WHY USE SYNTHETIC LUBRICANTS? Synthetics are designed from base stocks which contain only the ideal physical geometry for the intended application and so contain none of the impurities or unnecessary components found in mineral based oils. Synthetic lubricants provide: Excellent lubricity Improved energy efficiency and power transfer High viscosity index Low pour points Wide range of operation Excellent thermal and oxidative stability High flash and fire points Extended service life Change your thinking, not your oil. For more information contact: Industrial Chemicals & Lubricants, Inc. Duluth, GA Tel: 770-623-4502 Fax: 770-623-4648 Is the switch from mineral oil based lubes to synthetic oils cost effective? (*The following information has been extracted from various trade journals. All efforts were made to ensure citations were identified correctly.) “... Peterbilt Motors began using synthetic-based lubricants as the factory fill for transmissions and axles in all its trucks. These fluids can last up to five times as long as their mineral-based counterparts ...” “Peterbilt users must continue to refill with synthetic fluids in order to keep their extended warrantees ...” “... in new trucks built on or after March 1, 1996.” “... Eaton ... was the first No. Am. drive train supplier to advocate use of synthetics. It did so in 1988 (after a decade of testing) to extend drain intervals to 250,000 miles.” Hart's Lubricants World magazine, April 1996, p. 8-10. -------------------- “Synthetic lubricants have established a proven track record for durability and for extending component service life.,” T.Plimpton, Peterbilt G.M. Truck Parts & Service magazine, Feb. 1996, p.8. -------------------- “These oils can be changed less frequently than conventional mineral oils.” Fleet Owner magazine, August 1994, p.16. -------------------- “... truck operators using synthetic lubes also will benefit from enhanced transmission performance.” “Synthetic lubricants can handle higher temperatures because they have better thermal stability than mineral oils.” “Other benefits of synthetic lubricants include ... seal life is improved and there is a general cleanliness...” “... Spicer Transmissions ... have been recommending a synthetic lubricant since the mid '70's.” “Fleets that are using synthetic lubricants have commented on the reduced maintenance costs. While the initial price of a synthetic is higher, the fleets note that they have experienced a reduction in seal failure, which has also reduced downtime.” “... synthetic lubricants ... means less drag and easier shifting,” D.Muyskens, Fuller Transmissions, Eaton Corp., Oct. 95 -------------------- “The use of synthetic lubes for transmissions and drive axles over mineral-based oils can add up to 2% in fuel economy improvements.” July 1997. -------------------- Drain intervals for On-Highway rear axles filled with mineral oil: 100,000 miles. Drain intervals for On-Highway rear axles filled with synthetic oil: 250,000 miles to 500,000 miles, depending upon equipment configuration. Drain intervals for Off-Highway equipment generally double, for example from 40,000 miles to 80,000 miles. Rockwell Automotive, Maintenance Manual No. 5A, revised 2-97, p. 68-69. -------------------- Construction Equipment magazine, May 1997, p.82-88, contains an excellent article regarding extended drain intervals. -------------------- With synthetic lubricants “... you have a base oil which is absolutely consistent from batch to batch and which provides certain performance properties ... that cannot be matched by ...” mineral oil. “To reduce equipment downtime, manufacturers and users are implementing extended oil service intervals. So the fluid chemistry has to be robust enough to tolerate contaminants, including water, during these extended-use periods.” Lubes-n-Greases magazine, Nov. 1997, p. 50. -------------------- “Any high quality conventional oil meets the API's rating of SH. The high quality synthetics ... breeze past these ratings by a factor of four.” “... - they're slipperier than petroleum oils.” “Today's synthetic motor oils: improve lubrication at higher and lower temperatures, reduce engine wear and tear, reach critical parts faster at start up, upon shutdown leave a film on engine parts, improve engine cleanliness, reduce sludge and deposits, reduce oil consumption, reduce engine emissions.” Amoco Corp., “Chemical Reactions” newsletter, 1997. -------------------- “... maximum protection from friction ... improved fuel economy, reduced oil consumption ...” Texaco “Havoline Synthetic” counter-top hand-out. -------------------- “... predictable and superior properties.” “... unsurpassed high temperature stability, greater oxidation resistance, unsurpassed shear stability ... lower oil consumption.” “Synthetic motor oils provide far superior performance and protection due