How measures to meet such requirements are created? Engine oils contain approximately 85% base oil, the rest are various additions. The base oil is obtained in two ways. First – by distillation of crude oil. Then we obtain the so-called mineral oils. Crude oil is a mixture of light and heavy hydrocarbon chains of various shapes and properties. To obtain the base oil, it is necessary to separate undesirable components. The first phase of refining is to heat the crude oil to a boiling state. Separation by weight into different liquids and gases takes place in the distillation column, which are used e.g.. for the production of gasoline, Kerosene, Diesel. Lubricating base oils are made from a high boiling petroleum fraction, which remains after deletion – mentioned earlier – lighter fractions. Another method of obtaining lubricating base oils from crude oil is the so-called. hydrocracking. It involves inducing a reaction of the crude oil fraction with hydrogen in order to break down long molecules. This removes unwanted molecules and reduces paraffin content. Base oils produced in this way have intermediate performance properties between conventionally refined base oils and synthetic oils.
The second method of obtaining base oils involves the synthesis of hydrocarbons that are not products of crude oil processing. – this is how synthetic oils are formed. They are developed entirely in the laboratory. Thanks to this, the molecular structure of the lubricating oil can be strictly arranged, to meet specific thermal and physical requirements.
Base oils of different types and viscosities are then mixed in the right proportions with each other and supplemented with operating additives to obtain a finished engine oil with the assumed parameters. Consumables, such as:
• viscosity modifiers
• anti-friction measures, improving the resistance of the oil film to pressures
• dispersants
• antioxidants
• anti-foaming agents
• anti-rust agents
• detergents
• depresatory
are about 15-30% content of modern engine oils. They neutralize combustion products harmful to the power unit, Loads, Abrasion, temperature changes and pollution. Without proper admixtures, base oils could quickly lose their properties: overheat, ignite, evaporate or emulsify.
There is no doubt, that synthetic oils can boast of better parameters, which do not require the use of a large proportion of additives. They provide above all, thanks to the properties of the base oil, greater viscosity stability. They are less prone to oxidation and evaporation, and this makes, that they burn less often and wear out more slowly. They also provide a lower coefficient of friction, which in turn contributes to the reduction of fuel consumption. And to a greater extent than mineral oils, they are biodegradable.
