous sellers can sell HC - synthetic at the price of 100% synthetics, taking advantage of the lack of reliable information on the packaging.

Let's figure out which oil is better: hydrocracked or synthetic

We know the following about mineral oils: high temperature dependence, poor load stability, short service life. At the same time - excellent lubricating properties (until they change during operation), and of course, low cost.

Hydrocracking or synthetics, which is better - video

The properties of synthetic oils are also well known. Duration of operation, high flash point, stable performance, low temperature dependence.

The engine starts easier, its power increases. At the same time, high cost, poor ecology, no fuel economy, characteristics are not lost gradually, but like an avalanche (the replacement period cannot be exceeded).

And finally, hydrocracked oil. The main advantage is a lower (compared to "fully synthetic") price. In addition, this base has balanced viscosity indicators that are suitable for almost any motor. A distinctive feature of this framework is the increase in efficiency.

Disadvantages - hydrocracked oil is not as versatile in terms of application temperature. It evaporates: for some engines, topping up between service periods will be required.

How to distinguish hydrocracked engine oil from synthetic?

If you need a hydrocracking product, look for the inscription "HC-Synthese".

Manufacturers who want to pass off a hydrocracked product as pure synthesis, on the contrary, will try to hide information about the production method. From the point of view of the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights, there is no deception, therefore, only a high price or honesty of the seller can become a sign of pure synthetics. Today, no self-respecting auto shop would sell HC for the price of synthetics.

Reliable information can be obtained if the oil is produced in one of the EU countries. Then the abbreviation HC will be on the label. There may not be information about the mineral base, but 100% synthetics must be marked with the appropriate inscription.
Asian countries (Korea, Japan) accept hydrocracking as synthetics. Accordingly, on the packaging you will see only 3 gradations: synthetics, semi-synthetics, mineral water. We focus on price.
Russia also does not believe that synthetics cannot be produced from liquid petroleum products. Therefore, again mineral water, semi-synthetics, and two categories (synthesis and hydrocracking) under a common denominator.

Important! There are no ways to check the base of engine oil at home (garage) conditions. Only professional chemical laboratory.

Advantages and disadvantages

In fact, there is no point in wasting time and money on examination. It is fundamentally important to have pure synthetics in the engine crankcase only for highly forced and revving engines. And for such cars, the choice of lubricants is strictly regulated by the manufacturer. Usually 2-3 brands that will definitely be synthetic.

Advantages and disadvantages of motor oils with different bases - video

For other cars - hydrocracking oil optimal choice. At contemporary culture production and technology, the quality of the base obtained from oil (and then gas oil) is not inferior to that fully synthesized from natural gas.

The difference appears only in extreme conditions. And this is actually a racing mode. Actually, drivers squeezing the ultimate out of their cars - this is the category of buyers of pure synthetics. The rest can save with a clear conscience.

There is a lot of controversy, talk and discussion around hydrocracked oils. Consumers can not come to a consensus. They were divided into completely opposite ones. Some consider them the best modern development, others speak negatively due to the peculiarities of production. Someone thinks that they are unreasonably expensive, and opponents focus on the fact that such compounds are much cheaper than synthetic oils with similar characteristics. To understand the essence of hydrocracking oils and what it is, this issue should be studied in more detail. Having dealt with the production technology, technical characteristics, strong and weaknesses GK-oils, everyone will be able to draw certain conclusions for themselves.

Hydrocracking engine oil is a purified product.

What did hydrocracking lead to

Typically, manufacturers receive refined motor oil as a result of the processing of petroleum products. Considering its properties and characteristics, the lubricant is superior to the traditional mineral fluid. But it is not quite up to the level of synthetic compounds. This is when compared with synthetics of the highest level, made according to all the rules and using modern technologies. In parallel with this, hydrocracking is considered to be a cheaper technology in terms of implementation. Again when compared to the manufacture of synthetic engine lubricants. GC technology can have varying degrees of efficiency. To begin with, let's consider the potential of hydrocracking, that is, the theory. If we take the developed technology for the synthesis of petroleum products as a basis, competently use production facilities and have the most modern equipment, the output will be oil that will not yield to synthetics at all.

But the theory is still a theory. In reality, this approach would be too expensive. As a result, the process of manufacturing HA oils will turn out to be costly, and finished products will be sold at a price not lower than synthetics. But the essence of GC is to make oil close to synthetic, but at a much lower price. From here we get the reality of what is happening with hydrocracking technology. The approach is less thorough, due to which it turns out to create oils that are significantly superior to mineral ones, but still they cannot be called an analogue of high-quality synthetics.

