Oil Additives
- Since petroleum has mostly been recovered by oil drilling, it doesn’t contain the necessary qualities to be used in engines and machines. Oil additives are chemical compounds that improve the lubricant performance of base oil. Some of the importance ones are:
Detergents & Dispersants
- Detergent and dispersant additives are used to keep the engine's metal surfaces clean, prevent the formation of deposits and to neutralize the harmful effects of corrosive acids that are formed by the combustion of diesel and gasoline fuels. All engine oils, as they deteriorate either due to oxidation or by contamination, will form insoluble sludge and varnishes and resins that can become deposited on the surfaces of the engine. Once deposited, these sludge, varnish and resins can block oil lines and oil passages causing the flow of the engine oil from reaching the parts be lubricated. This in turn can result in increased wear, heat buildup and eventual engine failure.
VI-Improver
- Thickeners and viscosity index improvers are polymeric, and are added to lubricants to reduce the degree of change in viscosity seen at high and low temperatures. Viscosity improvers are primarily used in multigrade engine oils.
Anti-Oxidant
- Antioxidants added alone or in synergistic combinations extend the operating life of the oil by improving its oxidation stability. During their use in lubrication systems, oxidation inhibitors will deplete to a certain critical level, at which point the fluid will start to degrade/polymerize at an accelerated rate. When this happens, important changes in the physical properties of the base stock occur. The oil or lubricant is no longer able to protect the equipment, and its useful life is over.
Anti-Wear
- Antiwear additives (AW additives) are lubricant components that chemically react with the metal surface to be protected, forming a lubricious sacrificial coating that protects the metal from wear under boundry lubrication conditions.
Anti Corrosion & Anti Rust
- Despite what most people assume, motor oils have no natural ability to protect against rust or corrosion. Instead, special rust and corrosion inhibitors must be added to the formulation to provide the required protection. Anti-corrosion are added to protect metal surfaces from corroding in high-risk (corrosive) environments.
Pour Point Depressants
- The pour point of a fuel or oil is the lowest temperature at which it will pour when cooled under defined conditions. And will allow the car to start easily in cold days. In general, the pour point is indicative of the amount of wax in an oil. At low temperatures, the wax tends to separate, trapping a substantial amount of oil, inhibiting oil flow and hindering lubrication.
Anti-Foam
- The defoamant (also known as antifoam agents and foam inhibi tors) is a common additive in many types of lubricating oils and hydraulic fluids. As the name implies, the purpose of the defoamant is to retard the formation of stable foam on the surface of the oil in the sump, gearbox, or reservoir.