Synthetic base oils can be many different types of compounds
with many being limited to one specific application. The majors push
synthetic base oil lubricants because the primary synthetic is PAO (polyalpha-
olefin). PAO is a primary product produced by two of the major oil
companies in the United States. They heavily market these synthetic
lubricants because the PAO base oil provides them with improved
profitability over mineral base oil lubricants. One only needs to compare
pricing of a mineral oil based passenger car motor oil to that of a
synthetic base to see that the pricing would improve the marketer’s
profitability. Independent commodity oil blenders have also jumped on
the synthetic bandwagon because it helps them improve profitability.
BEYOND SYNTHETIC VS. MINERAL BASESTOCK
OR
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE APPLICATION?
As lubricant manufacturers search to improve their profitability, a trend has been emerging
from the major oil lubricant manufacturers and independent commodity oil blenders. This trend is
to emphasize synthetic lubricants, an issue that appears to be coming up frequently in sales
presentations to lubricant end users. While the trend is for improved lubrication from the users
standpoint, they can be led down the wrong path that a synthetic based lubricant will always
provide superior performance. To help the end user choose the right path they must be provided
with some basic knowledge of how the different types of lubricants are formulated with respect to
performance in the application.
Lubricant Types
There are four principal types of finished lubricants being produced today. The first and
oldest is mineral oils with no additives. These oils are typically seen in the limited applications
where no enhancement to the base oil is needed. Applications of this type are API SA engine oil,
barrier oils, seal oils, technical oils, etc.
The second type is mineral base oils with additives. These lubricants make up the majority
of the commercially available lubricants in the marketplace today. Applications of this type of
lubricant are engine oil, hydraulic oil, turbine oil, gear oil, air compressor oil, etc. These types of
lubricants are applicable with the exception of high or low temperature or where a hostile
environment is affecting the lubricant.
The third type is synthetic base oils with additives. These oils make up a small part of the
overall lubricant marketplace but are increasing due to their popularity with many lubricant end
users. For the past decade the end user has been told, in passenger car motor oil advertising
campaigns from the majors, that these lubricants perform better than mineral based oils.
Due to the strategic advertising directed at the general public for passenger car
motor oil, most lubricant end users believe that synthetic equals superior
performance over any other type of lubricant regardless of the application.
A limited number of high performance lubricant manufacturers go beyond
the synthetic vs. mineral oil argument to truly formulating a superior enhanced
lubricant. These lubricants are formulated for superior performance in a specific
range of applications without limitations to the base oil type or performance
additives used. If the high performance lubricant manufacturer believes that
synthetic base oil with additives is needed for the application then this is how the
lubricant is formulated. In most cases however, these manufactures know that
mineral base oil with properly selected and balanced conventional and
proprietary additives can be formulated with a robust treat level to provide
superior application performance. Thus, the lubricant end user is given a
lubricant that provides superior performance at the most economical cost for the
application. This is why the lubricant end-users are looking at a synthetic in the
first place, because of their desire for a superior performance lubricant.
Enhanced Lubricants
To describe the concept of formulating an enhanced lubricant that is
application specific we must first look at the strengths and weaknesses of both
the mineral and synthetic base oils. Strengths of the synthetic base lubricants are
applications where high or low temperatures are expected or a hostile
environment would be detrimental to mineral oil based lubricant. A source that
explains this more in detail is the Shell lubricants website at shelllubricants.
com/syntheticlubricants/synthetic_descriptions.pdf. Strengths of the
mineral oil are improved additive solubility, natural oxidation resistance
characteristics, better seal compatibility and lower base oil cost.
Weaknesses of the synthetic based lubricants are: limited additive
solubility, reversal of ester based synthetic base oil to an acid, seal
incompatibility with some seal materials, and a significantly higher per gallon cost
compared to most mineral based oil. Mineral base oils have limitations in high
and low temperature applications and certain atmospheres.
Mission of the Enhanced Lubricant Formulator
The high performance lubricant manufacturer must educate lubricant end
users that lubricants are formulated beyond the base oil, whether it is mineral or
synthetic base oil. Enhanced lubricants that are formulated and manufactured by
a high performance lubricant manufacturer are designed to provide the highest
level of performance in a specific application. This performance is proven in both
laboratory tests and actual field applications. What the lubricant end user seeks
is improved performance in their particular application. By seeking a synthetic
lubricant, they perceive they are asking for a lubricant that will give them superior
performance when compared to the commercial grade lubricant they have been
using with limited success.
Enhanced lubricants are designed significantly beyond the minimal
formulating done for commercial grade mineral or synthetic base oil lubricants.
When formulating these enhanced lubricants, research staff looks for synergistic
combinations between the base oil (synthetic or mineral), conventional additives
and proprietary additives. This synergy is what allows the product to provide the
maximum performance for the application.
