Technology

A suit of additives for PCEO typically makes up an additive package or adpack (co-additives). A typical adpack for PCEO or PCMO may contain up to 15 different additive components. An adpack for PCEO is designed to protect and enhance the performance of engines in cars and light-duty trucks that may operate with with gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels. Internal combustion engine (ICE) uses a mixture of fuel and air which are then ignited and burned in a combustion chamber thus producing power to move a vehicle. Additives for PCEO are different than other formulations due to the needs specific to each type of engine. The current challenges concern making engines smaller while producing higher power output. Read More

Additives for heavy-duty diesel engine oil (HDDEO or HDEO) used in heavy-duty diesel engines vary from those used in the formulation of engine oil for passenger vehicles. Diesel engines are compression ignition power producer whereas gasoline engines are spark ignition engine. Typically, a heavy-duty diesel engine operate at higher temperature than spark ignition engine and it produces more soot. HDEO is also used at longer interval (some even exceed 100,000 km for heavy trucks. Due to this and other circumstances, HDEO are usually added with higher amounts of detergent and dispersant additives to enable the lubricant to perform its duty in between drain period. Read More

Motorcycle are categorized into two engine types, two cycle or two stroke engines (2T), and four cycle or four stroke engines (4T). Motorcycle 2T engines are simpler in design yet produce greater power-to-weight ratio, thus is popular for use in scooter, snowmobiles, ATVs, and other smaller engines. 2T engine oil is added into gasoline before the mixture is pumped into the combustion chamber to be ignited, thus it is called a total loss lubricant. Upon combustion of the fuel, the oil remain unburned and gets circulated inside the engine. Motorcycle 4T engines work in similar way to car's engines. Due to the differences in the operations of a 2T vs 4T engines, the lubricants are formulated differently and the additives used are also different. Read More

Additives for heavy-duty marine diesel engines vary from those used in formulation of engine oil for land vehicles. Diesel engines are compression ignition power producer and in the case of marine diesel engines, the formulation of additives takes into consideration the sulfur content of the diesel fuel, and the higher demand of use of marine diesel engines. It is typical that marine diesel engines are required to run at high torque for long hours continuously. These and among others calls for more robust additives required to protect the lubricant and meet the performance criteria for the engine. It is common to see that marine diesel engine oil have much higher TBN level than its HDEO for land use, and the dispersant system need to cater for higher temperature operation at length, and a more robust antioxidant is also required. Read More

Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is a type of lubricant formulated for use in automatic transmissions. The main role of an ATF is to transfer torque from the torque converter to the gears. ATF has to lubricates & cools the friction surfaces, the gears & bearings, acts as a hydraulic fluid, prevent formation of deposits, and inhibit corrosion. There are generally 3 main types of AT in wide use today which are Automatic Transmission (AT), Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT). Torque converter is also a type of AT however it's being phased out due to inefficiency. There's also Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) which is a quasi AT. Each of these AT have its own needs in term of lubrication. Due to the specific properties required, the additive chemistry is also formulated specifically suitable for each type. Consumers are advised to use an ATF designed specifically for the type of AT in the vehicle. This is important especially new AT are so much more advance than those 10 years ago. AT are also susceptible to damage easily when its not taken care of properly and the high cost of repair is a justification for choosing the right ATF for each made. This link takes you to wikipedia where details of AT & ATF are explained. Read More

Off-highway or off-road vehicles have to fulfill a set of very demanding tasks which on-highway heavy-duty vehicle are not designed to do. They perform tasks which require heavy lifting and carrying in very dirty environment and at uncompromising locations. Due to these and other requirements, the lubricants have to be formulated to do more than one job. Some main applications are in construction industry such as lube for axle differentials and final drives, and powershift transmission and drivetrain. Another very demanding off-highway application is the agriculture industry. Tractor Hydraulif Fluid (THF) is a term often used to describe fluid that is used in tractor, yet in practice there are three different types of fluids that serve different purposes.

Super Tractor Oil Universal (STOU) - All-in-one application set that covers the use as engine oil, tractors with wet brakes, transmissions, clutches, axles & final drives, and hydraulic system.

Universal Tractor Transmission Oil (UTTO) - Serves all functions as in STOU except that its not suitable for use as engine oil.

