The first API certified 100% synthetic motor oil was introduced in 1972 by AMSOIL.Although synthetic oil started out slow in the marketplace, it has gained popularity over the years and is now the required factory fill oil utilized by several auto manufacturers. In addition, the racing community has also discovered its many benefits since it continues to dominate numerous championship venues.
Synthetic lubricants
Synthetic lubricants are chemically engineered from pure chemical compounds rather than refined crude oil.
Conventional Refined Oils
Conventional oils contain a full range of irregular molecules. Many are similar in weight but not in structure. The refining process cannot distinguish such molecules, so irregular molecules are present in a finished lubricant made from crude oil stocks. Many crude oil molecules are not beneficial to the lubrication process. Paraffin causes refined lubricants to thicken and flow poorly in cold temperatures. Molecules containing sulfur, nitrogen and other elements invite the formation of sludge and other by products of lubricant breakdown. Sludge and breakdown by-products significantly increase wear rates.
The different shapes of the assorted molecules in refined lubricants mean lubricant surfaces are irregular at the molecular level. As lubricant layers flow across one another, these irregularities create friction, which consumes power, reduces fuel efficiency and increases heat and wear.
Pure
The base stocks from which synthetic lubricants are made contain no sulfur, nitrogen, or other elements that invite formation of sludge and breakdown. Synthetic lubricants can be used in higher temperatures than conventional oils without breakdown. This resistance to breakdown allows synthetic oils to be utilized longer than conventional oils in addition to systems being cleaner and lasting longer.
Uniform
The base stocks from which synthetic lubricants are made feature uniform and smooth molecular structures which ensure low friction. Reduced friction increases energy throughout for greater fuel efficiency and power and reduces heat and wear for longer equipment life. Molecular uniformity also helps synthetics resist thinning in heat and thickening in cold, which helps them protect better than refined oils over a systems operating temperature range and helps secure sealing.
Designable
Many different types of base stocks can be used to create synthetic lubricants, allowing a synthetic to be designed for any application. Refined oils do not offer the design flexibility synthetics offer. The design specificity helps ensure long life and peak power, performance and fuel economy from the lubricated system, as well as extended lubricant life.
The Right Choice
Our mechanized society cannot function without lubricants. However, oil is both necessary for our lifestyle and potentially destructive to nature. We can select innovative products that help solve our pollution problems.
Synthetic lubricants are designed to protect engine components, reduce emissions, last longer reduce fuel consumption and prevent environmental pollution. While petroleum motor oil manufacturers recommend oil changes at 3,000 mile intervals, AMSOIL synthetic oil manufacturer provides engine protection ranging from 7,500 miles to 50,000 miles per year depending on the application or even further when utilizing by-pass filtration along with oil analysis. In addition, AMSOIL backs their extended drain intervals with a written GUARANTEE!
It is estimated that over 200 million gallons of oil are improperly discarded annually. This is nearly the same as 1.5 Exxon Valdez spills every month. One gallon of oil can make one million gallons of water too foul to drink and 35ppm will kill fish.
AMSOIL synthetic oil manufacturer claims that if the 243 million vehicles on the road today used their synthetic oil and drain intervals, there would be 9.25 billion less gallons of oil consumed.
At present, used motor oil is the largest source of oil pollution in our nation’s waterways. The first thing we can do is to not create so much used oil to begin with. Maybe it is time to take advantage of the benefits that synthetic lubricants provide. Besides the financial benefits we attain from synthetic lubricants, we can protect our precious environment as well.
Source: AMSOIL Literature
Captain John Sheriff has a BS degree in Industrial/Automotive Technology.
Former technical service representative for General Motors
President, Sheriff 5 Star Automotive Service Consulting www.sheriff5star.com
Owner, Captain Sheriff’s Ocean State Synthetics www.oceanstatesynthetics.com