The technology was developed back in the last century, around the 70s. Then there were only the first prerequisites for the creation of something significant and in demand. Now almost every manufacturer uses GC. This is due to three factors:

availability of production;
high demand;
good quality oil.

Whether to use hydrocracking oil or not depends not only on the desire of the car owner, but also on the requirements of the engine of his car to the quality and characteristics of the smear. Now hydrocracking products include special attention. These are oils that can replace expensive synthetic compounds, thereby helping motorists save on car maintenance without sacrificing quality.

Features of production technology

Now you need to more specifically understand what kind of technology it is and what is its feature. Here we will consider hydrocracked oil from the standpoint of its manufacture. Hydrocracking (HC) is called modern way in the production of motor oils, which refines and improves the properties of the base mineral oil. This allows you to bring their characteristics closer to synthetics. In the manufacture of HA oils, oil is used, as is the case with classic oils. Then apply special chemical processes, with the help of which the molecular structure changes almost completely. Therefore, almost nothing remains of the basic properties and characteristics that are relevant for mineral water. Such deep purification and synthesis is needed to reduce the amount of unnecessary impurities that are present in the base oil. The result of processing is an oil component that cannot be characterized as mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic. Therefore, the Civil Code is usually attributed to a separate category.

In total, there are three stages of purification, due to which impurities are removed and the final molecular structure of the liquid is created:

Processing begins with deparaffinization. From the name, you already understood that at this stage. They contribute to an increase in the pour point of lubricating engine oil. Due to this technology alone, it will not be possible to get rid of all impurities. Therefore, further manipulations are required.
The second stage is hydrotreating. When hydrocarbons are saturated with hydrogen, the process of changing their structure takes place. This is called hydrogenation. As a result, the oil increases resistance to oxidative processes.
The production is completed by hydrocracking. During processing, several different reactions occur. With their help, nitrogen and sulfur compounds are removed, rings are split, bonds are saturated and paraffin chains are broken.

Further, the corresponding oils are added to the composition of the HA. With their help, the final list of properties, capabilities and characteristics of the lubricant is created. The more technologically advanced and complex the additives, the higher the price tag for hydrocracking rises. Therefore, such liquids can be quite expensive. Although, again, compared to synthetics, HA will always be cheaper, other things being equal. If we compare the process with traditional synthesis, which is relevant in the manufacture of synthetic motor oils, hydrocracking requires less technological and time costs. It predetermines more low cost finished products. You now more accurately understand what hydrocracked motor oil is and what the essence of its production is.

Classification problem

So far, experts have not fully decided how to properly classify such oils and where to attribute them. Representatives of the API (American Petroleum Institute) currently classify hydrocracking compounds as Group 3. This includes premium base lubricants that are made from petroleum. In many countries they are not called fully synthetic. This is because they do not meet the main requirement of synthetics, that is, they do not consist of 100% artificial components. At the same time, in terms of quality, HA oils cannot be compared with mineral lubricants. They surpass them many times over. Compared to PAO oils, that is, synthetic fluids, HAs are slightly inferior and only by some criteria. Therefore, it is now relevant to use the new term HC-synthetics, that is, hydrocracking synthetic oils. The most important thing is that the essence does not change from the name. Therefore, you can call these lubricants whatever you like.

How to distinguish from synthetic oils

When a car owner comes to a store that sells motor lubricants in order to purchase exactly hydrocracked oil, there is a certain difficulty in finding it. After all, it is far from always possible to immediately identify this type of material. You can distinguish hydrocracking engine oil by the most objective sign, that is, by the corresponding inscription on the package. Some manufacturers indicate what type of lubricant it is by applying the designation HC-synthetic. But you shouldn't expect that everyone will write it without exception. Therefore, when there is no inscription on the label, look for indirect signs. There are several. Start with cost. Considering technological features GK-oils, they are much cheaper than synthetics, but also several times more expensive than mineral oils.

Not all manufacturers of motor lubricants want to confuse the designations and indices of their oils, therefore they simply put the category of synthetic oil on the label. But with some peculiarities. They do not indicate that it is 100% synthetic (Fully Synth), but make it more vague. Therefore, if you see an inscription about the synthetic technology used in the manufacture of lubricants, then you most likely have a GK. Please note that at present the technology of hydrocracking production is strictly classified by each manufacturer. Therefore, no one will display detailed information on the labels.

