Group 5 engine oils. Motor oils for diesel engines. Range of special oils
Some interesting facts about motor oils ...
There is such a concept as base oil, this is the first and most voluminous thing that is included in the finished product. Base oils come in several groups.
At the moment, in the world in terms of production volume, in the first place are oil first and second group... These are coarse mineral oils and highly refined mineral oils. It is a yellow liquid in color. In the second group, she tends to more transparent shades. Both of these groups are made from oil.
The advantages are simple:
- low cost production;
- low cost of the finished product for the buyer.
And the disadvantages are low performance. Such as pour point, presence of impurities, high grain size, weak film, tendency to burn out, slag formation, and of course low service life.
At the moment, mineral oils of the first and second groups are used less and less often for engine oils. passenger cars... And usually mineral oils come with a viscosity index of 10W-30, 15W-40.
Third group.
Usually in everyday life it is customary to call her synthetics... This seemingly transparent liquid contains practically no impurities. The molecular range is even, which has a better effect on the friction parameters. But the third group, although called synthetics, in fact is not.
In the production of the third group, the second group of oils is used. That is, mineral oils. But they go through a complex hydrocracking process, where, with the help of hydrogen in the technological process, the mineral oil is purified as much as possible and approaches in its characteristics to real synthetic oils. Although the third group is created from the second group, mineral water, it is significantly different and at the moment is the most common in the world in the production of motor oils for modern engines.
Fourth group.
These are the oils that are as close as possible to real synthetics in complex chemical installations. Crosslinked into chains of hydrocarbons obtained from natural gas... As a result, polyalphaolefins are obtained. These base oils are more expensive than all the previous three groups. And their characteristics are superior to the first three groups. Pure oils of the fourth group do not solidify down to -70 degrees. The oil film is as strong as possible and the oil itself is resistant to oxidation and high temperatures.
Fifth group.
These are the real synthetics and esters. This group includes many different oils. The most common oils for motor vehicles are ester oils. They are practically not used in the production of motor oils due to their high price and complexity in production.
Worldwide, no more than three percent of engine oils produced contain esters. And usually it is from 5 to 30 percent of the volume of the finished product. Using ester oils as a 100% base for oils will have a negative effect rather than a positive one.
Ester oils have polarly charged molecules, which allow the oil to adhere, or one might say, magnetize to metal parts of the engine. As a result, an oil film always remains on the desired surfaces, and this is especially important when starting an cold engine for the first time.
Now we will tell you what happens next, when the manufacturer has chosen from which groups or one group the future engine oil is made. If we want to get ordinary semisynthetics, then about 70% of mineral oil or about 30% of synthetic oil is taken, and then, a package of additives is added, about 10-15% of the total volume of oil. Here we will dwell in more detail.
An additive package is a group of different additives for motor oils or other oils. Each additive performs its own important function. Typically, the additive package includes antioxidant additives, antifoam additives, friction modifiers, antifriction additives, thickening additives, dispersion additives, detergents, dispersants, and others.
In the world, at the moment, modern additive packages for motor oils are produced by only four manufacturers. Manufacturers of finished motor oil buy these additive packages and use them in their products. Castrol, Shell, LukOil, Liqui moly, Motul and many others use third party additive packages.
The process of producing engine oil itself looks like a complicated one, technological process mixing, where components in the form of base oil and additives are supplied at different temperatures at different intervals. Then they are mixed according to a given program and recipe, from which the finished engine oil is obtained.
In this process, absolutely every component affects the quality of the finished product. The less the manufacturer saves on raw materials and the process, the better the engine oil is obtained from the above groups.
Now you can talk about what the oils that are now on the market are made of.
Semi-synthetic oils.
It's simple. These oils usually contain the first or second group of mineral oils. And also a synthetic component. But this is almost always the third, hydrocracking group. The ratio of the content is usually 70% mineral oil and 30% synthetic. An additive package is added to the resulting mixture of base oils.
These engine oils are suitable for most vehicles unless the manufacturer has specific requirements for the oil.
Typical representatives of this group of oils:,.
Synthetic oils of the 3rd group.