to their synthetic base stocks.” “Conventional oils can't always protect your engine from wear. ... synthetic oils can protect your engine in ways conventional oils never could.” “Conventional oils don't fully prevent metal-to-metal contact.” “... protection up to four times greater than conventional oils.” Castrol “Syntec” counter-top hand-outs. -------------------- “... dismantled the engine and compared ... parts ... from a brand new ... engine. There was no visible difference.” “Decreases friction so effectively, you also get better fuel economy.” Mobil “Mobil 1” counter-top hand-out. -------------------- “The results are real.” “... horsepower boost ...” “Cooler engine operating temperatures.” “Not just for racing.” Valvoline counter-top hand-out. -------------------- “All SS Camaros use Quaker State Synquest engine oil.” Motor Age magazine, July 1997, p.78. -------------------- “... a synthetic lube that's designed to last three years/250,000 miles in ... rear axles and five years/250,000 miles in ... transmissions.” Construction Equipment magazine, cover 2, Nov. 1997. -------------------- “To ensure that vital equipment is properly lubricated and performing at optimum levels, it's critical to use a premium oil from a company with a proven industry record in bringing advanced lubricants to market.” “While the API helps define industry standards, breakthroughs among leading companies keep the benchmark steadily rising.” “The cutting-edge discovery or creation of one company soon becomes the standard.” Hart's Lubricants World magazine, Nov. 1997. -------------------- Fuel economy improvements - “Synthetic oils in transmissions and rear axles can save ½ percent in summer driving and up to 2 percent during the winter.” Overdrive magazine, Nov. 1997, p.87. -------------------- “Synthetic oils resist breakdown even more than premium oils, due in large part to their stable base stocks. Synthetics also have superior additive packages.” Road King magazine, P.Abelson, Senior Field Ed. -------------------- “Extended drain intervals sell trucks. Period. Moreover, even if out customers can't use all the built-in drain interval capability because of their specific application, its availability makes a clear statement of manufacturing quality.” G. Shank, Mack Truck Sr. Proj. Engr., Lubes’N’Greases magazine, Dec. 1997, p.15. -------------------- “A good synthetic oil will lose only about four percent of its weight when tested at 400º for 6 hours; a conventional oil will boil away as much as 30%. This temperature stability is important because the upper cylinder area normally operates the 600º range, and the piston rings around 400.” “... synthetics offer much higher film strengths than do conventional oils.” 3000 psi vs. around 500 psi. “At elevated temperatures, conventional oils bead up, while synthetics wet the surface ...” “Synthetic oils ... are slipperier than petroleum oils.” “... remain more consistent than conventional oils ...” Motor Trend magazine, May 1993, p. 92. -------------------- “Meanwhile, automakers demand ... improved oils for their new engine designs.” Hart's Lubricants World magazine, Jan. 1998, p. 2. “... oil and filters can now be changed twice a year instead of four times. ...the drain interval ... has been increased 2,000 to 4,000 hours. ...oil change intervals to 3,000 hours ... from 1,000 hours...” Hart's Lubricants World magazine, Jan. 1998, p. 13. -------------------- “Advantages of Synthetics: Easier cold starting Increases horsepower Quicker oil flow upon engine startup Better high-temperature and high-shear properties Quicker heat dissipation Valvoline press release, 1992. -------------------- “In field tests in Mexico, heavy-duty vehicles were operated at high loads, uphill and at high speeds. “We found that oil changes could be greatly extended, not just to two or three times the normal range, but to five to 10 times as long, using synthetics.”’ Lubes’N’Greases magazine, Feb.1998, p. 28-29. -------------------- “Motor oils that offer high-temperature deposit control and extended drain intervals are of great importance to OEMs.” Hart's Lubricants World magazine, Apr. 1998, p. 40. -------------------- “Speaking of oil, use a good synthetic, which will continue to provide lubrication at temperatures that will fry conventional oils.” Kit Car magazine, Nov. 1998, p. 80. -------------------- “Synthetic oils are specially engineered to address the requirements of today’s engines. They, almost without exception, significantly outperform petroleum based oils.” Motorcycle Tour & Cruiser magazine, Aug. 1999, p. 84. -------------------- “Synthetic oils are specially engineered to address the requirements of today’s engines. They, almost without exception, significantly outperform petroleum based oils.” Motorcycle Tour & Cruiser magazine, Aug. 1999, p. 84. --------------------