Synthetic Automotive Lubricants - Performance and Protection

Automotive builders are designing future equipment for improved efficiency and greater durability. These designs will demand more performance and greater protection than ever before from the lubricants used. This paper reviews the performance available from a range of fully synthetic automotive lubricants, including engine oil, gear oil, automatic transmission fluid and grease. The development of optimized synthetic formulations to provide outstanding high temperature deposit and wear protection while maintaining excellent low temperature fluidity and pumpability, even after extended duration operation, will be discussed. The superior performance of synthetic lubricants compared to premium mineral oil lubricants will be demonstrated in a variety of laboratory equipment tests. Additionally, results will be presented from field testing under severe conditions and extended service periods in a variety of applications, including Formula 1 and Indianapolis race cars.