First Published in National Oil and Lube News by Ed Newman
It's a fact of life that
behavior is strongly influenced
by what people believe, whether
true or not. Numerous examples
from history bear this out. For
example, sailors were once
fearful of sailing outside the
sight of land less they would
fall off the edge of the world.
In the early 19th century, the
train was considered dangerous
because it was believed that if
you traveled faster than 25
miles per hour, you would be
traveling too fast to breathe.
At a later date, the New York
Times warned that electric light
may cause blindness. Microwave
ovens, automobiles and airplanes
have had equally vociferous
opponents.
Looking back, it is easy to
laugh at some of these things
people so firmly believed. But
these people were not stupid.
They were simply misinformed. In
many instances they had simply
drawn conclusions before all the
facts were in. How easy it is to
make the same mistake today. In
our own time, synthetic motor
oils have been the object of
many misconceptions held by the
general public. Many people,
including some mechanics who
ought to know better, have been
misled by persistent myths that
need to be addressed.
PARAMETERS OF THE DEBATE
Synthetic lubricants are fuel
efficient, extended life
lubricants manufactured from
select basestocks and special
purpose additives. In contrast
to petroleum oils which are
pumped from the earth and
refined, synthetics are
custom-designed in the
laboratory, with each phase of
their molecular construction
programmed to produce, in
effect, the ideal lubricant.
In responding to objections most
commonly raised against
synthetics it is important to
establish the parameters of the
debate. When speaking of
synthetic motor oils, this
article is defending the
synthetic lubricants which have
been formulated to meet the
performance standards set by the
American Petroleum Institute
(API). (The first such synthetic
motor oil to meet these
industry-accepted tests for
defining engine oil properties
and performance characteristics
was AMSOIL 100% Synthetic 10W-40
in 1972.)
Many people with questions about
synthetics haven't known where
to turn to get correct
information. Is it super oil or
snake oil? Some enthusiasts will
swear that synthetics are
capable of raising your
specialty car from the dead. On
the other hand, the next fellow
asserts that synthetics will
send your beloved car to an
early grave. Where's the truth
in all this?
In an effort to set the record
straight, we've assembled ten of
the more persistent myths about
synthetic motor oils to see how
they stack up against the facts.
Myth #1: Synthetic motor oils
damage seals.
Untrue. It would be foolhardy
for lubricant manufacturers to
build a product that is
incompatible with seals. The
composition of seals presents
problems that both petroleum
oils and synthetics must
overcome. Made from elastomers,
seals are inherently difficult
to standardize.
Ultimately it is the additive
mix in the oil that counts.
Additives to control seal swell,
shrinkage and hardening are
required, whether it be a
synthetic or petroleum product
that is being produced.
Myth #2: Synthetics are too
thin to stay in the engine.
Untrue. In order for a lubricant
to be classified in any SAE
grade (10W-30, 10W-40, etc) it
has to meet certain guidelines
with regard to viscosity
("thickness").
For example, it makes no
difference whether it is 10W-40
petroleum or 10W-40 synthetic,
at -25 degrees centigrade (-13F)
and 100 degrees centigrade (212
degrees F) that oil has to
maintain a standardized
viscosity or it can't be rated a
10W-40.
Myth #3: Synthetics cause
cars to use more oil.
Untrue. Synthetic motor oils are
intended to use in mechanically
sound engines, that is, engines
that don't leak. In such engines
oil consumption will actually be
reduced. First, because of the
lower volatility of synlubes.
Second, because of the better
sealing characteristics between
piston rings and cylinder walls.
And finally, because of the
superior oxidation stability
(i.e. resistance of synthetics
against reacting with oxygen at
high temperatures.)
Myth #4: Synthetic lubricants
are not compatible with
petroleum.
Untrue. The synthesized
hydrocarbons, polyalphaolefins,
diesters and other materials
that form the base stocks of
high quality name brand
synthetics are fully compatible
with petroleum oils. In the old
days, some companies used
untested ingredients that were
not compatible, causing quality
synlubes to suffer a bum rap.
Fortunately, those days are long
gone.
Compatibility is something to
keep in mind, however, whether
using petroleum oils or
synthetics. It is usually best
to use the same oil for topping
off that you have been running
in the engine. That is, it is
preferable to not mix your oils,
even if it is Valvoline or
Quaker State you are using. The
reason is this: the functions of
additives blended for specific
characteristics can be offset
when oils with different
additive packages are put
together. For optimal
performance, it is better to use
the same oil throughout.