Technical specifications

From all of the above, an objective conclusion can be drawn, according to which GK oils are an intermediate solution between mineral and synthetic lubricants. Therefore, relevant questions arise regarding specifications formulations. Although HAs are very close to synthetic oils, they don't have the same outstanding performance when compared to the highest quality 100% synthetics. But after all, not the most outstanding synthetic oils are available on the market, which HA will significantly surpass. This is already a relative concept. In parallel with this, hydrocracking has obvious benefits in terms of high temperature properties and antioxidant capabilities. Such formulations guarantee an optimum viscosity that can be used in winter, summer, throughout the season in conditions of extreme heat and extreme frost.

It is important to note the objectively weak point characteristic of hydrocracking. Despite the use of advanced technologies for processing the mineral base, it is impossible to completely clean the mineral water in our time. Therefore, HA is in demand due to the availability of production technology. This allows you to make lubricants optimal in terms of price-quality ratio. For relatively little money, you buy a full-fledged motor oil that remains resistant to chemical attack, temperature extremes, oxidation and corrosion. Take a similar synthetic fluid as an analogue, and you will see how much more affordable hydrocracked oil is in terms of cost.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like all other solutions, hydrocracked oils have their objective advantages and disadvantages. It is impossible to say that they are better than the rest. Just as it is impossible to argue about the total superiority of synthetics over hydrocracking. Everything is relative and is known only in comparison. According to their characteristics, both types of compositions are very close. Therefore, the manufacturers of motor fluids themselves do not hesitate to call them the same. But let's analyze everything in more detail. Yes, the characteristics and properties are at a high level. At the same time, a rather complex concept of hydrocracking hides a mineral base processed using a special technology. This is not considered a disadvantage. Rather, the main advantage, since this implies an affordable cost. Take synthetic fluids for comparison. Their production requires a very complex synthesis technology. And since it is complex, it is also expensive. In terms of cost, hydrocracking objectively wins.

Other positive aspects of HA oils include:

excellent viscosity and the possibility of their use in various operating conditions;
resistance of hydrocracking to the formation of deposits;
minimal aggressive impact on oil seals and seals used in the engine design;
resistance to oxidative processes and corrosion;
the ability to effectively reduce friction between rubbing surfaces;
inclusion in the composition of a large number of additives;
a wide range of;
the possibility of using HA on modern engines that are demanding to.

These merits have been carefully studied and tested, which made it possible to prove the validity of such statements. On the negative side, hydrocracked oils have some disadvantages.

Basically, there are such disadvantages:

predisposition to a faster evaporation process;
shorter life cycle than synthetics (HA begins to age faster);
the need to change the lubricant more often;
the composition is not adapted to very harsh operating conditions.

If we take all the announced advantages of using hydrocracking oils, compare them with the disadvantages and the price tag, then the disadvantages look quite tolerable. You can live with them, because in their environment GCs behave perfectly. If you are not into racing or the temperature in your area does not drop to extremely low values in winter, these motor lubricants will show themselves from the very beginning. better side. Do not forget that manufacturers are different. Some create a Civil Code according to all the canons and rules, use the most advanced technologies and modern equipment. Others cannot afford it. This is where a significant difference arises between hydrocracking of different brands. Choose only the best. They are the closest to synthetic oils.

When choosing oil for your engine, and considering the option of buying a GK compound, you should pay attention to a few main points.

Vehicle and engine manufacturer. The owner's manual provides specific recommendations for choosing engine oil. Not all auto companies include GK lubricants as recommended, since they are not able to fully meet the needs of the power unit. It is not worth taking risks and experimenting by replacing synthetics with hydrocracking in such situations.
Financial side. Yes, synthetics are noticeably more expensive than HA, but sometimes these are justified costs. If you have a choice between the two technologies, as confirmed by the automaker, then there's no point in spending more money.
Oil producers. As mentioned earlier, HA or HC oils do not always have worthy characteristics. It depends on the applied technology, equipment and technical base of the company. Therefore, carefully study the manufacturer, read about the additives used in the HA and compare them with the requirements of your automaker.

The technology, although not entirely new, is only now beginning to develop to the fullest. It is possible that in the future hydrocracking will be actively developed, improved and modernized. Currently, thanks to the GC, we have an excellent opportunity to save on consumable without affecting the quality, reliability and durability of the engine. The only question is whether the automaker allows the use of such oils on their engines.

