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

50 KMT

Sri Lanka current market size - ~ 58 KMT

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

Made of two basic components

+
Base Oil

Chemical Additives

Base Oil

Antioxidant

Antiwear
DI Package
8 -12% wt.

Friction
Modifier
Dispersant
Others*

VI Improver

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

Virgin Base oils are preferred for good quality

lubricants
G010067

Group

Sulfur, Wt %

Saturates

V.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)

All Stocks Not Included in Groups I-IV

(Pale Oils and Non-PAO Synthetics)

All Commercial Paraffinic Base Oils have VI > 95

In recent years these categories have been informally

subdivided into Group I+, Group II+ and Group III+

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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High
quality
base oil

Its Not Just Oil

It is properly balanced
complex mixture of active
chemicals
All compete for same surface area

Antioxidants

Viscosity
Index
Improvers
Dispersants

Detergents

Pour Point
Depressants

Rust and
Corrosion
Inhibitor
Foam
Inhibitors

Finished
product

Friction
Modifiers
Antiwear
Agents

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Petrol

Diesel

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Engine oil represent ~ 70 % of total

lubricant market in Sri Lanka
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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

SN

2010
SM
SL

Sri Lanka Min

Standard

SJ

SH
SG
SF
SE
SD
SC

1964

1968

1972

2000

1996

1994

1989

1980

API S Engine Service

Classifications

2004

Sri Lanka Min

Standard

CF
CA CD

CE

CF-4 CG-4

CD-II

CH-4 CI-4 CI-4 +

CJ-4

CF-2

API C Diesel Engine Classifications

How can a buyer check this?

SAE
Viscosity

Grade

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES for ENGINE OILS - (SAE J300)

Low-Temp

Low-Temp Pumping

Cranking Viscosity, max

Viscosity, Kinematic

Viscosity (no yield stress)

max, cP @ C

High-Temp

High-Temp/High-Shear

Viscosity at
cSt @ 100C

150C & 106s-1

cP @ C
min

max

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

50

16.3

< 21.9

3.7

60

21.9

< 26.1

3.7

2.9 (1)
3.7 (2)

min, cP

(1) SAE 0W, 5W and 10W multigrades

(2) SAE 15W, 20W, 25W multigrades and 40 grade

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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