Myth#5: Synthetic lubricants
are not readily available.
Untrue. This may have been the
case two decades ago when AMSOIL
and Mobil1 were the only real
choices, but today nearly every
major oil company has added a
synthetic product to their
lines. This in itself is a
testament to the value
synthetics offer. But, beware,
many of the other "synthetics"
are not true PAO (Polyalphaolefin)
synthetics (ie: Castrol Syntec,
Penzoil, etc...) they are
hydroisomerized petroleum oil or
an ester based synthetic blend.
Myth #6: Synthetic lubricants
produce sludge.
Untrue. In point of fact,
synthetic motor oils are more
sludge resistant than their
petroleum counterparts,
resisting the effects of high
temperatures and oxidation. In
the presence of high
temperatures, two things happen.
First, an oil's lighter
ingredients boil off, making the
oil thicker. Second, many of the
complex chemicals found
naturally in petroleum
basestocks begin to react with
each other, forming sludges,
gums and varnishes. One result
is a loss of fluidity at low
temperatures, slowing the timely
flow of oil to the engine for
vital engine protection. Further
negative effects of thickened
oil include the restriction of
oil flow to critical areas,
greater wear and loss of fuel
economy.
Because of their higher flash
points, and their ability to
withstand evaporation loss and
oxidation, synthetics are much
more resistant to sludge
development.
Two other causes of sludge -
ingested dirt and water dilution
- can be a problem in any kind
of oil, whether petroleum or
synthetic. These are problems
with the air filtration system
and the cooling system
respectively, not the oil.
Myth #7: Synthetics can't be
used with catalytic converters
or oxygen sensors.
Untrue. There is no difference
between synthetic and petroleum
oils in regards to these
components. Both synthetic and
petroleum oils are similar
compounds and neither is
damaging to catalytic converters
or oxygen sensors.
Myth #8: Synthetics void
warranties.
Untrue. No major manufacturer of
automobiles specifically bans
the use of synthetic lubricants.
In point of fact, increasing
numbers of high performance cars
are arriving on the showroom
floors with synthetic motor oils
as factory fill.
New vehicle warranties are based
upon the use of oils meeting
specific API Service
Classifications (for example SG/CE).
Synthetic lubricants which meet
current API Service requirements
are perfectly suited for use in
any vehicle without affecting
the validity of the new car
warranty. In point of fact, in
the over 25 years that AMSOIL
Synthetic Lubricants have been
used in extended service
situations, over billions of
miles of actual driving, these
oils have not been faulted once
for voiding an automaker's
warranty.
Myth #9: Synthetics last
forever.
Untrue. Although some experts
feel that synthetic basestocks
themselves can be used forever,
it is well known that eventually
the additives will falter and
cause the oil to require
changing. Moisture, fuel
dilution and acids (the
by-products of combustion) tend
to use up additives in an oil,
allowing degradation to occur.
However , by "topping off",
additives can be replenished.
Through good filtration and
periodic oil analysis, synthetic
motor oils protect an engine for
lengths of time far beyond the
capability of non-synthetics.
Myth #10: Synthetics are too
expensive.
Untrue. Tests and experience
have proven that synthetics can
greatly extend drain intervals,
provide better fuel economy,
reduce engine wear and enable
vehicles to operate with greater
reliability. All these elements
combine to make synthetic engine
oils more economical that
conventional non-synthetics.
In Europe, synthetics have
enjoyed increasing acceptance as
car buyers look first to
performance and long term value
rather than initial price. As
more sophisticated technology
places greater demands on
today's motor oils, we will no
doubt see an increasing
re-evaluation of oil buying
habits in this country as well.
CONCLUSIONS
Since their inception,
manufacturers of synthetic motor
oils have sought to educate the
public about the facts regarding
synthetics, and the need for
consumers to make their
lubrication purchasing decisions
based on quality rather than
price. As was the case with
microwave ovens or electric
lights, a highly technological
improvement must often overcome
a fair amount of public
skepticism and consumer inertia
before it is embraced by the
general population.
But the word is getting out as a growing number of motorists worldwide experience the benefits of synthetic lubrication. The wave of the future, in auto lubes, is well under way.
Enjoy this video on the technology that goes into all Amsoil Synthetic Motor Oil