This is the most common product for modern motors. They usually start at viscosities 5W-20, 5W-30 and 5W-40, and so on. But be careful, there are semi-synthetic oils with a viscosity of 5W-30 and 5W-40. The label must say SEMI-SYNTETIC. And if it's not written, pay attention to the price.
Synthetic oils of the third group cannot cost less than 1400 rubles for a 4 liter canister, at the moment. Unlike semi-synthetics, these oils have a longer life, oxidize less, and hold more loads.
You shouldn't drive more than 12,000 kilometers, it is fraught with your engine, even if the manufacturer prescribes to drive all 15,000, or even 20,000 kilometers. This is just a marketing ploy. The main thing for the manufacturer is that your motor will leave for a guaranteed period, and then it is advisable that you buy a new car.
Synthetic oils of the third group are,.
Synthetic oils based on the 4th group.
Such oils are already much less common. They are more expensive in cost and therefore less common. Synthetics are written on the packaging of the third group oil and on the packaging of the fourth group oil. As a result, for the average consumer, these are the same oils. From which the buyer chooses cheaper oil and buys the third group. And the difference in price is usually at least two times.
These oils are mainly added to the total volume, which is quite enough to improve the properties of the finished product. Oil of the fourth group, usually, can be distinguished by the index 0W-20, 0W-30, 0W-40 and so on. Also, other viscosities are made on this group - 5W-40, 5W-30 and others. There are even 10W-40, but this is very rare.
Oils with the addition of an ester component.
These oils are usually divided into mixtures of the third and fourth groups with the addition of an ester component from 5 to 30%. For their price, these are the most expensive and least common oils. But they have best performance and maximally protect the engine under all operating conditions.
Recently, experimenters have appeared who find a separate pure ester component and add to their motor to the filled oil in a proportion of 10%. Of course, this does not lead to anything good. Do not forget that when you add something to your oil in such quantities, you change its properties - you thin it. Liquefy the additive package. Change the viscosity. And what will happen in the end? Nobody knows. The engine will run. But the question remains - how long.
Motor oil is a mixture of 2 main components - a base oil and an additive package.
The use of the terms "Synthetics", "Semi-synthetics" or "Mineral oil" refers to the type of base oil that was used in the manufacture of the lubricant.
The base oil itself is divided into groups:
Group 1 is a base oil obtained by refining oil with reagents, this group contains a lot of sulfur and has a weak viscosity index (the dependence of viscosity on temperature). Terminology - "Mineral oil".
Group 2 - these are oils purified by hydrogen (hydrocracking). Oils of this group almost do not contain sulfur, during production, until the addition of additives, they are an almost transparent liquid, due to which the service life of the lubricant itself is significantly increased, and the reduction of deposits and carbon deposits in the engine significantly increases its resource. Terminology - "Mineral oil".
Group 3 - these are essentially the same oils of group 2, but with an increased viscosity index. The viscosity index is a measure that records the change in viscosity with temperature. By means of additional processes of isomerization of oil, the best indicators of both low- and high-temperature viscosity are obtained, which allows you to be confident in the lubricant both when starting in the most severe frost and when operating at maximum loads. Terminology - "Synthetics".
Group 4 - these are oils based on polyalphaolefins. Due to the high cost of production and after the discovery of hydrocracking and isomerization technologies (groups 2 and 3 of base oils), which make it possible to produce base oils that are in no way inferior to them in quality, the production volumes of this group are gradually decreasing.
Mixing 3 or 4 groups of base oils with 1 or 2 groups of base oils - "Semi-synthetics". When 3 or 4 groups of base oils are mixed with 1 group, "Semi-synthetic" is obtained with an increased indicator for sulfur and other elements, which negatively affects the engine resource.
Classification of base oils by the American Petroleum Institute (API).
There are 5 groups in total (API 1509, Appendix E). Group IV contains fully synthetic polyalphaolefin base oils. Group V for all other base oils not included in Groups I to IV.
Group 1. Produced from crude oil
Oils are classified as less than 90% saturated molecules. They contain a lot of sulfur> 0.03%. Viscosity range 80 - 120. Temperature range for these oils 0 ° C - 65 ° C. Group 1 base oils are refined using solvents - this is the simplest and cheapest refining process. That is why oils from this group are the cheapest base oils on the market.
