Synthetics:
The Auto Industry's
Best-Kept
Secret...Revealed
Have you
ever heard the story
about the light bulb
that doesn't burn
out or the razor
that never dulls?
Sure, these stories
get exaggerated, but
sometimes there's an
element of truth to
the rumors leaking
out of a
manufacturers
skunkworks. One
particular rumor
that sounds too good
to be true is
"an experimental
motor oil that
increases
horsepower,
practically stops
internal engine wear
in its tracks and
improves fuel
efficiency."
Well, synthetic
motor oil is not a
rumor. It's been in
use ever since World
War II (the Germans
used it on the cold
eastern front
because conventional
oil wouldn't flow in
the arctic-like
weather). Even
though it sounds too
good to be true,
synthetics do reduce
engine wear, improve
gas mileage and
increase horsepower.
This is because
synthetic oil
molecules are
superior in a number
of ways to
mineral-based oils.
Synthetic
Oil is Superior to
Mineral-Based Oil in
Every Way:
Without
getting too
technical, suffice
it to say that
synthetics have a
much higher
resistance to heat
than
mineral-based oils.
Because synthetic
oil is composed of
molecules that are
uniform in weight
and shape, its heat
of vaporization is
much higher (more
than 600 deg. F.)
compared to
conventional Oil,
which begins
evaporating at temps
as low as 350 deg.
F. This added
stability at high
temperature means
that your
hard-working engine
wont burn up as much
oil- and that means
less sludge and
fewer varnish
deposits in the
engine.
Added
slipperiness
is another
attribute of
synthetics. The
uniform diameter of
synthetic oil
polymers allows them
to more easily slide
over one another.
The resultant
reduction in
friction shows up as
more horsepower and
torque and reduced
internal engine
wear.
Higher film
strength,
however is one of
the major benefits
of synthetics. Film
strength is what
keeps oil molecules
from being pushed
away from each other
under pressure.
Mineral based oil
has a film strength
of about 400 psi,
while synthetics
usually exceed 3000
psi. In an area
where two metal
surfaces meet, the
film of oil between
them prevents them
from rubbing and
wearing away at each
other. Synthetics do
a better job of this
than conventional
mineral oils. It
takes more than
seven times as much
pressure to squeeze
synthetic oil from
between two surfaces
than mineral-based
oil. Consequently,
synthetics are much
better at keeping
your engine like
new.
Not All
Synthetics Are
Created Equal:
Please be
aware that not all
synthetics are
created equal. There
is wide differences
in quality and
protection provided
by the various
synthetics.
Additionally, not
all synthetics are
100% synthetic. Many
are partial
synthetics marketed
under the perception
of full synthetics
to the unsuspecting
consumer or even
hydrocracked oils
such as Castrol
Syntec, for example,
which is a
hydroisomerized
petroleum oil
marketed under the
disguise of a
synthetic (there is
a full article on
this in our
Informative Articles
section detailing
the recent battle
between Castrol and
Mobil). There are no
PAO synthetic
molecules in Castrol
Syntec, yet because
of legal fanageling
with the definition
of synthesized motor
oils they can
legally be called
synthetic.
Basically, they
changed the
definition of a
synthetic to fit
their process of
highly refining a
petroleum base oil,
called hydrocracking
and fought with
Mobil and the
National Advertising
Council to loosen
the definition of a
synthetic. Pretty
sneaky huh!?
Film strength is
important in another
way- cold start
protection. Regular
mineral-based oil
will not remain as a
boundary layer (a
uniform thin
coating) on metal
surfaces when an
engine is turned
off. Mineral-based
oil drains off parts
and out of
passageways into the
oil pan.
Additionally,
mineral-based oils
contain waxes and
parafins that come
out of the earth and
solidify when it
gets colder outside,
therefore making it
even harder to pump
the oil when cold.
When you crank your
vehicle the metal
surfaces
(crankshaft,
camshaft, lifters,
connecting rod
bearings, piston pin
bushings & bearings,
piston, rings and
cylinder walls) that
require lubrication
are not fully
lubricated in the
time it takes for
the oil pump to
pressurize the
lubrication system
and supply oil to
the engine.