Formulation of Enhanced Lubricants
As we have discussed earlier, the first step in formulating is to decide if
the application needs mineral or synthetic base oil. Determine which one will
provide the superior application performance. Should the research person use a
synthetic base oil which limits additive choice and concentration or a mineral
base oil which allows a wider range of additive chemistries at a higher, more
robust treatment concentration?
The second step is to determine what conventional additives and what
quality levels are available to build the core of the lubricant around. While
commercial grade lubricants are formulated only to a minimal performance level,
an enhanced lubricant is formulated well beyond this point. This is accomplished
by looking for synergy with high quality component additives, which “enhance”
the performance of the lubricant. Additional additive components are then added
at optimum treat levels to assure the enhanced lubricant will deliver maximum
performance for the specific application. If the formulation requires synthetic base
oil, the main issue is still the additive concentration needed for superior
performance. Many times synthetic base oil will not hold enough additive in
solution to deliver the needed performance for the application.
The third and final step of formulating an enhanced lubricant is choosing
which proprietary additives should be used? Through basic research and proven
field performance, high performance lubricant manufacturers will have a number
of proprietary additives that work in specific applications and have proven will
enhance the performance of the lubricant. One or more of these additives will be
used to fine-tune the enhanced lubricant.
The Educated End User
Once a lubricant end user understands what is involved in formulating an
enhanced lubricant it becomes easy to see where a synthetic lubricant might not
be the superior product for the particular application. Also, the price of the
enhanced lubricant is now more justified because the customer understands that
there is a technology and performance level beyond that of the lubricant that has
been used in the specific application.
Sure, the synthetic lubricant manufacturer recommends a synthetic. He
recommends a synthetic because it brings him better profitability than the
commodity mineral base oil lubricant that he is also selling. An article discussing
synthetics in the June 2003 edition of Lubricants World covers how the public
has embraced the synthetic concept and how they do not understand what they
are really receiving for the extra money they spend. The article indicates that
consumers were “becoming more acquainted with the word “synthetic” and the
impression was favorable in terms of better performance than was perceived
as available from conventional motor oil.” The article goes on to state that “the
public is enraptured by the concept and so the market is growing, despite a
higher price.”
In the continuing debate about synthetic versus mineral oils, the end user
is really only interested in protecting the investment they have in their equipment.
High performance lubricant manufacturers have lubricants to provide this
protection beyond that offered by major oil lubricant manufacturers and
commodity oil blenders.
with many being limited to one specific application. The majors push
synthetic base oil lubricants because the primary synthetic is PAO (polyalpha-
olefin). PAO is a primary product produced by two of the major oil
companies in the United States. They heavily market these synthetic
lubricants because the PAO base oil provides them with improved
profitability over mineral base oil lubricants. One only needs to compare
pricing of a mineral oil based passenger car motor oil to that of a
synthetic base to see that the pricing would improve the marketer’s
profitability. Independent commodity oil blenders have also jumped on
the synthetic bandwagon because it helps them improve profitability.
BEYOND SYNTHETIC VS. MINERAL BASESTOCK
OR
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE APPLICATION?
As lubricant manufacturers search to improve their profitability, a trend has been emerging
from the major oil lubricant manufacturers and independent commodity oil blenders. This trend is
to emphasize synthetic lubricants, an issue that appears to be coming up frequently in sales
presentations to lubricant end users. While the trend is for improved lubrication from the users
standpoint, they can be led down the wrong path that a synthetic based lubricant will always
provide superior performance. To help the end user choose the right path they must be provided
with some basic knowledge of how the different types of lubricants are formulated with respect to
performance in the application.
Lubricant Types
There are four principal types of finished lubricants being produced today. The first and
oldest is mineral oils with no additives. These oils are typically seen in the limited applications
where no enhancement to the base oil is needed. Applications of this type are API SA engine oil,
barrier oils, seal oils, technical oils, etc.
The second type is mineral base oils with additives. These lubricants make up the majority
of the commercially available lubricants in the marketplace today. Applications of this type of
lubricant are engine oil, hydraulic oil, turbine oil, gear oil, air compressor oil, etc. These types of
lubricants are applicable with the exception of high or low temperature or where a hostile
environment is affecting the lubricant.
The third type is synthetic base oils with additives. These oils make up a small part of the
overall lubricant marketplace but are increasing due to their popularity with many lubricant end
users. For the past decade the end user has been told, in passenger car motor oil advertising
campaigns from the majors, that these lubricants perform better than mineral based oils.
Due to the strategic advertising directed at the general public for passenger car
motor oil, most lubricant end users believe that synthetic equals superior
performance over any other type of lubricant regardless of the application.