Group 2. Produced from crude oil
Group 2 base oils are 90% saturated molecules. They are sulfur< 0,03 % и индекс вязкости 80 - 120. Углеводородные молекулы этих масел являются насыщенными, поэтому базовые масла группы 2 обладают лучшими антиокислительными свойствами, более прозрачные. Эти масла очень распространены на рынке сегодня, и стоят не намного дороже чем масла группы 1.
Group 3. Produced from crude oil
Group 3 base oils are more than 90% chemically stable, hydrogen-saturated molecules. Sulfur content< 0,03% а индекс вязкости >120 units These oils are refined much better than Group 2 base oils thanks to the hydrocracking process. This time-consuming process is specifically designed to obtain the purest possible base oil from petroleum.
Group 4. Fully synthetic
Group 4 are polyalphaolefin (PAO) base oils. Produced by the synthesis method. They have a wider operating temperature range than oils from groups 1-3 and are suitable for use in extremely cold conditions and for high temperatures.
Group 5 Fully synthetic
Group 5 base oils are all other base oils including silicone, phosphate ester, polyalkylene glycol (PAG), polyesters, bio-lubricants, etc. These base oils are used in combination with other base oils to improve lubricating properties. Esters are used as an additive to base oils to improve the properties of the base oil. A blend of essential oil with polyalphaolefins (PAO) works at higher temperatures, providing better detergency and extended use.
Base oils are classified into five groups, which differ in chemical composition, and hence in properties. This (and their mixing) determines what the final engine oil on store shelves will be like. And the most interesting thing is the fact that only 15 world oil companies are engaged in their production, as well as the additives themselves, while the brands of the final oil are much larger. And here, for sure, many have a logical question: what is the difference between oils and which is the best? But first, it makes sense to understand the classification of these compounds.
Base oil groups
The classification of base oils implies their division into five groups. This is spelled out in API 1509 Appendix E.
API base oil classification table
Group 1 oils
These compositions are obtained by purifying petroleum products left over after obtaining gasoline or other fuels and lubricants using chemical reagents (solvents). They are also called coarse oils. A significant drawback of such oils is the presence of a large amount of sulfur, more than 0.03%. In terms of characteristics, such compositions have weak viscosity index indicators (that is, the viscosity is very dependent on temperature and can only work normally in a narrow temperature range). Currently, 1 group of base oils is considered obsolete and only of which are produced. The viscosity index of such base oils is 80 ... 120. And the temperature range is 0 ° С ... + 65 ° С. Their only advantage is their low price.
Group 2 oils
Group 2 base oils are obtained through a chemical process called hydrocracking. Their other name is highly refined oils. This is also the purification of petroleum products, however, using hydrogen and under high pressure (in fact, the process is multi-stage and complex). The result is an almost clear liquid, which is the base oil. Its sulfur content is less than 0.03% and they have antioxidant properties. Due to its purity, the life of the engine oil obtained from it is significantly increased, and deposits and carbon deposits in the engine are reduced. On the basis of hydrocracking base oil, the so-called "HC-synthetics" are made, which some experts refer to as semi-synthetics. The viscosity index in this case is also in the range from 80 to 120. This group is called the English abbreviation HVI (High Viscosity Index), which literally translates as a high viscosity index.
Oils of 3 groups
These oils are obtained in the same way as the previous ones from petroleum products. However, the features of group 3 are increased, its value exceeds 120. The higher this indicator, the more the resulting engine oil can operate in a wider temperature range, in particular, in severe frost. Often, 3 groups are made on the basis of base oils. The sulfur content here is less than 0.03%, and the composition itself consists of 90% of chemically stable, hydrogen-saturated molecules. Its other name is synthetics, but in fact it is not. The name of the group sometimes sounds like VHVI (Very High Viscosity Index), which translates as a very high viscosity index.
Sometimes the group 3+ is isolated separately, the base for which is obtained not from oil, but from natural gas. The technology for its creation is called GTL (gas-to-liquids), that is, the conversion of gas into liquid hydrocarbons. The result is a very pure, water-like base oil. Its molecules have strong bonds that are resistant to aggressive conditions. Oils created on such a base are considered completely synthetic, despite the fact that hydrocracking is used in the process of their creation.
