Ten Myths About
Synthetic Lubrication
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.
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
elastomers, 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 basestocks begin to react with each
other, forming sludges, 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 basestocks 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.
