Synthetic oil
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[[Image:Motor oil.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Mobil 1]] synthetic motor oil]]
'''Synthetic oil''' is [[oil]] consisting of [[chemical compound]]s which were not originally present in [[crude oil]] ([[petroleum]]), but were [[artificially]] made ([[Synthesis|synthesized]]) from other compounds. Synthetic oil could be made to be a substitute for petroleum, or specially made to be a substitute for a [[lubricant]] oil, such as conventional (or mineral) [[motor oil]] refined from petroleum. When a synthetic oil or [[synthetic fuel]] is made as a substitute for petroleum, it is generally produced because of a shortage of petroleum or because petroleum is too expensive{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. When synthetic oil is made as a substitute for lubricant refined from petroleum, it is generally to provide superior mechanical and chemical properties than those found in traditional [[mineral oil]]s.
==Synthetic oil as a substitute for [[petroleum]]-based oil==
One form of synthetic oil is that manufactured using the [[Fischer-Tropsch process]] which converts [[carbon dioxide]], [[carbon monoxide]], and [[methane]] into liquid [[hydrocarbon]]s of various forms. This process was developed and used extensively in [[World War II]] by [[Germany]], which had limited access to [[crude oil]] supplies. Germany's yearly synthetic oil production reached millions of tons in 1944. It is today used in [[South Africa]] to produce most of that country's [[diesel]]. Dr. [[Hermann Zorn]] of [[I.G. Farben]] Industrie in Germany actually began to search for lubricants with the properties of natural oils but without the tendencies to gel or gum when used in an engine environment. His work led to the preparation of over 3500 [[esters]] in the late 1930s and early 1940s including [[diester]]s and [[polyol ester]]s.
Another form of synthetic oil is that produced at [[Syncrude]] sands plant in [[Alberta]], Canada. This huge facility removes highly [[viscous]] [[bitumen]] from oil sands mined nearby, and uses a variety of processes of hydrogenation to turn it into high-quality synthetic crude oil. The Syncrude plant supplies about 14% of Canada's petroleum output. A similar plant is the smaller nearby facility owned by [[Suncor]]. See [[synthetic fuel]].
==Synthetic engine oil==
In the mid 1960s [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] U.S.A was the first to market and produce a complete range of 100% synthetic Polyalphaolefins based lubricants, which began to be marketed as a substitute for mineral oils for engine [[lubrication]]. Although in use in the aerospace industry for some years prior, In 1972 [[Amsoil]] (AMSOIL) introduced the first synthetic oil to become commercially available in an [[API]]-approved formula for automobile engines when standards were formalized for synthetic based lubricants.
Other early synthetic motor oils marketed included [[NEO Oil Company]] (formally EON) in 1970, which were dibasic acide esters, or diesters, and polyol esters based synthetic lubricants, and still today use these high end foundation for lubricants. French Oil company MOTUL was the first to develop and then introduce commercial ester-based synthetic-oil in 1971. Then came [[All-Proof]] now called [[Redline]] and [[Amsoil]] (AMSOIL). Amsoil was known for having formulated a proprietary, secret technology to retail in a [[diester]]-based 10W40 and 20w40 grades in 1972. Two years later [[Mobil 1]] introduced a (PAO-based synthetic 20w40 grade). [[Amsoil]] (AMSOIL) today is based on PAO's, not esters.
===Synthetic Base Stocks===
Synthetic motor oils have been made from the following classes of [[lubricants]]:
* [[Polyalphaolefin]] (PAO) = [[American Petroleum Institute]] (API) Group IV base oil
* Synthetic [[esters]], etc = API Group V base oils (non-PAO synthetics, including diesters, polyolesters, alklylated napthlenes, alkyklated benzenes, etc.)