Tractor Transmission Oil (TTO) - Serves all function in STOU except that its not suitable for use in wet brakes (dry brakes only). Read More

There are two types of gear oils where one is used in automotive gears and another in industrial gears. Manual gear boxes have straight spur or helical gears and synchromesh cones which require oils with extreme pressure (EP) properties. Automotive gear oils are used in manual transmissions, front and rear axles fitted with differentials, transaxles, and power transfer units & differentials with limited slip/locking features (LSD). Two main types of manual transmission (MT); synchronized transmission, and non-synchronized transmission. MT fluids for both types are required to last, protects against corrosion, compatible with clutches materials, stable in high operating temperature, and resist shear, among others. A different suit of additives are required for the formulation of additive packages for manual gear oil. Read More

A hydraulic system creates fluid power by pumping a hydraulic fluid through valves and into a cylinder where the hydraulic energy is converted into mechanical energy. Brake fluid is a subtype of hydraulic fluid with high boiling point. Glycol-based fluids are hygroscopic and absorb moisture which reduce the boiling point leading to braking failure, whereas mineral oil and silicone based fluids are not hygroscopic. Power steering fluid is another type of hydraulic fluid which are mineral or silicone based oils. ATF also functions as hydraulic for viscous couplings. As we can see, hydraulic systems provide unyielding power in harsh environments, hence hydraulic fluid needs to provide crucial protection against wear, corrosion, extreme pressure, oxidation, varnish, and foam, among others. Main properties to establish when formulating the additives for hydraulic fluids are to achieve correct viscosity for the intended use, viscosity index (Vi) to ensure good operating viscosity across a band of temperature swings, oxidation stability to reduce degradation of the fluid due to the effect of oxygen and heat, and the fluid's resistance to wear is critical to reduce the wear rate in frictional boundary contacts. Read More

An outboard motor is a self-contained unit that consists of engine, gearbox, and propeller/jet for propulsion that is designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom of a boat. In contrast, an inboard motor is located mid-point which is connected to an external gear unit which in turn is connected to a shaft where at its end is secured a propeller. Whereas inboard motors are typically diesel fueled, majority of outboard motors are usually gasoline fueled. Inboard motors comes in 2 strokes (2T) and 4 strokes (4T) engines. 2T outboard engines are similar to 2T motorcycle engines in principle, whereas 4T outboard engines are similar to those of 4T motorcycle/car engines. In 2T engines, 2-stroke (2T) lubricant oil is premixed with gasoline before the mixture is burned in a combustion chamber to produce power. The lubricant for 2T is a total-loss oil. A 4T engine uses similar motor oil to those for a car engine and it's serviced similarly. Additives for outboard 2T & 4T oils however are formulated differently than those for land use. This is due to the operating conditions and the environments are different. Outboard motor oils are usually subjected to heavy conditions and greater demand on robustness. Thus the additives used for outboard oils formulations have to step up to these needs, including the addition of demulsifier to minimize the effect of potential water seep-in. As water is a damaging element to the engine, other additive components are also required to take care of this potential threat. Read More

Metal Working Fluids (MWFs) are used for cutting and forming of metals. They serve 3 primary functions; to provide lubrication to the cutting zone, to provide cooling for the tool & workpiece material, and to facilitate the removal of chips from the cutting zone.

Major types of MWFs are:

1. Straight oils - neat cutting oils come in a variety of formulations used without dilution and tend to be used for heavy-duty machining processes. Major additives used are EP and antioxidants.

2. Soluble oils - are emulsifiable oils (coolant) made particularly for cutting and grinding. It's main functions are to lubricate and cool thus preventing welding between the cutting tools and workpiece, and prevent wearing of the tools. Formulation of soluble oils contain high amount of emulsifiers, EP, antioxidant, and biocides.

3. Semi-synthetic fluids - this type of fluids contain 5% - 30% base oils and are diluted with 30% - 50% water prior to use. Their main uses are for lubrication and cooling in metal cutting processes. Major additives used in this type of MWF are similar to those on coolants.

4. Synthetic fluids - no mineral oils are used in this formulation but instead uses synthetic oils, organic and inorganic salts to form clear solution. Their main functions are to continually dampen the workpiece to prevent mist and smoke, especially during the grinding process. Its formulation requires a different set of additive components compared to those above. Read More

Industrial lubricants volume is the second of 2 to automotive lubricants nevertheless industrial lubricants are as important. The range of additives made available for the formulations of industrial lubricants are as staggering as those for automotive lubricants. The main types of industrial lubricants are; hydraulic oil, compressor oil, MWFs, chain & cable lube, motor oil, grease, rolling, drawing, forming and a list of other lubricants. Its forms can be liquid, solid, paste, or gas. The formulation of industrial lubricants however usually is not as structured when compared to the formulation & testing for automotive lubricants. Read More

Additive component comes in thousands. There are many category and so many more variants to each type. Each serving specific function or functions, and the use of each is a dynamic matrix of function, effectiveness, and cost. Even the global top 4 additive producers would take these matters into consideration in formulating a new additive package (adpack or co-additives). When a user wants to choose which additive package to use for a certain type of lubricant, this matrix is a key consideration, along with other components such as base oils (carriers), viscosity index improver (VII or VM), and other additional components to complete a formulation. Read More