By using synthetic, am I decreasing use of crude oil? I don't know what exactly to search for in reguards to my answer, so forgive me if this is a repost.
where does synthetic 'come from'?
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The legend is that Mobil's marketing dept wanted to call their product "synthetic", while the chemists thought that their technical term "synthesized hydrocarbons" described it better.
Group III base oil is made from crude oil sources. PAO is made from ethylene, which can either come from a petroleum source or from ethane separated from natural gas. Esters could come from all sorts of different sources, including vegetable, animal, and petroleum oils. I don't know about decreasing the use of resources overall, since it takes energy to make all these synthesized fluids.
"Synthetic" is really no more than a buzzword these days. Much of any modern motor oil is made from synthesized components.
Group III base oil is made from crude oil sources. PAO is made from ethylene, which can either come from a petroleum source or from ethane separated from natural gas. Esters could come from all sorts of different sources, including vegetable, animal, and petroleum oils. I don't know about decreasing the use of resources overall, since it takes energy to make all these synthesized fluids.
"Synthetic" is really no more than a buzzword these days. Much of any modern motor oil is made from synthesized components.
Yes, using the ExxonMobil definition of full synthetic, since PAO basestocks are derived from ethylene gas.
But many motor oils on the market are labeled synthetic and actually contain severely refined Grp III dino base oils.
My actually opinion on this subject? Many of the larger states are consuming gasoline at the rate of 15-20 million gallons/day.
Using syn lubes to conserve on the world crude oil supply is similar to trying to reduce the mosquito population in the neighborhood with a fly swatter.
But, I also understand that this is an important issue with the "green" crowd.
But many motor oils on the market are labeled synthetic and actually contain severely refined Grp III dino base oils.
My actually opinion on this subject? Many of the larger states are consuming gasoline at the rate of 15-20 million gallons/day.
Using syn lubes to conserve on the world crude oil supply is similar to trying to reduce the mosquito population in the neighborhood with a fly swatter.
But, I also understand that this is an important issue with the "green" crowd.
The production of synthetic doesn't really save crude oil per se....although it may not use crude oil for production, energy is input, transportation, etc
OTOH - if you can safely 2x or 3x or 4x your OCI - then maybe you can help save oil.
OTOH - if you can safely 2x or 3x or 4x your OCI - then maybe you can help save oil.
I'm no tree hugger else I'd drive something that gets better than 15 mpg, just curious mostly.
Synthetic motor oil generally comes from crude oil or natural gas. Almost without exception.
Gallon for gallon, a gallon of 'synthetic' oil actually involves the use of more raw 'crude' oil out of the ground (or natural gas equivilant) than a gallon of non-synthetic oil or group III hydrocracked oil. So, to answer the original question, assuming no change in drain intervals, using 'synthetic' actually increases your consumption of raw crude oil.
BTW, some PAO is derived from naptha, not ethylene, derived from crude oil feedstocks, not natural gas.
Gallon for gallon, a gallon of 'synthetic' oil actually involves the use of more raw 'crude' oil out of the ground (or natural gas equivilant) than a gallon of non-synthetic oil or group III hydrocracked oil. So, to answer the original question, assuming no change in drain intervals, using 'synthetic' actually increases your consumption of raw crude oil.
BTW, some PAO is derived from naptha, not ethylene, derived from crude oil feedstocks, not natural gas.
If you can repurpose a gallon of used oil in a waste furnace you've just saved ~ $1.80 on #2 fuel oil.
So, hypothetically, if you're using dino oil basestocks in your engine, and they're diverting it in the distillation process away from #2 production, you've essentially got "free use" of that oil. (Yeah you're paying $4/gal for the total package with additives etc.) Run it for 3 month/3k miles then stoke the furnace like you normally would have.
But, if it took two #2 gallons' BTUs worth of natural gas to make one gallon of synthetic oil, you come out less ahead... assuming someone somewhere could have used that gas more efficiently.
