LUBRICATION IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF YOUR VEHICLE

Without proper lubrication a "brand spankin" new vehicle will fail in a remarkably short period of time. You probably already have some idea about how lubricants work and why they are important, but I'd like to go into a little bit more detail here to make a point.

Keeping a vehicle properly lubricated doesn't just involve checking the oil occasionally and topping the level off when it gets low. There's a whole lot more to it than that.

Motor oil, transmission fluid, gear lube, and grease all have their own special lubrication uses and most of the time, specific applications that are becoming increasingly more intricate as technology continues to develop. We'll get into the various types of lubricants and the distinctions between them a little later.

First it's important to understand that every lubricant must do the following things to effectively protect the component it is being used in.

What Every Lubricant Must Do to Meet the Lubrication Needs of Your Vehicle:

* Number one is the ability to minimize friction.

* After that any lubricating fluid must be able to maintain internal cleanliness in the component by suspending contaminants so they won't adhere to the various parts that make up the component being lubricated.

* It must also be able to cool the moving parts which reduces friction and the amount of heat generated, thus lowering the operating temperature of the components.

* A lubricant must also absorb heat from components and transfer it to a location where it can be safely dissipated.

* Prevent Contamination. The lubricant should provide a seal in locations such as the piston, piston ring and cylinder contact areas. This minimizes combustion by-products (for example) entering into the lubricating system.

* Lubricants are also relied upon to condition and support mechanical seals found elsewhere and minimize external contamination and fluid loss.

* Shock dampening is often required during lubrication of certain compnents. The lubricant may be required to cushion the blows of mechanical shock. A lubricant film can absorb and dispense energy over a broader contact area.

* In many cases a lubricant is required to transfer energy as in the case of hydraulic equipment or lifters in an automotive engine.

* Prevent Corrosion. A lubricant must also have the ability to prevent or minimize internal component corrosion. This can be accomplished either by chemically neutralizing the corrosive products or by setting up a barrier between the components and the corrosive material.

Armed with this information let's take a look at the two major types of lubricants, conventional petroleum or mineral oil based and synthetic.

Synthetic lubricant history prior to 1972 tells us that synthetic lubricants were only used in military applications. The first synthetic oil for use by the general public was developed by AMSOIL, Inc. in 1972. Since then pretty much every oil company has develped a synthetic oil. The important thing to remember is that all synthetics are not equal when it comes to lubricating ability, longevity and guality in general.

I'll give you a general description of the differences between the two types of lubricants. You can follow the various links throughout this page and on the navigation bar for more detailed information and recommendations.

Conventional petroluem or mineral based oils (also referred to as "dino juice" by some people) are produced from crude petroleum that's refined through various processes into what are referred to as Group 1 and Group 11 lubricants depending on the level of refinement.

These lubricants contain a non-uniform molecular structure and are prone to sludge formation because of the difference in the rate the various size molecules volatize. These oils, when exposed to the heat and mechanical shearing that occurs during operation, will thicken and loose their ability to flow as easily as they did when new.

An "out of grade" oil looses much of its lubricating properties and ability to meet the requirements of a lubricant as noted above. These oils generally also contain various amounts of parafin that contribute to the thickening and sludging that occurs over time.

Another group of lubricant (Group 111) is also refined from crude oil but is done so through a process called "hydo-cracking" that results in a much purer molecular structure. These oils are generally classifed as "synthetic" but differ substantially from a true Group 1V synthetic.

Group 1V "Pure Synthetic" lubricants are synthesized from chemicals with uniform molecular structures. This process results in a base stock that is much less prone to sludging, is less volatile and has inherently better lubricating properties in and of itself than the Group 1, 11 or 111 lubricants. The Group 1V lubricants also resists degradation from extreme heat and the sheering forces of components.

You may be asking, "Is there a Best Oil out there"? Well, I've used synthetic lubricants in all of my vehicles and equipment for over ten years and done an extensive study of lubrication in general so I certainly have my own opinion.

There are a lot of different types of vehicles on the road today including high performance European made vehicles that use European car oil that requires specific formulations and must meet stringent requirements. My recommendation is to decided what you want from the lubricants your vehicles require and do your own research to find the products that will meet your needs.

To view specific, in-depth information about the difference between conventional and synthetic lubricants and what I consider the best lubricants available,you can go to this page and look around. As you continue to look through this site you will find out why I switched to synthetics and why this particular one stands out from the rest.

Return from Lubrication to Ultimate Car Care Guide