The raw materials of the 3rd group are excellent for the development of formulations of fuel-saving, synthetic, universal motor oils in the range from 5W-20 to 10W-40.
4 group oils
These oils are created on the basis of polyalphaolefins, and are the basis for the so-called "real synthetics", which is distinguished by its high quality. This is the so-called polyalphaolefin base oil. It is produced using chemical synthesis. However, a feature of motor oils obtained on such a basis is their high cost, therefore they are often used only in sports cars and in premium cars.
Group 5 oils
There are separate types of base oils, which include all other formulations that are not included in the four groups listed above (roughly speaking, this includes all lubricants, even non-automotive lubricants that are not included in the first four). In particular, silicone, phosphate ester, polyalkylene glycol (PAG), polyesters, bio-lubricants, petrolatum and white oils, and so on. They are, in fact, additives to other formulations. For example, esters are used as additives to base oils to improve performance. Thus, a mixture of essential oil and polyalphaolefins works normally at high temperatures, thereby providing an increased detergency of the oil and increasing its service life. Another name for such formulations is essential oils. They are currently the highest quality and highest performance. These include ester oils, which, however, are produced in very small quantities due to their high cost (about 3% of world production).
Thus, the characteristics of base oils depend on the way they are obtained. And this, in turn, affects the quality and characteristics of ready-made motor oils used in automobile engines. Also oils obtained from oil are influenced by its chemical composition... After all, it depends on where (in what region on the planet) and how the oil was produced.
What are the best base oils
Base oil volatility according to Noack
Oxidation stability
The question of which base oils are the best is not entirely correct, since it all depends on which oil you need to get and use in the end. For most budget cars, “semi-synthetics”, created on the basis of a mixture of oils of 2, 3 and 4 groups, are quite suitable. If we are talking about good "synthetics" for expensive premium foreign cars, then it is better to buy oil based on the base of group 4.
Until 2006, manufacturers of motor oils could be called "synthetic" oils obtained on the basis of the fourth and fifth groups. Which are considered the best base oils. However, at present it is allowed to do this even if a base oil of the second or third group was used. That is, only compositions based on the first basic group remained "mineral".
What happens when mixing species
Mixing of separate base oils belonging to different groups is allowed. This way you can adjust the characteristics of the final formulations. For example, if you mix base oils of 3 or 4 groups with similar compositions from group 2, you get "semi-synthetics" with increased performance. If the mentioned oils are mixed with 1 group, then it will also turn out "", however with already lower characteristics, in particular, a high sulfur content or other impurities (depending on the specific composition). It is interesting that oils of the fifth group in their pure form are not used as a base. To these are added compositions from the third and / or fourth groups. This is due to their high volatility and high cost.
A distinctive feature of PAO-based oils is that it is impossible to make a 100% PAO composition. The reason lies in their very poor solubility. And it is needed to dissolve additives that are added during the manufacturing process. Therefore, a certain amount of funds from lower groups (third and / or fourth) is always added to PAO oils.
The structure of molecular bonds in oils belonging to different groups is different. So, in low groups (first, second, that is, mineral oils) molecular chains are similar to a branched crown of a tree with a bunch of "crooked" branches. It is easier for this form to curl up into a ball, which happens when it freezes. Accordingly, such oils will freeze at a higher temperature. Conversely, in oils of high groups, the hydrocarbon chains have a long, straight structure, and it is more difficult for them to "curl up". Therefore, they freeze at lower temperatures.
Production and receipt of base oils
In the production of modern base oils, the viscosity index, pour point, volatility and oxidation stability can be independently controlled. As mentioned above, base oils are produced from oil or petroleum products (for example, fuel oil), and there is also production from natural gas by conversion to liquid hydrocarbons.
How base engine oil is made
Oil itself is a complex chemical compound that includes saturated paraffins and naphthenes, unsaturated aromatic olefins, and so on. Each such compound has positive and negative properties.
In particular, paraffins have good oxidation stability, but at low temperatures, it is reduced to nothing. Naphthenic acids form a precipitate in the oil at high temperatures. Aromatic hydrocarbons adversely affect oxidative stability as well as lubricity. In addition, they form lacquer deposits.
Unsaturated hydrocarbons are unstable, that is, they change their properties over time and at different temperatures. Therefore, all of the listed substances in base oils must be disposed of. And this is done in different ways.
