The major role of using a motor oil is to reduce friction between moving objects. The smother they glide past each other the less friction is created. An example of this would be to rub your dry hands together to feel the heat produced. If you put hand lotion on your hands and use the same motion practically no heat is produced. For automotive uses we will concentrate on reducing the friction in the engine. The discussion can expand to the drive train, transmission and even the door jams, using other synthetic lubricants.

Heat is a byproduct of friction. If we can reduce the amount of friction produced by moving objects contacting each other we can then reduce the amount of heat produced. Less heat gives us decreased wear and in the case of automobile engines increased fuel mileage.

When we talk about synthetic oil, in comparison to petroleum oil, we find some unique features. The basestocks in synthetic motor oil are pure. Because they are derived from pure chemicals they don’t contain any contaminates or molecules that don’t just take up space they all are doing the job they are designed for, to slip easily across one another. Petroleum oil on the other hand has molecules found in nature that are jagged, irregular and odd shaped and don’t slip quite so easily. These molecules all have differing properties and break down at different times. Some at high temperatures, some at high pressures and some in cold temperatures. Some of the molecules don’t even have any lubricating properties and just take up space until they discinigrate into sludge, varnish on the cylinder walls or dirt deposits.

Synthetic motor oil can be designed to do certain tasks. The features include the Viscosity Index, the ability for it to flow at certain temperatures, all molecules are the same size thus have the same characteristics. Thermal and Oxidative Stability, the fact that they don’t contain contaminates that break down at normal operating temperatures. Cold Temperature Fluidity, again there is no paraffin or wax present to inhibit flow at lower temperatures. Low Volatility, Synthetic Oil does not boil off at normal operating temperatures.

In addition to basestocks there are additional additives that improve the lubricating qualities of synthetic oil. Each additive is designed to do one or more of the following, protect metal surfaces, extend the range of lubricant applicability or extend the lubricant life. Surface protection additives include anti wear agents, rust and corrosion inhibitors, detergents, and others. Extension additives include viscosity modifiers and seal swell agents. Life extenders include antifoam agents and antioxidants to inhibit oxidation or boil off.

In conclusion, by designing and producing Synthetic Motor Oils to do specific tasks for extended durations we have developed the ability to eliminate less efficient and costlier petroleum oil from our internal combustion engines with additional benefits, including better performance, fewer repairs, longer life and better gas mileage with many fewer oil changes and thus reducing our dependence on imported oil. Again when we talk about synthetic oil we are reeducating the general public. We are changing the hundred year old philosophy that oil needs to be changed every three thousand miles and if it was good for my grandfather it is good enough for me.