With
Mineral-Based Oil
Your Engine is Not
Protected During One
of The Most Critical
Times: Engine
Start-Up:
Engine
start-up lubrication
is one of the most
critical times for
lubrication. Small
amounts o wear
occurs every time
you start your
engine with
mineral-based oils.
Over time, these
small amounts of
wear add up to
larger amounts and
result in increase
clearances, reduced
oil pressure,
increase oil
consumption and
reduced life of your
engine. Synthetic
motor oil, on the
other hand, will
stay on engine parts
and coat them
uniformly because of
its high film
strength and greater
heat affinity (it
adheres better to
hot metal parts).
Additionally,
synthetics prevent
start-up engine wear
and are pumped to
critical
passageways,
surfaces and
bearings much faster
than mineral-based
oils. With
mineral-based oils
your engine is
basically running
with no oil (which
can be as much as
20-30 seconds,
depending on the
severity of cold
weather, after
cranking the motor).
With synthetics
after several
hundred thousand
miles you still will
have a strong
running engine,
instead of a used-up
engine that requires
a re-build. This has
been proven by
millions of miles of
customer usage and
countless laboratory
and field tests.
As an extra benefit
, some synthetics
are designed for
longer drain
intervals. This
offsets the added
cost of synthetic
oil.
AMSOIL
has motor oils
designed for 25,000
mile/1-year or
35,000 mile/1-year
drain intevals (or
longer with by-pass
filtration). There
is no other oil
company in the world
that can match
AMSOIL's
extended drain
interval capability
or quality.
Why Don't
Automakers Use
Synthetics in
Production Vehicles:
Okay.
Synthetics are
great. The real
question is: Why
doesn't everybody
use them? Automakers
don't use synthetics
in production
vehicles (except as
where needed to
prevent component
failure during the
warranty period) for
at least two
reasons. They want
to sell you a new
car every 3-5 years,
or sooner, and
synthetic motor oil
would significantly
reduce their chances
of doing that.
Additionally, the
major oil companies
want to sell oil to
keep their oil wells
and refineries
running and they do
that by recommending
the 3000 mile oil
change. Sure, they
all offer a
synthetic or
semi-synthetic now,
but it is only a
very small
percentage of total
oil sales volume.
Basically, what you
are seeing here is
politics and big oil
and big auto
manufacturers
looking out for each
other so than can
continue to reap
billions of dollars
of profits from
unsuspecting
consumers. Pretty
disgusting huh!?
Many of the same oil
companies that
recommend 3000 mile
oil changes in the
U.S. also offer and
recommend
12,000-18,000 mile
oil changes in
Europe, and have
been for many years
and have plans for
increasing that to
nearly 30,000 mile
oil changes in the
future. The
technology is
available yet
AMSOIL
is the only one to
offer a superior
extended drain
synthetic oil that
far exceeds the
performance
specifications of
any other type and
brand of oil and
back it with their
own warranty.
AMSOIL
Offers Extended
Drain Intervals and
Superior Filtration:
AMSOIL
Synthetic Lubricants
offers a 25,000
mile/1-year oil
change, a 35,000
mile/1-year oil
change with Super
Duty Filtration
(require changing
every 12,500 miles
or 6-months,
whichever comes
first). Should the
consumer choose
AMSOIL
By-Pass Filtration,
this will allow for
virtually no oil
changes and filter
down to 1/10 micron
particle size. The
average consumer
spending excessive
amounts of time and
money changing their
oil every 3000 miles
does not get the
same level of
performance and
protection as the
AMSOIL
customer that is
saving both time and
money and getting
maximum performance,
protection and
extending the life
of their engine and
transmission (
AMSOIL
also offers
synthetic extended
drain interval
transmission fluid
that will virtually
eliminate
transmission wear
and reduce operating
temperatures
approximately 20-50
deg. F.)
There Is One
Good Use For Mineral
Oil:
Please note
that a new gasoline
powered engine
should be run on
mineral-based oil
for the first
500-1500 miles and
diesel engines
should be run about
5000 miles in
general before
changing to
synthetic oil. The
added friction and
surface abrasion
that mineral-based
oils provide
actually helps to
seat the valves and
create even mating
surfaces between
parts (such as
piston rings and
cylinder walls).
