Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
I never cease to be amazed at the argument that Group III crude derived synthetics are not "true" synthetics and only PAO is. It shows a lack of education regarding the actual performance levels of each group. it is the same marketing game that has been going on way too long. I don't care if the base oil is made from crude, NG, ethylene gas, or snake snot. As long as it performs to the level that it is claimed, then who cares?
While I tend to agree with you, the basis for the controversy is not based on performance. In the chemical industry (from which I came), a "synthetic" material is one derived from "synthesis". Synthesis is a process and has nothing to do with where the starting raw materials came from, or the performance of the finished product.
PAOs, esters, ANs, and PAGs are clearly made by a synthesis process, while Group I and Group II mineral oils are clearly made by a refining process and therefore not "synthetic". Group IIIs are a gray area in that they are refined, but also hydrocracked. Hydrocracking breaks and rearranges most (>90%) of the starting molecules which refining does not, and since the molecules have been changed into new molecules rather than simply purified, many consider hydrocracking to be a synthesis process. Others consider it to be just a more severe refining process. Hence the continued controversy.
While the chemical industry considers synthetic materials to be derived from a synthesis process, the lubricants industry (from which I also came) has chosen to accept the term to be defined by a performance level (or at least chose not to challenge the decision of the NAD back in 1999). The performance level definition is much more profitable to the lubricants industry because it allows them to capitalize on the high performance image associated with the term "synthetic" while using a much lower cost base oil.
With regard to performance, most Group III, and especially Group III+ base oils perform on par with PAOs in those performance categories relevant to motor oils. Each has some pluses and minuses, but both when properly additized make motor oils that are virtually indistinguishable in real world performance. Some performance differences may be apparent in extreme environments, but these are not relevant to the vast majority of consumers. In other words, your engine likely doesn't know the difference.
With regard to the source of base oil raw materials, mineral oils, PAOs, most esters, ANs, and Group IIIs all trace back to crude oil. It's just a matter of how many steps there are in the processing from start to finish.
And finally, since the definition of synthetic base oils differs from conventional base oils by a single VI point, the term has been relegated to a marketing term with little meaning with respect to motor oil performance. If you want to compare performance, look at the certifications and approvals the oil carries, not the marketing fluff on the labels.
Tom NJ