Methane is a natural gas that has neither color nor smell, it is the simplest hydrocarbon consisting of alkanes and paraffins. Alkanes, which are the basis of this gas, unlike oil, have strong molecular bonds, and as a result, they are resistant to reactions with sulfur and alkali, do not form precipitation and varnish deposits, but are susceptible to oxidation at 200 ° C.
The main difficulty lies precisely in the synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons, but the final process itself is hydrocracking, where long chains of hydrocarbons are separated into different fractions, one of which is a completely transparent base oil without sulphated ash. The purity of the oil is 99.5%.
The viscosity index is significantly higher than those produced from PAO, they are used for the manufacture of fuel-efficient automobile oils with long term exploitation. This oil has very low volatility and excellent stability at both very high and extremely low temperatures.
Let us consider in more detail the oils of each of the above groups, how they differ in their production technology.
Group 1... They are obtained from pure oil or other oily materials (often waste products in the manufacture of gasoline and other fuels and lubricants) by selective refining. For this, one of three elements is used - clay, sulfuric acid and solvents.
So, with the help of clay, they get rid of nitrogen and sulfur compounds. Sulfuric acid in combination with impurities provides a sludge sludge. And solvents remove paraffin and aromatics. Solvents are often used because they are most effective.
Group 2... Here the technology is similar, but it is supplemented by highly refined purification with elements with a low content of aromatic compounds and paraffins. This increases the oxidative stability.
Group 3... Base oils of the third group for initial stage get the same as the second oil. However, their feature is the hydrocracking process. In this case, petroleum hydrocarbons undergo hydrogenation and cracking.
In the process of hydrogenation, aromatic hydrocarbons are removed from the oil (they subsequently form varnish deposits and carbon deposits in the engine). It also removes sulfur, nitrogen and their chemical compounds. Next comes the stage of catalytic cracking, in which paraffinic hydrocarbons are split and "fluffed up", that is, the isomerization process takes place. Due to this, molecular bonds of a linear type are obtained. The harmful compounds of sulfur, nitrogen and other elements remaining in the oil are neutralized by adding additives.
Group 3+... Such base oils are produced by the hydrocracking method itself, only raw materials that can be separated, not crude oil, but liquid hydrocarbons synthesized from natural gas. The gas can be synthesized to obtain liquid hydrocarbons according to the Fischer-Tropsch technology developed back in the 1920s, but at the same time using a special catalyst. Production of the required product began only at the end of 2011 at the Pearl GTL Shell plant in conjunction with Qatar Petroleum.
The production of such a base oil begins with the supply of gas and oxygen to the plant. Then the gasification stage begins with the production of synthesis gas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Then the synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons takes place. And already a further process in the GTL chain is the hydrocracking of the resulting transparent waxy mass.
The gas-liquid conversion process produces a crystal clear base oil that is virtually free of the impurities found in crude oil. The most important representatives of such oils, made using PurePlus technology, are Ultra, Pennzoil Ultra and Platinum Full Synthetic.
Group 4... The role of the synthetic base for such compositions is played by the already mentioned polyalphaolefins (PAO). They are hydrocarbons with a chain length of about 10 ... 12 atoms. They are obtained by polymerizing (combining) the so-called monomers (short hydrocarbons with a length of 5 ... 6 atoms. And the raw materials for this are petroleum gases butylene and ethylene (another name for long molecules - decenes). This process resembles "crosslinking" on special chemical machines It consists of several stages.
At the first stage, oligomerization of decene in order to obtain linear alpha-olefin. The oligomerization process takes place in the presence of catalysts, high temperature and high pressure. The second stage is the polymerization of linear alpha olefins, which results in the desired PAOs. This polymerization process takes place at low pressure and in the presence of organometallic catalysts. At the final stage, fractional distillation is carried out at PAO-2, PAO-4, PAO-6, and so on. To ensure the required characteristics of the base engine oil, the appropriate fractions and polyalphaolefins are selected.
Group 5... As for the fifth group, such oils are based on esters - esters or fatty acids, that is, organic acid compounds. These compounds are formed as a result of chemical reactions between acids (usually carboxylic acids) and alcohols. The raw materials for their production are organic materials - vegetable oils (coconut, rapeseed). Also, sometimes oils of the fifth group are made from alkylated naphthalenes. They are obtained by alkylation of naphthalenes with olefins.