Any engine oil is a mixture of base oil and an additive package. Now base oils are usually divided into five main groups.

First group- an ordinary mineral water obtained from heavy fractions of oil in the presence of various solvents.

Second group- improved mineral oils that have undergone a hydrotreatment procedure that increases the stability of the base oil, and is better purified from harmful impurities. They have their own niche, mainly in the field of freight transport, heavy marine and industrial diesel engines - they are used where oil consumption is huge and the use of expensive synthetics is ruinous.

Third group- base oils obtained by hydrocracking technology (HC-technology). On Internet forums, "specialists" contemptuously call these oils "crack", although they occupy the bulk of the market. Some companies position them as semi-synthetic (although they themselves admit the incorrectness of the very term “semi-synthetics”), some call them HC-synthetics. In fact, this is also a mineral oil obtained from the corresponding fractions of oil, but improved - both in terms of purity and molecular structure.

Fourth group- Full Synthetic, or fully synthetic oils. Their basis is polyalphaolefins (PAO). PAO molecules are a purely synthetic product, which is obtained as a result of chemical reactions mainly from oil gases- ethylene or butylene. Such oils are “collected” like a designer, and therefore their properties are more predictable than those of mineral water. The disadvantage of PAO is the high price. Therefore, little tricks are used: why not mix twenty to thirty to forty percent of PAO with a "crack" and not call such an oil fully synthetic? After all, the share of PAO in synthetics is not specified anywhere! The trick can only be unraveled by the flash point, which is indicated in technical description oils: in PAO it tends to 250 ° C and even higher (sometimes 280 ° C), and in pure HC-synthetics it is about 225 ° C.

Fifth group base oils are united by everything that did not fall into the first four. And the main one included in this group and actively spread in the production of commercial oils is base oil ester based.

esters- fully synthetic compounds obtained not from oil, but mainly from vegetable raw materials, mainly from rapeseed oil. This is a purely synthetic product, characterized by complete stability. Its molecules have a charge, due to which they adhere to metal walls and reliably reduce wear. Unfortunately, it is impossible to make an oil consisting of esters alone: friction losses will be great. Therefore, oils of the fifth group are also a mixture, most often of esters and PAO, but at the same time, since for pure synthetics some of the performance properties can be set at the base oil assembly stage, the volume of the additive package can be significantly less.

WHAT'S NEW?

The coolest group is the fifth, from which we took three ester oils, each with its own raisins.

Cupper SAE 5W-40 Full Ester

The most esteric, if I may say so: according to the manufacturer, it contains up to 80% esters and only 2.5% additives with special metal-plating (fr. Laquer - to cover) components.

XENUM WRX 7.5W40

Ester oil with microceramic additives based on boron nitride. In fact, boron nitride is a powerful abrasive, but here a very fine fraction is used, which, as stated, is an analogue of a solid lubricant in friction zones. Note the non-traditional, “fractional” SAE class and a considerable price.

KROON Oil PolyTech 10W-40

Here, the so-called OSP technology is applied, in which up to 30% of special polyesters - polyalkylene glycols (PAG) are included in the base oil based on PAO and esters. They are completely soluble in oil and contribute to a better dissolution of the additive package. Note the high viscosity index of PAG (over 180 units), which provides good starting properties at low temperatures. The approximate price is 5000 rubles for 5 liters.

A curious couple from the third and fourth groups were taken to the company of the esters.

TOTEC Astra Robot 5W40

RAVENOL HCS 5W-40 API SL/SM/CF

We will take this hydrocracking synthetics as a starting point. The price is ridiculous.

The purpose of the tests is to see how these oils perform under identical bench test conditions: what to expect and what to hope for? At the same time, we will not compare oils of the fourth and fifth groups with each other: it is not they who compete, but the principles of development of the directions of modern “oil building”.

LONG RIDE

Almost all oil producers declare energy-saving features, wear reduction, exceptional cleanliness of parts, as well as extended oil life. This can only be verified and compared in lengthy bench tests that ensure identical operating conditions for each product. The methodology is broken.

The heart of the research facility is a bench engine based on the VAZ-2111, and the operating conditions of the oil in it are specially toughened. In particular, the compression ratio has been increased and oil cooling of the pistons has been introduced: the oil is heated additionally. The samples were examined in the chemotological laboratory of the Department of Engines, Automobiles and Tracked Vehicles of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and in the "North-Western Center for Expertise".

