Overview of Lubricant Technology

Dr. Gamini Amarasekera, BSc (Hons), C. Chem. (Aus), PhD (Aus) Consultant , Laugfs Lubricants Limited

(1) Lubricants - Introduction

(2) Base oil - the main ingredient & Its impact on the quality of finished lubricant

(3) Engine oil trends and main drivers of its quality

(4) Base oil trends

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50 KMT

Sri Lanka current market size - ~ 58 KMT

Definition

Friction - reducing substance

A substance, typically oil or grease, applied to a surface to reduce friction between moving parts

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Base Oil Chemical Additives

Made of two basic components

DI Package

8 -12% wt.

VI Improver

Antioxidant

Antiwear

Friction

Modifier

Dispersant

Others*

Base Oil

Base oil is the foundation of a lubricant

The quality of Base oil determines quality of the finished lubricant

Mineral base oils are extracted from petroleum crude

Complex mixture of many hydrocarbons

There are different grades of base oils classified according to their

quality

LPG

Petrol

Kerosene

Diesel

Base oils

Furnace oil

Bitumen

Strong

Stable

Inert

G010067

Virgin Base oils are preferred for good quality lubricants

Group Sulfur, Wt % Saturates V.I.

I >0.03 and/or <90 80-119

II 0.03 and 90 80-119

III 0.03 and 90 120

IV All Polyalphaolefins (PAOs)

V All Stocks Not Included in Groups I-IV

(Pale Oils and Non-PAO Synthetics)

In recent years these categories have been informally subdivided into Group I+, Group II+ and Group III+

All Commercial Paraffinic Base Oils have VI > 95

Oxidation stability – Long drain intervals

Thermal stability – Long drain intervals

Less volatility – Lesser emission

HSHT Stability – Shear stability

Better control of viscosity over wide temperature range, i.e. High VI – Lesser wear & tear/fuel economy

Lesser oxidative material – Long drain intervals

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Additives provide different properties to lubricants Detergents – Cleaning

Dispersants – Keep dirt in suspension

Antioxidants – Delay aging/oxidation

Anti wear – Reduce wear & tear

VI improvers – To maintain visco-metrics across wide temperature range

Pour point depressants – Improve low temperature flow

Anti-foam – Prevent foaming

Friction modifiers – Reduce friction/Improve fuel economy

EP chemicals – Prevent metal to metal contact

Tackiness additives – Improve tackiness

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Viscosity Index

Improvers

Dispersants

Rust and Corrosion Inhibitor

Foam Inhibitors

Antiwear Agents

Anti- oxidants

Detergents

Pour Point Depressants

Friction Modifiers

It’s Not Just Oil

It is properly balanced

complex mixture of active

chemicals

All compete for same surface area

High quality base oil

Finished product

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Petrol Diesel

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Engine oil represent ~ 70 % of total lubricant market in Sri Lanka

There are two main classifications

(1) Performance (2) Viscosity (flow property)

Performance Classifications

In order to protect engines, engine oils should meet some performance standards.

Commonly used classification is API – (American Petroleum Institute)

Other classifications are : ILSAC, ACEA , JASO

Viscosity Classification

SAE Numbers – Society of Automotive Engineers

SJ

SC

SF

1968

1980

1972

1989

1994

1996

SD

SE

SG

SH

2000

API “S” Engine Service

Classifications

SL

1964

2004

SM

Sri Lanka Min Standard

SN

2010

CF

CA …CD CE CF-4 CG-4 CH-4 CI-4 CI-4 + CJ-4

CD-II CF-2

How can a buyer check this?

API “C” Diesel Engine Classifications

Sri Lanka Min Standard

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES for ENGINE OILS - (SAE J300)

SAE Low-Temp Low-Temp Pumping High-Temp High-Temp/High-Shear

Viscosity Cranking Viscosity, max Viscosity, Kinematic Viscosity at

Grade Viscosity (no yield stress) cSt @ 100°C 150°C & 106s-1

max, cP @ °C cP @ °C

min max min, cP

0W 6200 at -35 60 000 at -40 3.8 - -

5W 6600 at -30 60 000 at -35 3.8 - -

10W 7000 at -25 60 000 at -30 4.1 - -

15W 7000 at -20 60 000 at -25 5.6 - -

20W 9500 at -15 60 000 at -20 5.6 - -

25W 13000 at -10 60 000 at -15 9.3 - -

20 - - 5.6 < 9.3 2.6

30 - - 9.3 < 12.5 2.9

40 - - 12.5 < 16.3 2.9 (1)

3.7 (2)

50 - - 16.3 < 21.9 3.7

60 - - 21.9 < 26.1 3.7

(1) SAE 0W, 5W and 10W multigrades (2) SAE 15W, 20W, 25W multigrades and 40 grade

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Multi grade oils – e.g. 15W-40

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● It is important to understand the increasing demand for engine oil quality with these new design changes. ● Use of wrong lubricant will lead to severe engine failures

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Oronite 2010

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Oronite 2010

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All modern engines require multi grade technology

Engine oil technology is moving towards lower viscosity grades.

All high performance engine oils require base oils of API Gr 2 or above

If correct engine oil is not used in modern engines there can be severe premature engine failures.

It is our duty to educate all customers on the required engine oil quality levels.

Small engines like motorcycle, out board motor, etc. also require modern additive chemistry and high quality base oils (Gr 2 or above)

Always use virgin base oils to maintain required quality.

It is our responsibility to take this industry to higher levels in parallel with new advancements in engine technology

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