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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. |