Under such conditions, each oil spent 180 engine hours in a mode typical for driving a car on a highway (a normal car would cover about 15,000 km during this time); except that the number of start-up warm-ups we had was much less.

During the tests, we took samples of the oil to track its aging history. At the same time, power, fuel consumption and exhaust toxicity were measured. After each cycle, the motor was disassembled to assess its condition - in particular, the degree of wear.

THE TORTURE OF HYDROCRACKING

First, oil was poured into the bench motor, designed to set First level reference. This is HC-synthetics RAVENOL HCS 5W-40. Everything was fine, but 130 hours after the start of the tests, the viscosity fell out of the upper limit determined by the declared SAE class (16.3 cSt), which we always equate to a formal failure. Mileage (in terms of) - a little more than 11,000 km. A sharp increase in viscosity determined a noticeable deterioration in engine performance: power decreased by 3%, fuel consumption increased by 7%.

WILL YOU BE FOURTH?

The fourth group of base oils in our test was represented by the "most" synthetic motor oil - "TOTEK Astra Robot 5W40". And, I must admit, very successfully. Against the background of hydrocracked oil, the advantages of full synthetics based on PAO were clearly visible.

Firstly, is a resource. The conditional 15,000 km oil worked easily, its parameters remained within the specified limits. The rate of aging, even under the proposed severe conditions, turned out to be noticeably lower than that of the oils of the “junior” groups. And the motor characteristics at the end of the test were not too different from the initial ones.

Secondly, this oil surprised with its low-temperature properties: -54 ºС - this is the freezing point! A high viscosity index (under 170) provides a good viscosity-temperature characteristic, which guarantees optimal oil operation both at high temperatures in loaded conditions and during cold starts.

Loss for the entire test cycle was minimal. Low volatility affected, which is indirectly confirmed by the highest flash point among all oils in this group. As well as the results of measurements of the toxicity of exhaust gases: the yield of residual hydrocarbons is noticeably less than when the engine is running on other oils - the non-fuel, that is, oil, component of toxicity has noticeably decreased. How do we know what oil is? From there, the fuel component with the same gasoline and the same adjustments gives a difference only within the margin of error.

The level of pollution in the engine is typical for synthetics: it is small, but still noticeable.

COPPER IN OIL

The first representative of the fifth group was Cupper 5W40 Full Ester oil. A new original additive package containing copper should provide metal-cladding properties. What does this mean? A thin copper film will form on the working surfaces of the parts, smoothing out roughness, and also protecting friction units from scuffing and wear. The oil withstood the prescribed 15,000 km. After opening the engine, they saw that the surfaces of the cylinders began to resemble Karelian birch veneer - both in color and pattern. This is copper. And the weighing of the parts was generally shocking: instead of a loss, a steady increase in mass was observed on the bearing shells! Minimal, at the level of a few milligrams - but an increase! Has copper moved from the oil to the working surfaces of the liners? And another miracle: the base number in a fresh (before testing) oil sample was only about 3 mg KOH/g instead of the usual 6–10 KOH/g. Error? Tried it a few times - you're right! And after testing, it decreased only slightly. This is what a combination of an ester base and a metal cladding additive package gives. There were no miracles with the rings, but the wear rate is really less than on the reference hydrocracking synthetics.

The resource is worse than that of "TOTEK Astra Robot" oil based on pure PAO, but much better than that of the reference "hydrocracking". It is understandable: additives work intensively, but there are few of them - therefore, the oil resource cannot be infinite. But we remind you: the conditional 15,000 km oil honestly worked.

ESTER ENGINE OIL: WHITE ON BLACK

Xenum WRX 7.5W40 "Estero-Ceramic" oil with micro-ceramics gave a record low wear rate for piston rings and cylinders, in addition, the wear rate for bearings also decreased. Boron nitride "solid lubricant" works! The energy-saving effect in the oil manifested itself just where ordinary motors have a particularly hard time - in maximum modes and, which looks strange to non-professionals, in idle mode. In the first case, all parts are subject to the maximum loads that the oil must withstand. In the second, there are no loads, but the speed of the relative movement of the parts, which makes them “float” on the oil layer, is very small. Therefore, not all oil works, but mainly its additives.

But it was not without tar.