* Hydrocracked/Hydroisomerized = API Group III base oils. Chevron, Shell, and other petrochemical companies developed processes involving catalytic conversion of feed stocks under pressure in the presence of hydrogen into high quality mineral lubricating oil. In 2005 production of GTL (Gas-to-liquid) Group III base stocks began. The best of these perform much like polyalphaolefin{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. Group III base stocks are considered synthetic motor oil ONLY in the United States. <ref>[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112468264/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0]</ref>. Group III based lubricants are not allowed to be marketed as "synthetic" in any market outside of the USA.
===Advantages===
The technical advantages of synthetic motor oils include:
* Measurably better low and high temperature viscosity performance{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
* Better chemical & shear stability
* Decreased evaporative loss{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
* Resistance to oxidation, thermal breakdown and [[oil sludge]] problems
* Extended drain intervals with the environmental benefit of less oil waste.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
* Improved fuel economy in certain engine configurations. {{Fact|date=March 2008}}
* Better lubrication on cold starts
===Disadvantages===
The disadvantages of synthetic motor oils include:
* Initial costs are usually four times greater than petroleum-based oils, though at one time, man-made oils cost ten times more than petroleum {{Fact|date=April 2007}}. Initial costs are often mitigated by extended change intervals, which individuals may confirm through used [[oil analysis]] (UOA).
* The lower friction may make them unsuitable for break-in (i.e. the initial run-in period of the vehicle) where friction is desirable to cause wear. Improved engine part machining has made break-in less critical than it once was though. Many modern cars now come with synthetic oil as a factory fill.
* Potential decomposition problems in certain chemical environments (industrial use dominantly)
* Potential stress cracking of plastic components like POM ([[polyoxymethylene]]) in the presence of PAOs ([[polyalphaolefin]]s).
* Potential on some older pushrod race engines with [[roller lifter]]s for the roller itself not to spin with [[camshaft]] movement, but rather slide while the roller itself remains either stationary or at a lower [[circumferential speed]] than that of the camshaft lobe{{Fact|date=May 2007}}
* In July 1996, [[Consumer Reports]] published the results of a two year [[motor oil]] test involving a fleet of 75 New York [[taxi cab]]s and found no noticeable advantage of synthetic oil over regular oil<ref>
{{cite web
| title = Consumer Reports Oil Testing Results
| url = [http://www.triumphspitfire.com/Oiltest.html]
| accessdate = 2007-10-15}}
</ref>. In their article, they noted that "Big-city cabs don't see many cold start-ups or long periods of high speed driving in extreme heat. But our test results relate to the most common type of severe service - stop-and-go city driving." According to their study, synthetic oil is "worth considering for extreme driving conditions: high ambient temperatures and high engine load, or very cold temperatures." <ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author =
| date =
| year = 1996
| month = July
| title = The surprising truth about motor oils
| journal = Consumer Reports
| volume =
| issue =
| pages = 10–13
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate = 2007-01-29}}
</ref> This research was criticized by some because most engine damage appears to be caused by cold starts, and their research method may not have included enough cold starts to be representative of personal vehicle use.<ref>
{{cite web
| title = Statistical problems of Consumer Reports auto ratings
| journal = allpar.com
| url = http://www.allpar.com/cr.html
| language = English
| accessdate = 2007-04-08}}
</ref>
===Semi-synthetic oil===
Semi-synthetic oils (also called 'synthetic blends') are blends of mineral oil with no more than 30% synthetic oil. Designed to have many of the benefits of synthetic oil without matching the cost of pure synthetic oil. [[Delphi (company)|DELPHI]] introduced the first semi-synthetic motor oil in 1966.<ref>[http://www.motul.com.au/about_motul/history.html DELPHI history]</ref>
==See also==
{{EnergyPortal}}
* [[Abiogenic petroleum origin]]
* [[Fischer-Tropsch process]]
* [[Renewable Energy]]
* [[Synthetic fuel]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.fischer-tropsch.org/primary_documents/presentations/acs2001_chicago/chic_slide01.htm Development of the modern Fischer-Tropsch process (1958–1999)]
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4133668.ece Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol - Times Online]
[[Category:Automotive chemicals]]
[[Category:Lubricants]]
[[Category:Oils]]
[[Category:Petroleum]]
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