Synthetic Oil? What's that all About? Why is it beneficial to me?

What is all this hype about synthetic fluids for your car, truck, motorcycle, ATV, and other such motor devices?  The answer is simple, we must select innovative, efficient products that will help solve or societies need for oil and our pollution problems.

Our society truly is nearing a revolutionary turning point in many aspects; synthetic oil is a key component in that movement..... The presence of oil has significant social and environmental impacts, from accidents and routine activities such as seismic exploration, drilling, and generation of polluting wastes.  Oil exploration and extraction is costly, sometimes environmentally damaging and disturbs the surrounding marine environment. Extraction may involve dredging, which stirs up the seabed, killing the sea plants that marine life need to survive. Crude oil and refined fuel spills from tanker ship accidents have damaged fragile ecosystems in Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, and Spain just to name a few.

Our mechanized society cannot function without lubricants.  The dilemma is oil is both necessary for our lifestyle and potentially destructive to nature.  Therefore, individuals and corporations have invested time and capital to develop alternate methods of extracting oil, and more importantly are utilizing alternate resources.

According to Mobil's website on synthetic oil,  Synthetic motor oils can provide a variety of benefits that help keep your engine running at optimal performance for years to come.

Conventional oils come from crude oil that is pumped from the ground. Crude oil is made up of a complex mixture of molecules that form chains and rings of different sizes and shapes. Long chains of carbon atoms produce a thick, viscous fluid that flows slowly. Shorter chains produce fluid that flows more readily.

In an oil refinery, crude oil is separated into various fractions. These become the basis for lubricating oils and fuels. Thick tangled masses of carbon chains become asphaltic materials used in roofing tar and road work. Very short chains and ring compounds of carbon are volatile and can be refined to produce gasoline and other products.

In general, fully synthetic motor oils contain non-conventional, high-performance fluids and a system of additives to help prevent wear, keep an engine clean, flow easily, maintain viscosity, prevent rust and reduce friction. The result is a lubricant that remains liquid and slippery under the widest possible range of temperatures and engine conditions.

One alternative process developed is known as the Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts coal into crude oil.  However, this process is used only as a last resort as it is more cost effective to extract naturally occurring oil.  As crude oil prices increase, the cost of coal-to-oil conversion becomes comparatively cheaper.  The method involves converting high-ash coal into synthetic oil in a multistage process.  Ideally, a ton of coal produces nearly 200 liters of crude, with by-products ranging from tar to rare chemicals.

"In the mid 1960s Chevron U.S.A was the first to market and produce a complete range of 100% synthetic Polyalphaolefins based lubricants, which began to be marketed as a substitute for mineral oils for engine lubrication. Although in use in the aerospace industry for some years prior, In 1972 AMSOIL introduced the first synthetic oil to become commercially available in an API-approved formula for automobile engines when standards were formalized for synthetic based lubricants." (Wiki, 2006)

Synthetic lubricants are an environmentally conscious choice, have proven to save fuel, reduce emissions, run cooler, and protect vital mechanical parts longer.  Here is a link to July 2008 "Action News"   to find out more.

By Ask Patty Expert Woman Amanda Pierce
Toyota Service Manager- Toyota of Hopkinsville

Amanda "AJ" Pierce began her automotive dabbling as a young child, the only child of a serviceman used their bonding time working on the families hotrods. In high school she broke the gender barrier in automotive class by being the first female to enter and complete the two-year program at Pender High School. Upon graduation at Pender Amanda enrolled in the General Motors Automotive Excellency Program (GM, ASEP) also being the first female to complete and graduate on September 11, 2002.

In an oil refinery, crude oil is separated into various fractions. These become the basis for lubricating oils and fuels. Thick tangled masses of carbon chains become asphaltic materials used in roofing tar and road work. Very short chains and ring compounds of carbon are volatile and can be refined to produce gasoline and other products.

In general, fully synthetic motor oils contain non-conventional, high-performance fluids and a system of additives to help prevent wear, keep an engine clean, flow easily, maintain viscosity, prevent rust and reduce friction. The result is a lubricant that remains liquid and slippery under the widest possible range of temperatures and engine conditions.

One alternative process developed is known as the Fischer-Tropsch process, which converts coal into crude oil.  However, this process is used only as a last resort as it is more cost effective to extract naturally occurring oil.  As crude oil prices increase, the cost of coal-to-oil conversion becomes comparatively cheaper.  The method involves converting high-ash coal into synthetic oil in a multistage process.  Ideally, a ton of coal produces nearly 200 liters of crude, with by-products ranging from tar to rare chemicals.

"In the mid 1960s Chevron U.S.A was the first to market and produce a complete range of 100% synthetic Polyalphaolefins based lubricants, which began to be marketed as a substitute for mineral oils for engine lubrication. Although in use in the aerospace industry for some years prior, In 1972 AMSOIL introduced the first synthetic oil to become commercially available in an API-approved formula for automobile engines when standards were formalized for synthetic based lubricants." (Wiki, 2006)

Synthetic lubricants are an environmentally conscious choice, have proven to save fuel, reduce emissions, run cooler, and protect vital mechanical parts longer.  Here is a link to July 2008 "Action News"   to find out more.

By Ask Patty Expert Woman Amanda Pierce
Toyota Service Manager- Toyota of Hopkinsville

Amanda "AJ" Pierce began her automotive dabbling as a young child, the only child of a serviceman used their bonding time working on the families hotrods. In high school she broke the gender barrier in automotive class by being the first female to enter and complete the two-year program at Pender High School. Upon graduation at Pender Amanda enrolled in the General Motors Automotive Excellency Program (GM, ASEP) also being the first female to complete and graduate on September 11, 2002.

Comments

[Jody DeVere]

Yes - Go here for more information:

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Why_Synthetics.aspx

www.askpatty.com

[Annie]

Is synthetic oil available everywhere?