Ten
Myths About Synthetic Lubrication
It's a fact of life that behavior
is strongly influenced by what people believe, whether true or not. Numerous examples
from history bear this out. For example, sailors were once fearful of sailing
outside the sight of land lest they would fall off the edge of the world. In the
early 19th century, the train was considered dangerous because it was believed
that if you moved faster than 25 miles per hour, you would be traveling too fast
to breathe. At a later date, the New York Times warned that electric light may
cause blindness. Microwave ovens, automobiles and airplanes have had equally vociferous
opponents.
Looking back, it's easy to laugh at some of the things people
so firmly believed. But these people were not stupid. They were simply misinformed.
In many instances they had simply drawn conclusions before all the facts were
in. How easy it is to make the same mistake today. In our own time, synthetic
motor oils have been the object of numerous misconceptions held by the general
public. Many people, including some mechanics who ought to know better, have been
misled by persistent myths that need to be addressed.
PARAMETERS OF THE
DEBATE
Synthetic lubricants are fuel efficient, extended life lubricants
manufactured from select basestocks and special purpose additives. In contrast
to petroleum oils which are pumped from the earth and refined, synthetics are
custom-designed in the laboratory, with each phase of their molecular construction
programmed to produce, in effect, the ideal lubricant.
In responding to
the objections most commonly raised against synthetics it is important to establish
the parameters of the debate. When speaking of synthetic motor oils, this article
is defending the synthetic lubricants which have been formulated to meet the performance
standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API). (The first such synthetic
motor oil to meet these industry-accepted tests for defining engine oil properties
and performance characteristics was AMSOIL 100% Synthetic 10W-40 in 1972.)
Many
people with questions about synthetics haven't known where to turn to get correct
information. Is it super oil or snake oil? Some enthusiasts will swear that synthetics
are capable of raising your specialty car from the dead. On the other hand, the
next fellow asserts that synthetics will send your beloved car to an early grave.
Where's the truth in all this?
In an effort to set the record straight,
we've assembled here ten of the more persistent myths about synthetic motor oils
to see how they stack up against the facts.
Myth #1: Synthetic motor
oils damage seals.
Untrue. It would be foolhardy for lubricant manufacturers
to build a product that is incompatible with seals. The composition of seals presents
problems that both petroleum oils and synthetics must overcome. Made from elastamers,
seals are inherently difficult to standardize.
Ultimately it is the additive
mix in oil that counts. Additives to control seal swell, shrinkage and hardening
are required, whether it be a synthetic or petroleum product that is being produced.
Myth
#2: Synthetics are too thin to stay in the engine.
Untrue. In order
for a lubricant to be classified in any SAE grade (10W-30, 10W-40, etc.) it has
to meet certain guidelines with regard to viscosity ("thickness").
For
example, it makes no difference whether it's 10W-40 petroleum or 10W-40 synthetic,
at -25 degrees centigrade (-13F) and 100 degrees centigrade (212 degrees F) the
oil has to maintain a standardized viscosity or it can't be rated a 10W-40.
Myth
#3: Synthetics cause cars to use more oil.
Untrue. Synthetic motor oils
are intended for use in mechanically sound engines, that is, engines that don't
leak. In such engines, oil consumption will actually be reduced. First, because
of the lower volatility of synlubes. Second, because of the better sealing characteristics
between piston rings and cylinder walls. And finally, because of the superior
oxidation stability (i.e. resistance of synthetics against reacting with oxygen
at high temperatures.)
Myth #4: Synthetic lubricants are not compatible
with petroleum.
Untrue. The synthesized hydrocarbons, polyalphaolefins,
diesters and other materials that form the base stocks of high-quality name brand
synthetics are fully compatible with petroleum oils. In the old days, some companies
used untested ingredients that were not compatible, causing quality synlubes to
suffer a bum rap. Fortunately, those days are long gone.
Compatibility is
something to keep in mind, however, whether using petroleum oils or synthetics.