Firstly, the aging rate of this oil from the ester group turned out to be noticeably higher than that of Cupper oil, - Xenum lost even to TOTEK oil from the PAO group. The test cycle was completed, but the resource margin at its end was minimal. In our opinion, this is a consequence of the more severe operating conditions of the oil film in the presence of ceramic microparticles. Focal local temperatures in friction zones where solid microparticles work can rise, and this inevitably spoils the oil base.

Secondly, the low-temperature properties of this oil also turned out to be not so hot. However, the non-standard "7.5" in the SAE classification did not promise anything else. And further. After the oil samples stood on the shelf for some time, they showed a poorly washed off sediment! Even long shaking of the sample did not remove it from the bottom of the bottle. Miracles do not happen: ceramics are heavy, it is impossible to keep them in the volume of oil for a long time. Of course, there was a little sediment, but it somehow made me feel uncomfortable. The only calming fact is that oil has been present on our market for more than a day, but no “horror stories” associated with it seem to have been found.

Note that the color of the samples changed intensively. Initially, the oil resembled kefir in color: white-white. After 40 hours, it already looked like ordinary oil - dark, but the sediment was still whitish. Boron nitride, however.

"POLY TECH" AT POLYTECH

The tests were carried out in the laboratory of the engine department of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. How to get past the oil with such a familiar name - KROON Oil Poly Tech? The only oil of the PAG group on our market as a whole confirmed what the description said. The main thing is that when opening the engine after 180 hours of operation in hard conditions, we found almost clean pistons! There were virtually no high-temperature deposits, the piston groove area turned out to be clean. And this means that the rings in this oil work normally, no occurrence should be expected.

The level of low temperature deposits was found to be lower than other oils. The PAG base of the oil appears to dissolve them as promised by the manufacturer. And everything is fine with the resource: 15,000 km of oil “passed” with a margin of several thousand more kilometers.

As for the engine life and wear protection, everything is also very worthy, at the level of the best ester samples and much better than the basic HC-synthetics. But with the "cold" properties is not so clear. The pour point is below minus fifty, and this is one of the best indicators, but the viscosity index is not the highest. Not for nothing is the class 10W‑40 according to SAE.

OILS FROM THE FUTURE

Who said that all motor oils are poured from the same barrel? During the tests, we made two important discoveries for ourselves.

Firstly, HC oils work quite well for their price and are not able to spoil even the most modern engine.

Secondly, there are more interesting options than the most common third group on the market. And each of the considered oils has its advantages with the only disadvantage - the high price. But it’s not a sin to pay for the good, especially since the overpayment most often does not exceed the cost of one or two refueling. If we take into account the effect of energy saving (gasoline savings by an average of 2–4%), improvement in vehicle dynamics, starting properties and a decrease in the rate of engine wear, then the overpayment does not look scary at all.

Any of the oils we have tested can be safely poured into the engine. According to our information, the same Xenum is very fond of riders. Cupper with its copper still seems to be something inexplicable, but it survived! There are no questions about TOTEK oil. And KROON Oil Poly Tech polyalkylene glycol oil generally diverges with a bang. In short, use it safely - of course, if the quality group of the selected oil is consistent with the requirements of the car's operating instructions.

Xenum WRX 7.5W40

price, rub. from 6000

Volume, l 5

KROON Oil PolyTech 10W‑40

Estimated price, rub. 5000

Volume, l 5

OUR COMMENT

There are only a few manufacturers of base oils and additives, and therefore there is nowhere to come from with a variety of end products. The oils tested by us are produced in small volumes. New solutions are being developed on such products. Kroon Oil is a former subsidiary of Shell, XENUM is often used in motorsport, Cupper and TOTEK are new Russian production. It can be difficult to attribute oil to one group or another: the manufacturer does not advertise its composition. The main part is HC-oils, the rest, approximately equally, are cheap mineral waters (popular overseas and in the Middle East) and the so-called full synthetics.

Hydrocracking

The hydrocracking process has been known relatively recently, only since the mid-sixties of the last century. Although it should be noted that practical use was established only by the mid-seventies in the United States of America.

Hydrocracking— hydrocatalytic processing of raw materials to obtain base oils with a high viscosity index (100 and above), low content of sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons. Oils the right quality are obtained not by removing undesirable components from raw materials (as in the case of purification with selective solvents, adsorption purification and hydrotreatment), but by converting them into hydrocarbons of the required structure due to hydrogenation, cracking, isomerization and hydrogenolysis reactions (sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen are removed), which affects the stability of the resulting oils. Hydrocracking produces high-quality bases for a wide range of commercial lubricating oils: hydraulic, transformer, motor, energy, industrial, etc. In terms of their physical and chemical properties, HA oils are superior to "classic" mineral oils.

