How is an oil made?

[oilman]

HOW IS AN ENGINE OIL MADE?

There are two main components that all engine oils are made of, basestocks and the additive package. The base fluid typically makes up the bulk of the oil (70-95%). Additive chemicals are then added to enhance the positive qualities of the basestocks and to overcome whatever negative qualities there may be.

There are two main types of basestocks, petroleum and synthetic.

Petroleum basestocks are a purified form of crude oil and have been used as the base for automotive lubricants since motor oils were first developed.

Synthetic basestocks, on the other hand, are chemically engineered in a lab specifically for the purpose of lubrication. They are engineered from pure compounds that contain no contaminants which must be removed via purification. Synthetic basestocks have been around since the early 1900's but were not widely used in automotive type applications until the 70's.

PETROLEUM BASESTOCKS

Petroleum basestocks are refined from crude oil, it must be run through a series of
purification steps to improve the following desirable lubrication qualities:

Viscosity Index
A measure of an oil's ability to maintain its viscosity over a wide temperature range. The higher the number, the less change in viscosity with a change in temperature. Better oils will generally have higher viscosity indexes.

Low Temperature Performance
The better an oil will flow at low temperatures, the better its low temperature performance. Better low temperature performance provides more immediate engine protection at start-up in cold weather climates.

High Temperature Performance
How well does an oil hold together under extremely hot conditions. Will it burn off easily? Will it allow metal to metal contact under hot conditions as a result of viscosity loss (shear)? Obviously, better oils will hold together more effectively under extreme heat.

Oxidation Resistance
Oxidation occurs when oxygen reacts with the components of an oil to form sludge and other engine deposits. Oxidation leads to increased oil viscosity making the engine work harder to pump the oil through its system. An oil should be able to resist oxidation.

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