As you can see, the manufacturing technology becomes more complicated from group to group, which means that it becomes more expensive. That is why mineral oils have low price and PAO-synthetic is expensive. However, when you need to take into account many different characteristics, not just the price and type of oil.
Interestingly, oils belonging to the fifth group contain polarized particles that are magnetic to the metal parts of the engine. Thus, they provide the best protection compared to other oils. In addition, they have very good detergent properties, due to which the amount of detergent additives is minimized (or simply eliminated).
Ester-based oils (fifth base group) are used in aviation, because planes fly at an altitude where the temperature is much lower than that which is recorded even in the far north.
Modern technologies make it possible to create completely biodegradable ester oils, since the aforementioned esters are environmentally friendly products and are readily biodegradable. Therefore, these oils are environmentally friendly. However, due to their high cost, motorists will not be able to use them everywhere soon.
Base oil manufacturers
The finished engine oil is a mixture of a base oil and an additive package. Moreover, it is interesting that there are only 5 companies in the world that produce these same additives - these are Lubrizol, Ethyl, Infineum, Afton and Chevron. All well-known and not so famous companies that produce their own lubricating fluids buy additives from them. Over time, their composition changes, modifies, companies conduct research in chemical fields, and try not only to improve the performance of oils, but also to make them more environmentally friendly.
As for the manufacturers of base oils, there are actually not so many of them, and mainly these are large, world-famous companies, such as ExonMobil, which ranks first in the world in this indicator (about 50% of the world volume of base oil of the fourth group , as well as a large share in groups 2, 3 and 5). In addition to her, there are also large ones in the world with their own research center. Moreover, their production is divided into the above-mentioned five groups. For example, such "whales" as ExxonMobil, Castrol and Shell do not produce base oils of the first group, because it is "out of order" for them.
| Base oil manufacturers by group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V |
| Lukoil ( Russian Federation) | Exxon Mobil (EHC) | Petronas (ETRO) | ExxonMobil | Inolex |
| Total (France) | Chevron | ExxonMobil (VISOM) | Idemitsu Kosan Co | Exxon Mobil |
| Kuwait Petroleum (Kuwait) | Excell Paralubes | Neste Oil (Nexbase) | INEOS | DOW |
| Neste (Finland) | Ergon | Repsol YPF | Chemtura | BASF |
| SK ( South Korea) | Motiva | Shell (Shell XHVI and GTL) | Chevron phillips | Chemtura |
| Petronas (Malaysia) | Suncor Petro-Canada | British Petroleum (Burmah-Castrol) | INEOS | |
| GS Caltex (Kixx LUBO) | Hatco | |||
| SK Lubricants | Nyco america | |||
| Petronas | Afton | |||
| H&R Chempharm GmbH | Croda | |||
| Eni | Synester | |||
| Motiva | ||||
The base oils listed are initially divided by viscosity. And each of the groups has its own designations:
- First group: SN-80, SN-150, SN-400, SN-500, SN-600, SN-650, SN-1200 and so on.
- The second group: 70N, 100N, 150N, 500N (although the viscosity value may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer).
- The third group: 60R, 100R, 150R, 220R, 600R (here also the numbers may differ depending on the manufacturer).
Composition of engine oils
Depending on what characteristics the finished automobile engine oil should have, each manufacturer chooses its composition and the ratio of its constituent substances. For example, a semi-synthetic oil usually consists of about 70% mineral base oil (1 or 2 groups), or 30% hydrocracked synthetic (sometimes 80% and 20%). Next comes the "game" with additives (they are antioxidant, antifoam, thickening, dispersion, detergent, dispersing, friction modifiers), which are added to the resulting mixture. The additives are usually of poor quality, therefore, the resulting finished product does not have good characteristics, and can be used in budget and / or old machines.
Synthetic and semi-synthetic formulations based on group 3 base oils are the most common in the world today. They have the English designation Semi Syntetic. Their manufacturing technology is similar. They consist of approximately 80% base oil (often mixed different groups base oils) and additives. Sometimes viscosity regulators are added.
