About Synthetic Oils, Greases and LubricantsSynthetic oils, greases and lubricants are based on compounds that consist of boron nitride (BN), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), esters, diesters, silicone, polyglycol or mixtures of synthetic fluids and water. Synthetic products are generally more expensive than non-synthetic fluids, but provide better fire resistance and cooling performance. The cost and heat transfer performance of semi-synthetic fluids falls between those of synthetic and soluble oil fluids. Some synthetic oils, greases and lubricants are used as circulating coolants, flood or mist coolants, insulating oils, lapping vehicles, lubricants, heat transfer fluids, or thermal oils. Others are used as grinding, metal working, metal forming, metal cutting, hydraulic, transmission, quenchant, or vacuum fluids. Base oils and additives are also available. High water content fluids (HWCF) and high water base fluids (HWBF) are used in applications where leakage is likely to cause ignition. Solid lubricants or dry film lubricants are designed to reduce friction, binding or wear; exclude water; or provide other specialized characteristics. Synthetic oils, greases and lubricants vary in terms of thermal conductivity, dielectric strength, specific gravity, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, usage concentration, operating temperature, boiling point, and flash point. Thermal conductivity is a measure of the ability to transfer heat. Dielectric strength is the maximum voltage field that a material can withstand before electrical breakdown occurs. Specific gravity is density normalized to water or another standard. Kinematic viscosity is the time required for a fixed amount of fluid to flow through a capillary tube under the force of gravity. Units of measure include stoke, centistoke (1/100 of stoke) and Saybolt universal seconds (SUS). The viscosity index is based on two temperature extremes. Usage concentration is a volumetric amount. Operating temperature is a full-required range. Boiling point is the temperature at which synthetic oils, greases and lubricants boil. Flash point is the lowest temperature at which substances produce sufficient vapors to form an ignitable mixture in air near the surface. When selecting fire resistant products, fire point and autogenous ignition (AIT) are additional considerations.  Synthetic oils, greases and lubricants are used in a variety of applications and industries. Some products are designed for aerospace, automotive, marine, or military applications. Others are used with bearings, combustion engines, processing equipment, compressors, piston pumps, gears, and final drives. Passivators or deactivators are applied to internal or machined surfaces. Products with extra pressure (EP) additives form a film to prevent sticking or seizing under heavy loads. Similarly, release agents prevent materials from sticking or adhering to underlying surfaces. Synthetic oils, greases and lubricants can inhibit oxidation, corrosion, or microbial growth; provide sealing or barrier functions; or dampen shock and vibration. Biodegradable products are designed to break down into harmless chemicals when released into the environment. Non-foaming characteristics are achieved through the use of additives that break out entrained air. Synthetic oils, greases, and lubricants that are rated for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications are also available. Specialized products include system cleaners, sludge dispersing fluids and detergents.About Base and Process OilsBase oils and process oils are the raw stock fluids, usually a refined petroleum fraction or a selected synthetic material, blended with additives to produce finished lubricants, greases, thermal oils, hydraulic fluid, and metal working fluids. 

There are five specific categories, or groups, of base oils and process oils. These groups define the type of base stock from which the oil is formulated. Group I, or solvent freezing, base oils and process oils are the least refined of all the groups. Group I base oils comprise a mix of hydrocarbon chains and are typically used in low demand applications that don’t require a lot of stability and uniformity. 

Group II and Group III are both known as hydroprocessing and refining base oils and process oils. Group III base stocks formulate economic, mineral-based, semi-synthetic lubricants and have become more popular in the last ten years. Group III base oils are the most refined of the mineral based groups and are relatively stable and uniform. 

Group IV, or chemical reaction base oils and process oils, are chemically engineered base stocks such as polyalphaolefins. Group IV base oils are highly stable and uniform when combined with certain additives and are commonly used in automotive and industrial applications. Group V oils are not used as base oils and process oils; rather, they are esters and polyesters that are used to make oil additives that contribute specific, beneficial characteristics to the finished lubricant. Oil additives improve the base oil’s viscosity, resistance to oxidation and corrosion, and can prevent foaming. Additives can also affect the oil’s pour point, or its ability to flow freely under low temperatures, and its flash point, or flammability. 

