Automotive lubricants are continually being analyzed and improved to find the most appropriate blends for specific tasks. Essentially, lubricants need to possess a high boiling point and low freezing point, as well as thermal and hydraulic stability. Also vital are a lubricant’s ability to release water, prevent corrosion of parts and resist oxidation. New blending technology is encouraging formulations to emerge that enhance machine lifetimes and reliability.

The Viscosity Index

Informally, viscosity is the measure of ‘thickness’ of a liquid. Oil is thicker than water, and automotive lubricants are at their best when the film created by the lubricant provides a strong barrier to wear without losing fluid movement between parts. The most vital property of any lubricant is its viscosity. Gasoline engine oils for example, overcome the limits of other more general oils and are specifically designed to improve performance in passenger cars, minimizing sludge and preventing oxidation.

Ignition Performance

Spark ignition and compression used auto parts ignition engines rely on automotive lubricants to function well. A careful balance of base oil and numerous additives blended together promise better ignition performance. Depending on the engine ignition requirements, these additives are a blend of a number of additive families. These include antioxidants, detergents, metal deactivators, friction modifiers, anti-foaming agents and other additives enhancing ignition performance.

Reliable Automotive Lubricants

The challenge for lubricant manufacturers of this century is to understand an ever-increasing range of lubricant functions. Creating blends to match the most stringent requirements, the lubrication industry demands constant innovation. Companies with strong research and development units are the forerunners of new formulations of reliable automotive