What % of an oil is base, and what % is additives?

[Patman]

As the title is asking, I am wondering what the ratio of base oil to additives is in a typical oil? Is it 80% base oil/20% additives? 90/10? 70/30?

 

[Terry]

80/20 is correct generally.

 

[Ken4]

Is the Viscosity Modifiers part of the 20%?

 

[Terry]

Yes.

 

[Eric M]

When I asked 76 lubricants exactly the same question, about nascar synthetic they tlod me 80% PAO 10% ester 10% additives

 

[widman]

80:20 is generally correct, but the better the bast oil, the less additives to do the same job. Hence the synthetic would not need VI improvers, Pour point supressors, and certain other things. Actually depending on the purpose of the oil, it varies from 1% to 25% additive.

 

[MolaKule]

For full synthetics, it ranges from 85/15 to 90/10.