Base oils and process oils in Groups I, II, II+ and III are widely used in combination with additives, esters, and polyalphaolefins to formulate semi-synthetic based lubricants. Synthetic base oils and process oils are designed with a molecular structure that has predictable properties, unlike mineral base oils and process oils, which are a mixture of naturally occurring hydrocarbons. Synthetic base oils and process oils have several advantages over mineral oils, including chemical stability, improved fuel economy in specific engines, better lubrication in low temperatures, and resistance to oxidation. However, synthetic base oils and process oils can decompose in certain industrial environments can crack plastic components that come in contact with them, and can come out of suspension in the leaded fuels still used in aviation applications. 

Advances in processing technology over the years have made it possible to greatly improve the quality of base oils and process oils. Early processing simply removed impurities and aromatics; now processors can recover other components such as wax to make very high quality base oils and process oils. 

---

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 which perform much like polyalphaolefin. Group III base stocks are considered synthetic motor oil only in the United States;^[13] elsewhere they are not allowed to be marketed as “synthetic”.

 

About Petroleum and Mineral Oil ProductsPetroleum and mineral oil are used in products such as fluids and greases. Petroleum is a naturally occurring liquid found in the earth’s surface. Petroleum is used as fuel, in non-fuel products, and as feedstock. Petroleum fuels include gasoline, jet fuel, fuel oil, and diesel oil. Non-fuel products from petroleum include greases, lubricating oils, and solvents. Petroleum-based feedstock is used by the petrochemical industry as naphtha and other refinery gases where the petroleum is used to produce fertilizers, plastics, drugs, textiles, and synthetic rubber. Mineral oil or liquid petroleum is created from the distillation of petroleum, as a by-product of gasoline. Mineral oil has relatively low value and is produced in very large quantities. Mineral oil is used in lubricants, coolants, lotions, ointments, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. Refined mineral oil is used as transformer oil. Other petroleum and mineral oil products are also available.

Petroleum products and mineral oil products include a broad range of hydrocarbon-based substances of varying chemical compositions and a wide variety of physical properties. These properties include density, viscosity, kinematic viscosity, surface tension, and specific gravity. Specifications for petroleum and mineral oil products vary widely, depending on the specific product. The proper selection of a petroleum and mineral oil product must also take application requirements into account.

Petroleum products and mineral oil products include transmission fluids, power steering and brake fluids, bearing and gear oils, compressor oils, heat transfer fluids, industrial cleaners, rock drill oils, saw guide oils, textile oils, transformer oils, cutting oils, rust inhibitors, way lubricants, and journal oils. Anti-freeze can also be a petroleum and mineral oil product. Low-foaming or non-foaming petroleum and mineral oil contains additives that break out the entrained air. Entrained air can cause pump damage due to cavitation. Foaming can also reduce the cooling ability and the bulk modulus (or stiffness) of the fluid.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) maintains standards for petroleum products and mineral oil products. For the petroleum and mineral oil industry, ISO works in partnership with the American Petroleum Industry (API) to internationalize standards.  The American Society for Testing and Minerals (ASTM International) Committee D02 also maintains standards for petroleum and mineral oil products, many of which conform to ISO standards.

---

Shell ROTELLA® T Synthetic 5W-40 — Code 54300

from Shell Lubricants

Shell Rotella® T Synthetic SAE 5W-40 is a fully synthetic heavy-duty diesel engine oil developed especially to meet the latest engine requirements. The advanced formulation offers users exceptional performance and protection in combination with enhanced fuel economy potential over conventional 15W-40 motor oils. This synthetic multigrade engine oil meets the latest service requirements of virtually all four-stroke cycle diesel engine manufacturers.

See More Product Information:

Supplier’s Website

PDF

Specifications

Type / Function Fluid; Lubricant; Corrosion Inhibiting or Rust Preventative

 

 Properties

 

 Kinematic Viscosity 90.0 cSt

 

 Viscosity Index 176

 

 Pour Point -40 F

 

 Flash Point 432 F Composition / Chemistry Straight; Petroleum Grade / Approvals API CF-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF, SL, SJ Applications Automotive or Transportation; Internal Combustion Engines Features Oxidation Inhibiting