Synthetic oils based on group 4 base are already real "synthetic" Full Syntetic, based on polyalphaolefones. They have very high performance and a long service life, but they are very expensive. As for rare ester engine oils, they consist of a mixture of base oils from 3 and 4 groups, and with the addition of an ester component in a volumetric amount of 5 to 30%.
Recently, there are "folk craftsmen" who add about 10% of the final ester component to the engine oil filled in the car in order to supposedly increase its characteristics. Should not be doing that! This will change the viscosity and can lead to unpredictable results.
The technology for manufacturing a finished engine oil is not just a mixture of individual components, in particular, a base and additives. In fact, this mixing takes place in stages, at different temperatures, at different intervals. Therefore, for its production, you need to have information about the technology and the appropriate equipment.
Most of the current companies, having such equipment, produce motor oils using the developments of the main manufacturers of base oils and additives manufacturers, so it is quite common to find the statement that manufacturers are making a fool of Us and in fact all oils are the same.
What to put into the motor? What is the difference between oils, besides the price? What happened before and where are we going now? Let's try to figure it out ...
Any oil is a mixture of a base, called a base oil, and a package of additives, due to which the desired properties of the oil are formed - viscosity, antiwear, extreme pressure, antioxidant, detergent and others.
The type of base oil determines the final type of oil - mineral, synthetic or partially synthetic oil, colloquially called "semi-synthetic". The very concept of "synthetic oil" is quite broad. This refers to oil, the base of which is obtained by chemical synthesis. In practice, in the interests of His Majesty Marketing, firms interpret the composition of oils quite broadly, and in their own interests. In the professional community, it is customary to rely on the API (American Petroleum Institute) classification system, the adherence to which clearly separates oils into groups.
Base oils, according to this classification, are divided into five main groups:
- Group I - base oils, obtained by the method of selective cleaning and dewaxing. A simple and cheap option, which is obtained at the final stage of oil refining, after gasoline and diesel fractions have been distilled out of it. These are oils that are commonly called "mineral" oils. Selective cleaning and dewaxing operations are required to remove tar, sulfur from oil, decomposition of paraffins into shorter and lighter hydrocarbon groups. Due to this, it is possible to achieve acceptable depressant properties of the oil and a more or less acceptable dependence of viscosity on temperature.
On the one hand, our fathers and grandfathers drove on such oils, and did not experience any special problems. On the other hand, it was necessary to change the oil every three to five thousand kilometers, and the degree of forcing the engines was very low by modern standards. But it's cheap.
- Group II - the so-called "improved mineral", highly refined base oils with a low content of aromatic hydrocarbons and paraffins. This is the same "mineral water" in terms of base and production technology, but slightly improved in properties. The base oils of this group are used to produce the majority of modern mineral oils. Semi manufacturers also use it. synthetic oils by mixing the bases of the second group and the third group;
- Group III - base oils obtained by catalytic hydrocracking technology (HC-technology)... This is the thermal cracking of oil at certain temperatures and pressures, carried out in a hydrogen atmosphere in the presence of special catalysts. This method allows you to solve several problems.
First, sulfur and nitrogen are removed, the presence of which in engine oil is undesirable: they worsen environmental performance and increase the corrosiveness of the oil.
Secondly, unstable unsaturated hydrocarbons are removed - saturated with hydrogen, they pass into stable limiting ones. This ensures the preservation of the properties of the base oil over time. Third, heavy aromatic and paraffinic hydrocarbons are broken down into lighter ones, which dramatically improves the viscosity and depressant properties of the base oil.
As a result, less thickening and depressant additives are required, and the properties of the oil from batch to batch and over time become more stable and predictable.
In fact, these are also mineral oils, but with properties close to synthetic ones. Some firms call them either semi-synthetic, synthetic, or hydrosynthetic. In the modern oil market, this particular group is predominant.
The main problem with esters, apart from their high price, is their very poor lubricity. Therefore, esters are used only as components of base oils of the 4th and 5th groups, adding them to the base oil based on PAO in a volume not exceeding 5 ... 20%. The area of application of such oils is highly accelerated engines, including sports ones, from which enhanced engine protection from wear is required.