Hydrocracking synthetics, semi-synthetics or mineral water?

Let's try to figure it out. It is more correct, after all, to classify HA oils as a special class of oils, although motor oil manufacturers, in order not to frighten motorists with complex and unusual terminology, and also using the fact that the American Petroleum Institute recognized hydrocracking oils as synthetic, write something like “ synthetic technologies" etc. Some manufacturers do not write on their packaging at all how the base is produced, but in essence, HA oils are an improved mineral water.

Semi-synthetic a is, by definition, a mixture of mineral and synthetic base oils. The synthetic base is usually poly-alpha-olefins (PAO) or esters, or a mixture of them. In HA oils - mineral oil is replaced with cracked. The mineral base is the cheapest. This is a product of direct distillation of oil, consisting of molecules of different lengths (the length of hydrocarbon chains is 20 ... 35 atoms) and different structures.

Because of this heterogeneity:

instability of viscosity-temperature properties
high volatility
low resistance to oxidation.

Mineral base- the most common motor oil in the world. PAO - the basis, these are hydrocarbons with a chain length of about 10 ... 12 atoms. It is obtained by polymerization (connection) of short hydrocarbon chains - monomers of 3 ... 5 atoms. The raw materials for this are usually gasoline molecules, or petroleum gases - butylene and ethylene. Advantages of PAO: do not freeze up to -60C, high resistance to temperature extremes, aging, low volatility. Such an oil base is 4.5 times more expensive than a mineral one. Esters are esters - products of neutralization of carboxylic acids with alcohols. Raw materials for production are vegetable oils, such as rapeseed, or even coconut. Esters have a number of advantages over all others. known foundations. Firstly, ester molecules are polar, that is, the electric charge is distributed in them in such a way that the molecule itself “sticks” to the metal. Secondly, the viscosity of esters can be set at the base production stage: the heavier alcohols are used, the greater the viscosity.

The disadvantages of traditional synthetic components are not limited to the high price. The fact is that both PAO and esters, additives dissolve worse in them, without which the production of modern motor oil is impossible. As for esters, they are distinguished by increased sensitivity to the ingress of water and, especially, water vapor. A very successful attempt to combine the high quality of synthetics with the non-aggressiveness of "mineral water" and, most importantly, at an affordable price, was the technology of hydrocracking, or "HC-synthesis".

Raw material for HA oils, unlike PAO, in not short hydrocarbon molecules protrude- monomers, but heavy, long hydrocarbon chains of 20 ... 35 atoms or more. Long chains break (cracking) into shorter "oily" ones with a homogeneous structure, break points in new shortened molecules saturated with hydrogen(hydrogenation). Hence the name - "hydrocracking". As a result of hydrocracking, a base oil with very high viscosity-temperature characteristics is obtained - the viscosity index (VI) reaches 130-150 units. For comparison, the VI of the best mineral bases is no more than 100. In addition, HC-oils do not corrode seals, are less “afraid” of water ingress, and are much better compatible with additives than PAOs and esters. And the most important thing! The hydrocracking base costs only 2 times more than the mineral base, i.e. 2.5 times cheaper than PAO and 3-5 times cheaper than esters. Therefore, the hydrocracking base has become widely used in the production of synthetics and semi-synthetics. it is better than mineral and cheaper than PAO.

Also, not so long ago, another interesting technology appeared: Shell GTL Pure Plus, in other words, it is the synthesis of the molecules we need with the properties we need from natural gas. It has little to do with the production of "conventional oils" and it is this that, today, can be called fully synthetic.

The fact is that GTL oils have all the advantages of PAO and, at the same time, do not have their disadvantages, including prices. And, accordingly, their performance is higher than that of hydrocracked oils, at least because they do not make semi-synthetics and do not add a mineral base. As for the price, it is at the level of "synthetic hydrocracking" oils from other well-known manufacturers, and the benefits are obvious.

I want to note that in the Shell line there are, and stand separately (HX8 and HX7), synthetic and semi-synthetic oils based on hydrocracking, produced using XHVI technology. And it is this technology that makes it possible to make HA oils with an ultra-high viscosity index, unlike other manufacturers of HA oils.

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