Then, using only uniform molecules (typically ethylene), they build synthetic base oils from the ground up. Refiners disassemble crude oil molecules to their fundamental components using various chemical reactions. Synthetic base oils aren’t distilled instead they’re chemically synthesized (i.e. How Synthetic Base Oils are Made Differently Read about the history of synthetic oil here. In fact, the limits of distillation became evident during a famous WWII battle, which helped defeat the axis powers while speeding development of synthetic oil. As a result, oil performance suffers – and so does your engine. Base oils distilled from crude contain several different molecules that are detrimental to lubricating a vehicle’s engine. The base oils from which conventional motor oil is madeĭistillation, however, has its limits.Oil refineries distill the crude using heat, pressure and other catalysts to separate it into different products, including… The base oils used to make conventional motor oil are distilled from crude oil.Ĭrude oil contains hundreds of different hydrocarbons. How Conventional Base Oils are Manufactured To answer our initial question (What is synthetic oil?), let’s forget the additives for a moment and focus on the base oils.Ĭonventional base oils are refined, which separates molecules by weight but cannot remove all the impurities that reduce the finished oil’s performance. The base oils are the water and the additives are the lemon concentrate and sugar. To illustrate, think of a quart of oil like a glass of lemonade. Additives combat chemical breakdown, neutralize acids, provide additional wear protection and more, depending on the formulation and application for which it’s intended. The addition of different chemical additives to the formulation enhances motor oil performance. The base oils are primarily responsible for fighting wear, reducing heat and minimizing friction. Motor oil, whether conventional or synthetic, is made from two fundamental components: While synthetic and conventional oils differ in performance and how they’re made, they both owe their origins to crude oil or other fossil fuels.īut, as you’ll see, they are still vastly different. They think that if all motorists switched to synthetics, we’d sever our ties to fossil fuels and simultaneously save the children, polar bears and whales. Some erroneously think synthetic oil is not derived from crude-oil sources or other fossil fuels. They also ask, “What is synthetic oil made from?” Oil types explained: synthetic, blend, conventional & high-mileage.Can you mix conventional oil with synthetic oil?.How often should I change synthetic oil?.How synthetic base oils are made differently.How conventional base oils are manufactured.
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