So, hypothetically, if you're using dino oil basestocks in your engine, and they're diverting it in the distillation process away from #2 production, you've essentially got "free use" of that oil. (Yeah you're paying $4/gal for the total package with additives etc.) Run it for 3 month/3k miles then stoke the furnace like you normally would have.
But, if it took two #2 gallons' BTUs worth of natural gas to make one gallon of synthetic oil, you come out less ahead... assuming someone somewhere could have used that gas more efficiently.
Also,
I've heard that synthetics are better for the environment. If you're car burns oil...yes synthetics are better for the environment. However, even if it doesn't, it still comes out toxic when u change your oil. So the whole environmental issue is moot.
I've heard that synthetics are better for the environment. If you're car burns oil...yes synthetics are better for the environment. However, even if it doesn't, it still comes out toxic when u change your oil. So the whole environmental issue is moot.
With extended drain synthetics and high capacity, synthetic media oil filters, you aren't throwing an oil saturated oil filter into a landfill every 3000-5000 miles. That alone makes the synthetic the wiser environmental choice. In addition to this, synthetics reduce exhaust emissions even in brand new vehicles, since they are much less volatile and don't burn off as easily. Finally the use of low viscosity synthetics (0w-30/75w-90/ATF or syncromesh fluid) in the engine and drivetrain will consistently get you a fuel savings of 3%-5%.
Living in NJ, you should appreciate these things...
Tooslick
Living in NJ, you should appreciate these things...
Tooslick
"With extended drain synthetics and high capacity, synthetic media oil filters, you aren't throwing an oil saturated oil filter into a landfill every 3000-5000 miles."
Agreed...but just go and ask Pep Boys guy how many people change their oil and filter using Mobil 1 at only 5k.
"In addition to this, synthetics reduce exhaust emissions even in brand new vehicles, since they are much less volatile and don't burn off as easily."
I dont think i know how this happens..if your car doesn't burn oil...how can it produce a better emmissions report if you use Mobil 1 instead of Havoline.
"Finally the use of low viscosity synthetics (0w-30/75w-90/ATF or syncromesh fluid) in the engine and drivetrain will consistently get you a fuel savings of 3%-5%." Definitely agree.
Living in NJ, you should appreciate these things...
"I've audited several environmental concern..and the financial companies who back the investments that oil companies do. The only environmentally safe and sustainable solution is the reduction of our use and # of cars that rely on fossil fuel and related products as its energy and maintenance source."
Of course, any environmental scientist will tell you...the use of synthetics will not help the environment on a net basis. It may "delay" damage but in the long run...it will work the same way as petroleum products do. So any companies who sell synthetics and markets on the basis of environmental concern or safety is not accurate.
Agreed...but just go and ask Pep Boys guy how many people change their oil and filter using Mobil 1 at only 5k.
"In addition to this, synthetics reduce exhaust emissions even in brand new vehicles, since they are much less volatile and don't burn off as easily."
I dont think i know how this happens..if your car doesn't burn oil...how can it produce a better emmissions report if you use Mobil 1 instead of Havoline.
"Finally the use of low viscosity synthetics (0w-30/75w-90/ATF or syncromesh fluid) in the engine and drivetrain will consistently get you a fuel savings of 3%-5%." Definitely agree.
Living in NJ, you should appreciate these things...
Of course, any environmental scientist will tell you...the use of synthetics will not help the environment on a net basis. It may "delay" damage but in the long run...it will work the same way as petroleum products do. So any companies who sell synthetics and markets on the basis of environmental concern or safety is not accurate.
If you use a less volatile oil, of course less of it will end up out the tailpipe as opposed to sitting in the crankcase where it belongs.
Aside from leaks and oil changes, how else does motor oil 'escape' from an engine? It (or its combustion byproducts) ultimately end up in the exhaust, but not before expensive parts like the cat and the oxygen sensors are coated with the byproducts of combustion of motor oil.
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