This is a time in
the engine's life
that generates a
high level of metal
particles in the oil
(that cannot all be
caught by the
filter), so make
sure to change both
the oil and filter
frequently during
break-in.
Major racing teams
don't appear to use
synthetics, but
things aren't always
what they seem. The
racing team's
sponsor might want
you to believe
there's a certain
kind of motor oil in
the car's crankcase,
but almost every
successful race team
in the world uses
synthetic lubricants
throughout the car
and about 70% of
them use
AMSOIL.
Your probably
wondering how we
know these facts.
It's simple: we work
in the automotive
industry on a daily
basis behind the
scenes.
Interestingly
enough, the biggest
reason that
synthetic lubricants
are not in
widespread use is
because the would-be
consumer does not
know of the benefits
provided by
synthetics. Also,
they are not sure
where to go to ask
or who to ask.
Asking your local
parts counterman at
the auto parts or
the high school kid
at the quick-lube
shop is not the
answer, or even
asking your local
auto dealer that
sold you the car-
remember, they are
usually tied in with
the auto
manufacturers brand
or oil and the 3000
mile oil change myth
and want to sell you
a new car every 3-5
years. You should
seek out and acquire
information from a
Certified
Lubrication
Specialist,
lubrication engineer
or unbiased
automotive engineer
or competent
mechanic that fully
understands and can
explain the benefits
of synthetics and
the drawbacks of
mineral-based oil to
the consumer. But
beware, there are
many mechanics out
there that are so
engrained in the old
way of thinking that
they refuse to
change their way of
thinking or even
open up their minds
to the fact that
there are
lubrication
engineers and
chemists that know a
heck of a lot more
about motor oils and
synthetics than
them.
Some People
Will Never Change:
Also, even
though people have
known about
synthetics for
years, consumers
continue to be brand
and price driven.
The rationale
continues to be, "My
grandpappy used
brand V in his model
T, so I won't use
nothing else." Or,
"I been using brand
Q in my IROC for
years. If I change
brands now I'll blow
the motor." Or, " I
ain't payin' no five
dollars a quart, no
siree, Bob, I ain't
that stupid." Or, "I
ain't using none of
that synthetic
oil...that's stuff's
made out of
beans...I want some
real crude oil."
(this last statement
was an actual
statement from a
customer in a
snowmobile store. He
was having 2-cycle
spark plug fouling
problems due to the
mineral- based oil
mixture he was
using. The store
suggested he use a
synthetic oil and 2
new spark plugs to
eliminate the
fouling issue. He
declined and
purchased 2 boxes of
spark plugs and his
usual crude oil mix
; guess some people
will never change).
Synthetics
Are Compatible With
Mineral Based Oils,
But Be Careful:
When
switching to a
synthetic motor oil,
it is important to
keep several things
in mind regarding
oil consumption.
Keep extra quarts of
synthetic handy.
Although many
synthetic oil
manufacturers tout
the compatibility of
their oils with
mineral-based oils,
adding mineral oil
to synthetic oil
will drastically
reduce the level of
engine protection
that was initially
designed into the
synthetic oil as
well as the mileage
to your next oil
change. Also, as the
mineral oil breaks
down it will
contaminate the rest
of the oil, leaving
sludge and varnish
deposits in the
engine (this is
because mineral oil
is made up of many
chemically
dissimilar
hydrocarbons,
including waxes, all
of which react
differently under
different operating
conditions). By
adding a mineral oil
to synthetic oil you
will also see a
reduction in engine
efficiency.
depending on how
much, and when, the
mineral-based oil
was introduced.
There are many
different companies
that offer
synthetics. because
this overview is
intended to give
readers a general
idea of the benefits
of synthetic
lubricants, we have
not discussed the
specific differences
between all the
individual brands
and their
formulations. Keep
in mind that there
are significant
differences between
brands of
synthetics, which
will affect the
performance and
longevity of your
engine,
transmission, axles,
bearings and chassis
components.
Please contact us
with any questions
or topics that are
not explained in
this brief overview.
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