It is usually best to use the same oil for topping off that you have been running
in the engine. That is, it is preferable to not mix your oils, even if it is Valvoline
or Quaker State you are using. The reason is this: the functions of additives
blended for specific characteristics can be offset when oils with different additive
packages are put together. For optimal performance, it is better to use the same
oil throughout.
Myth #5: Synthetic lubricants are not readily available.
Untrue.
This may have been the case two decades ago when AMSOIL and Mobil 1 were the only
real choices, but today nearly every major oil company has added a synthetic product
to their lines. This in itself is a testament to the value synthetics offer.
Myth
#6: Synthetic lubricants produce sludge.
Untrue. In point of fact, synthetic
motor oils are more sludge resistant than their petroleum counterparts, resisting
the effects of high temperature and oxidation. In the presence of high temperatures,
two things happen. First, an oil's lighter ingredients boil off, making the oil
thicker. Second, many of the complex chemicals found naturally in petroleum base
stocks begin to react with each other, forming sludge, gums and varnishes. One
result is a loss of fluidity at low temperatures, slowing the timely flow of oil
to the engine for vital component protection. Further negative effects of thickened
oil include the restriction of oil flow into critical areas, greater wear and
loss of fuel economy.
Because of their higher flash points, and their ability
to withstand evaporation loss and oxidation, synthetics are much more resistant
to sludge development.
Two other causes of sludge -- ingested dirt and water
dilution -- can be a problem in any kind of oil, whether petroleum or synthetic.
These are problems with the air filtration system and the cooling system respectively,
not the oil.
Myth #7: Synthetics can't be used with catalytic converters
or oxygen sensors.
Untrue. There is no difference between synthetic and
petroleum oils in regards to these components. Both synthetic and petroleum motor
oils are similar compounds and neither is damaging to catalytic converters or
oxygen sensors.
Myth#8: Synthetics void warranties.
Untrue.
No major manufacturer of automobiles specifically bans the use of synthetic lubricants.
In point of fact, increasing numbers of high performance cars are arriving on
showroom floors with synthetic motor oils as factory fill.
New vehicle warranties
are based upon the use of oils meeting specific API Service Classifications (for
example, SG/CE). Synthetic lubricants which meet current API Service requirements
are perfectly suited for use in any vehicle without affecting the validity of
the new car warranty. In point of fact, in the twenty-five years that AMSOIL Synthetic
Lubricants have been used in extended service situations, over billions of miles
of actual driving, these oils have not been faulted once for voiding an automaker's
warranty.
Myth #9: Synthetics last forever.
Untrue. Although
some experts feel that synthetic base stocks themselves can be used forever, it
is well known that eventually the additives will falter and cause the oil to require
changing. Moisture, fuel dilution and acids (the by-products of combustion) tend
to use up additives in an oil, allowing degradation to occur.
However, by
"topping off", additives can be replenished. Through good filtration
and periodic oil analysis, synthetic engine oils protect an engine for lengths
of time far beyond the capability of non-synthetics.
Myth #10: Synthetics
are too expensive.
Untrue. Tests and experience have proven that synthetics
can greatly extend drain intervals, provide better fuel economy, reduce engine
wear and enable vehicles to operate with greater reliability. All these elements
combine to make synthetic engine oils more economical than conventional non-synthetics.
In
Europe, synthetics have enjoyed increasing acceptance as car buyers look first
to performance and long term value rather than initial price. As more sophisticated
technology places greater demands on today's motor oils, we will no doubt see
an increasing re-evaluation of oil buying habits in this country as well.
CONCLUSIONS
Since
their inception, manufacturers of synthetic motor oils have sought to educate
the public about the facts regarding synthetics, and the need for consumers to
make their lubrication purchasing decisions based on quality rather than price.
As was the case with microwave ovens or electric lights, a highly technological
improvement must often overcome a fair amount of public skepticism and consumer
inertia before it is embraced by the general population.
But the word is
getting out as a growing number of motorists worldwide experience the benefits
of synthetic lubrication. The wave of the future, in auto lubes, is well under
way.
