Engine Lubricants

Engine Lubricants

Engine lubricants are most often used in the automotive industry, classified as automotive lubricants, but can also be used in applications such as hydraulic equipment, turbines, compressors, large agricultural and construction equipment, electrical generators, vacuum pumps and diffusion pumps, as long as they are oil-driven. Designed for use in internal combustion engines, engine lubricants can be used not only for on-road vehicles, such as cars, trucks, motorcycles and buses, but also for off-road vehicles such as lawn mowers, locomotives, airplanes, snowmobiles and boats. Engine lubricants are graded by a numerical code system developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) according to their level of viscosity. Viscosity is the fluidity of a substance; low viscosity suggests a lubricant will be very fluid while a high viscosity count means the substance will be thick, like grease.

There is much debate over whether organic engine lubricants or synthetic engine lubricants have more advantages for use in vehicles. However, the debate tends to swing in favor of synthetic engine lubricants, due to their ability to be chemically engineered with desired characteristics such as increased corrosion-resistance and higher flash points. However, petroleum-based engine lubricants are still commonly used, since they contain the same hydrocarbon base stock as the gasoline used to power the vehicle. However, the formulation of the two hydrocarbons is quite different, as a result of their differing applications. Synthetic lubricants, on the other hand, refer to a wide range of chemical compounds, the most common of which include silicones, esters, polyalphaolefins and fluorocarbons. Silicone engine lubricants offer high resistance to aggressive environments and wide temperature capabilities. Ester- based engine lubricants are incredibly strong and can function at extreme temperatures. Polyalphaolefin (PAO) based engine lubricants offer high film strength and a longer usage life. As the first type of synthetic lubricant produced, PAO-based lubricants have become extremely cost-efficient over time.