A limited number of high performance lubricant manufacturers go beyond
the synthetic vs. mineral oil argument to truly formulating a superior enhanced
lubricant. These lubricants are formulated for superior performance in a specific
range of applications without limitations to the base oil type or performance
additives used. If the high performance lubricant manufacturer believes that
synthetic base oil with additives is needed for the application then this is how the
lubricant is formulated. In most cases however, these manufactures know that
mineral base oil with properly selected and balanced conventional and
proprietary additives can be formulated with a robust treat level to provide
superior application performance. Thus, the lubricant end user is given a
lubricant that provides superior performance at the most economical cost for the
application. This is why the lubricant end-users are looking at a synthetic in the
first place, because of their desire for a superior performance lubricant.
Enhanced Lubricants
To describe the concept of formulating an enhanced lubricant that is
application specific we must first look at the strengths and weaknesses of both
the mineral and synthetic base oils. Strengths of the synthetic base lubricants are
applications where high or low temperatures are expected or a hostile
environment would be detrimental to mineral oil based lubricant. A source that
explains this more in detail is the Shell lubricants website at shelllubricants.
com/syntheticlubricants/synthetic_descriptions.pdf. Strengths of the
mineral oil are improved additive solubility, natural oxidation resistance
characteristics, better seal compatibility and lower base oil cost.
Weaknesses of the synthetic based lubricants are: limited additive
solubility, reversal of ester based synthetic base oil to an acid, seal
incompatibility with some seal materials, and a significantly higher per gallon cost
compared to most mineral based oil. Mineral base oils have limitations in high
and low temperature applications and certain atmospheres.
Mission of the Enhanced Lubricant Formulator
The high performance lubricant manufacturer must educate lubricant end
users that lubricants are formulated beyond the base oil, whether it is mineral or
synthetic base oil. Enhanced lubricants that are formulated and manufactured by
a high performance lubricant manufacturer are designed to provide the highest
level of performance in a specific application. This performance is proven in both
laboratory tests and actual field applications. What the lubricant end user seeks
is improved performance in their particular application. By seeking a synthetic
lubricant, they perceive they are asking for a lubricant that will give them superior
performance when compared to the commercial grade lubricant they have been
using with limited success.
Enhanced lubricants are designed significantly beyond the minimal
formulating done for commercial grade mineral or synthetic base oil lubricants.
When formulating these enhanced lubricants, research staff looks for synergistic
combinations between the base oil (synthetic or mineral), conventional additives
and proprietary additives. This synergy is what allows the product to provide the
maximum performance for the application.
Formulation of Enhanced Lubricants
As we have discussed earlier, the first step in formulating is to decide if
the application needs mineral or synthetic base oil. Determine which one will
provide the superior application performance. Should the research person use a
synthetic base oil which limits additive choice and concentration or a mineral
base oil which allows a wider range of additive chemistries at a higher, more
robust treatment concentration?
The second step is to determine what conventional additives and what
quality levels are available to build the core of the lubricant around. While
commercial grade lubricants are formulated only to a minimal performance level,
an enhanced lubricant is formulated well beyond this point. This is accomplished
by looking for synergy with high quality component additives, which “enhance”
the performance of the lubricant. Additional additive components are then added
at optimum treat levels to assure the enhanced lubricant will deliver maximum
performance for the specific application. If the formulation requires synthetic base
oil, the main issue is still the additive concentration needed for superior
performance. Many times synthetic base oil will not hold enough additive in
solution to deliver the needed performance for the application.
The third and final step of formulating an enhanced lubricant is choosing
which proprietary additives should be used? Through basic research and proven
field performance, high performance lubricant manufacturers will have a number
of proprietary additives that work in specific applications and have proven will
enhance the performance of the lubricant. One or more of these additives will be
used to fine-tune the enhanced lubricant.
The Educated End User
Once a lubricant end user understands what is involved in formulating an
enhanced lubricant it becomes easy to see where a synthetic lubricant might not
be the superior product for the particular application. Also, the price of the
enhanced lubricant is now more justified because the customer understands that
there is a technology and performance level beyond that of the lubricant that has
been used in the specific application.
Sure, the synthetic lubricant manufacturer recommends a synthetic. He
recommends a synthetic because it brings him better profitability than the
commodity mineral base oil lubricant that he is also selling. An article discussing
synthetics in the June 2003 edition of Lubricants World covers how the public
has embraced the synthetic concept and how they do not understand what they
are really receiving for the extra money they spend. The article indicates that
consumers were “becoming more acquainted with the word “synthetic” and the
impression was favorable in terms of better performance than was perceived
as available from conventional motor oil.” The article goes on to state that “the
public is enraptured by the concept and so the market is growing, despite a
higher price.”
In the continuing debate about synthetic versus mineral oils, the end user
is really only interested in protecting the investment they have in their equipment.
High performance lubricant manufacturers have lubricants to provide this
protection beyond that offered by major oil lubricant manufacturers and
commodity oil blenders.
