Are synthetic lubricants better than mineral oils?
author: Ann
2024-11-21
Composition of mineral oil and synthetic oil
Mineral oil:
This type of motor oil is made directly from crude oil dug out from the ground and then refined. Its raw material is the bottom oil of the tower after the normal pressure distillation of petroleum. Simply put, it is the waste oil residue left after refining petroleum, and then added with a little chemical component. It has a certain lubricity. But its durability is very poor, generally not more than 2000 kilometers.
Advantages: low price. Disadvantages: poor durability
Synthetic oil:
As the name suggests, it is 100% synthetic motor oil, a polymer formed by chemical monomers through chemical reactions. According to the chemical composition, it can be divided into the following seven types: 1. Synthetic hydrocarbons, 2. Polyethylene glycol, 3. Carbonates, 4. Phosphates, 5. Silicone oil, 6. CFCs, 7. Polyfluorinated alkyl ethers. It is called "synthetic base oil". But if we look at it from another perspective, fully synthetic motor oil should perhaps be called grease. This is because crude oil can show anti-aging, anti-wear, anti-foaming, clean, fast flow rate and other functions after several chemical changes and the addition of various special substances. Therefore, the price will be higher than that of ordinary motor oil, and the quality of the oil can also be well controlled.
Advantages: good durability. Disadvantages: high price
Specific differences in use
1. Durability
Ordinary engines generally have a speed below 10,000 revolutions, so in this case, ordinary mineral oil can still be used. If you have a high-speed engine, such as a large-displacement racing car, the speed can reach more than 20,000 revolutions. At this time, ordinary mineral oil will not work. Due to high temperature and high speed, its lubricity is greatly reduced. At this time, it is possible to pull the cylinder, resulting in very serious consequences. Therefore, in the competition, high-performance fully synthetic motor oil is used.
2. Anti-wear protection
When the engine is activated, especially at low temperatures, it will produce considerable wear. Due to its characteristics, ordinary mineral oil has poor fluidity when it is cold. When the engine is cold, the oil film on the surface of the parts is very thin. At the moment of starting, due to insufficient lubrication, the wear is very large. Synthetic oil can flow freely at very low temperatures and can quickly reach any part of the engine and valve transmission mechanism. Synthetic oil has good adhesion and can form a thick oil film on the parts, so it can greatly reduce the loss caused by friction.
3. High temperature stability
The temperature of the engine is very high when it is working. High temperature will oxidize the lubricating oil and increase the viscosity (the oil becomes thicker). Therefore, when the engine of ordinary mineral oil is working for a long time, the sound of the engine will change, and sometimes it will produce a "dangdang" noise. This is the performance of the poor lubrication of the engine oil under high temperature conditions, and the wear is increased. Synthetic oil has added high-performance fluids and enhanced antioxidant formulas, and has better antioxidant properties even at temperatures as high as 204°C (400°F).
4. Prevent deposits and clean the engine
After the engine has been used for a long time, sludge will form due to gasoline combustion and oil degradation, which will block the oil passage, hinder the flow of oil, and cause the piston ring to get stuck. This can be seen from the waste oil when it is released. When ordinary mineral oil is released, it is translucent, and some are even transparent. The balanced additive combination of synthetic oil can effectively prevent the formation of deposits and sludge. Therefore, synthetic oil is very black when it is released.
Basic comparison between fully synthetic motor oil and mineral oil
1. Low temperature fluidity
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
2. Volatility (lubricating oil consumption, the smaller the better)
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
3. Oxidation stability
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
4. Temperature viscosity
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
5. Price (economical)
Fully synthetic motor oil < mineral oil
Mineral oil:
This type of motor oil is made directly from crude oil dug out from the ground and then refined. Its raw material is the bottom oil of the tower after the normal pressure distillation of petroleum. Simply put, it is the waste oil residue left after refining petroleum, and then added with a little chemical component. It has a certain lubricity. But its durability is very poor, generally not more than 2000 kilometers.
Advantages: low price. Disadvantages: poor durability
Synthetic oil:
As the name suggests, it is 100% synthetic motor oil, a polymer formed by chemical monomers through chemical reactions. According to the chemical composition, it can be divided into the following seven types: 1. Synthetic hydrocarbons, 2. Polyethylene glycol, 3. Carbonates, 4. Phosphates, 5. Silicone oil, 6. CFCs, 7. Polyfluorinated alkyl ethers. It is called "synthetic base oil". But if we look at it from another perspective, fully synthetic motor oil should perhaps be called grease. This is because crude oil can show anti-aging, anti-wear, anti-foaming, clean, fast flow rate and other functions after several chemical changes and the addition of various special substances. Therefore, the price will be higher than that of ordinary motor oil, and the quality of the oil can also be well controlled.
Advantages: good durability. Disadvantages: high price
Specific differences in use
1. Durability
Ordinary engines generally have a speed below 10,000 revolutions, so in this case, ordinary mineral oil can still be used. If you have a high-speed engine, such as a large-displacement racing car, the speed can reach more than 20,000 revolutions. At this time, ordinary mineral oil will not work. Due to high temperature and high speed, its lubricity is greatly reduced. At this time, it is possible to pull the cylinder, resulting in very serious consequences. Therefore, in the competition, high-performance fully synthetic motor oil is used.
2. Anti-wear protection
When the engine is activated, especially at low temperatures, it will produce considerable wear. Due to its characteristics, ordinary mineral oil has poor fluidity when it is cold. When the engine is cold, the oil film on the surface of the parts is very thin. At the moment of starting, due to insufficient lubrication, the wear is very large. Synthetic oil can flow freely at very low temperatures and can quickly reach any part of the engine and valve transmission mechanism. Synthetic oil has good adhesion and can form a thick oil film on the parts, so it can greatly reduce the loss caused by friction.
3. High temperature stability
The temperature of the engine is very high when it is working. High temperature will oxidize the lubricating oil and increase the viscosity (the oil becomes thicker). Therefore, when the engine of ordinary mineral oil is working for a long time, the sound of the engine will change, and sometimes it will produce a "dangdang" noise. This is the performance of the poor lubrication of the engine oil under high temperature conditions, and the wear is increased. Synthetic oil has added high-performance fluids and enhanced antioxidant formulas, and has better antioxidant properties even at temperatures as high as 204°C (400°F).
4. Prevent deposits and clean the engine
After the engine has been used for a long time, sludge will form due to gasoline combustion and oil degradation, which will block the oil passage, hinder the flow of oil, and cause the piston ring to get stuck. This can be seen from the waste oil when it is released. When ordinary mineral oil is released, it is translucent, and some are even transparent. The balanced additive combination of synthetic oil can effectively prevent the formation of deposits and sludge. Therefore, synthetic oil is very black when it is released.
Basic comparison between fully synthetic motor oil and mineral oil
1. Low temperature fluidity
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
2. Volatility (lubricating oil consumption, the smaller the better)
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
3. Oxidation stability
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
4. Temperature viscosity
Fully synthetic motor oil > mineral oil
5. Price (economical)
Fully synthetic motor oil < mineral oil
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