Correlation between viscosity grades of engine oils according to GOST 17479.1 and SAE J300
| GOST 147479.1 | SAE J300 |
| 3 3 | 5W |
| 4 3 | 10W |
| 5 3 | 15W |
| 6 3 | 20W |
| 6 | 20 |
| 8 | 20 |
| 10 | 30 |
| 12 | 30 |
| 14 | 40 |
| 16 | 40 |
| 20 | 50 |
| 24 | 60 |
| 3 3 /8 | 5W-20 |
| 4 3 /6 | 10W-20 |
| 4 3 /8 | 10W-20 |
| 4 3 /10 | 15W-30 |
| 5 3 /10 | 15W-30 |
| 5 3 /12 | 15W-30 |
| 5 3 /14 | 15W-40 |
| 6 3 /10 | 20W-30 |
| 6 3 /14 | 20W-40 |
| 6 3 /16 | 20W-40 |
We will talk in more detail about why base oils of higher groups are better than conventional mineral water in the following articles: "
Lubricants consist of two main components - base oils and additives. Oil recipes may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but the quality of the base oils has a significant impact on the final product. The American Petroleum Institute (API) identifies four main groups that can be used to create motor oils.
- Group 1 - these are base oils with the lowest degree of purity. Nowadays, they are rarely used for the production of automobile lubricants... They are used for the least loaded working conditions.
- Group 2 are base oils obtained by hydrocracking and isomerization. They are often used in mineral oils on the market today. Group 2 base oils significantly exceed group 1 base oils in terms of the degree of purification. This means oils made from Group 2 base oils and additives will have longer drain intervals and are less prone to oxidation.
- Group 3 - API classification defines the difference between base oils of group 2 and 3 through the viscosity index (V.I. - viscosity index). Group 2 base oils have a viscosity index of 80-119. Group 3 base oils have a viscosity index of 120 and higher. They are often referred to as very high V.I. oils. (VHVI). Currently, manufacturers of engine oils, using base oils of group 3, indicate: synthetic or semi-synthetic.
- Group 4 are base oils, which are synthetic hydrocarbon fluids. They are produced commercially by synthesizing decene molecules into short-chain oligomers or polymers.
There are several types of synthetic bases. One of the most common are oils based on polyalphaolefin (Polyalphaolefins or PAO). They have a number of advantages over traditional oils:
- The absence of impurities of sulfur compounds and metals provides high anticorrosive and antioxidant properties. This means they can provide extended drain intervals and reduced varnish and sludge deposits.
- The absence of impurities, which are always catalysts for oil aging, makes the synthetic base oil highly resistant to high temperatures. So, for example, if oils of mineral origin begin to seriously oxidize already at temperatures above 130 ° C, then PAO can withstand operating temperatures up to 150 ° C without any loss of working properties. The absence of random small molecules ensures low volatility of synthetic base oils compared to mineral oils.
- The absence of linear paraffins reduces the natural pour point to very low values.
It is important to note that with the development of base oil technologies, additive formulations have evolved. For example, the pure synthetic base of PAO is aggressive, which is why Lubri-Loy uses unique additive packages to enable Lubri-Loy oils to be compatible with all types of gaskets used in the automotive industry.
Lubri-Loy is actively committed to providing consumers with quality synthetic motor oils. For the manufacture of fully synthetic motor oils, Lubri-Loy uses a fully synthetic base - API (category IV) PAO base oil and state-of-the-art additive packages. This allows engine oils to meet and exceed the requirements of modern gasoline engines, for example, currently Lubri-Loy oils have the latest API SN Resource Conserving, ILSAC GF-5 approvals.
The modern additive packages used in Lubri-Loy have been actively tested in advance for compliance with the stated requirements. To check the quality of the products, each batch of Lubri-Loy products undergoes a series of tests in the laboratory located on the premises of the plant. This ensures that all parameters of Lubri-Loy synthetic motor oils meet the requirements of API and ILSAC standards.
Lubri-Loy products are used all over the world, including China and other emerging markets in Asia. In 2010, Loubri-Loy received an honorary "Export Achievement Certificate" for its achievements in the field of export.
Here, Lubri-Loy President Dave Graham and Lubri-Loy Asia Vice President Derek Cheng receive a certificate from the US Secretary of Commerce.
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