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Ten Myths
About Synthetic Lubrication
By Ed Newman
It's a fact of
life that behavior is influenced by what people believe, whether true or not.
Numerous cases from history bear this out. For example, sailors were once
fearful of sailing outside the sight of land lest 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 moved
faster than 25 miles per hour, you’d be traveling too fast to breathe. At a
later date, the New York Times warned that electric light would cause blindness.
Microwave ovens, automobiles and airplanes have had equally vociferous
opponents.
Looking back,
it's easy to laugh at some of the things people once held as true. But these
people were not stupid. They were 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 numerous misconceptions held
by the general public. Many people, including some mechanics, have been misled
by these persistent myths.
PARAMETERS
OF THE DEBATE
Synthetic motor
oils are fuel efficient, extended life lubricants manufactured from select base
stocks and special purpose additives. Synthetic oil base stocks are made from
organic compounds or synthetic hydrocarbons using a process that re-arranges the
structure so all the molecules are uniform in size, shape and weight, a
phenomenon that does not occur in nature. In contrast to petroleum oils which
are pumped from the earth and refined, synthetics are custom-designed to
produce, in effect, the ideal lubricant.
In responding
to the 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 lubricants which have been formulated to meet the
performance standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API). (The first
such synthetic motor oil independently tested and confirmed 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 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 here 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 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's 10W-40 petroleum or 10W-40 synthetic, at -25
degrees centigrade (-13F) and 100 degrees centigrade (212 degrees F) the 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 for 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 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 Mobil 1 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.
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 temperature and oxidation.
In the presence of high temperatures, two things can happen. First, an oil's
lighter ingredients boil off, making the oil thicker. Second, many of the
complex chemicals found naturally in petroleum base stocks begin to react with
each other, forming sludge, gum and varnish. One result is a loss of fluidity at
low temperatures, slowing the timely flow of oil to the engine for vital
component protection.
Further
negative effects of thickened oil include the restriction of oil flow into
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 motor oils are similar compounds and
neither is damaging to catalytic converters or oxygen sensors. In fact, because
engines tend to run cleaner with synthetics, sensors and emission control
systems run more efficiently and with less contamination.
Myth#8:
Synthetics void warranties.
Untrue. Major
engine manufacturers specifically recommend the use of synthetic lubricants. In
point of fact, increasing numbers of high performance cars are arriving on
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, SJ/CF). 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 twenty-eight 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 base stocks themselves can be used
forever, it is well known that eventually the additives will falter and cause
the oil to require changing. Moisture, fuel dillution, and the by-products of
combustion (acids and soot) 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 engine 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. This more than offsets initial price differences. All
these elements combine to make synthetic engine oils more economical than
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.
About the
Author
Ed Newman
is Marketing Manager for AMSOIL INC., manufacturer of the original synthetic
motor oil for automotive applications. He has published more than 200 articles
as a freelance writer on a wide range of important topics.
enewman@amsoil.com |
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