A Brief Synthetic Oil History AMSOIL Synthetic Oil is the best choice for your Synthetic Oil Change in Pharr and around the world. But did you know how Synthetic Motor Oil got its start? Here's a brief history of Synthetic Oil. Get the best Synthetic Oil and lubricants from AMSOIL for all your next Synthetic Oil Change in Pharr. How Synthetic Oil Began Synthetic Automotive Engine Oils got their start decades ago, as early as in the last century. It seems that since the beginning, the compounds have generated positive reviews and advancement. Read on to learn more about the definition of “synthetic” and the history of the compounds traditionally considered to be synthetic lubricants. Let's look at synthetic oil and its former, current, and future role in the automotive engine oil market. To find out more about AMSOIL Synthetic Oil and lubricants, contact or call your Amsoil Dealer, Ed Welliver at 956-458-9399. Research and Development of Synthetic Oil The first synthetic hydrocarbons are believed to have been synthesized by C. Friedel and J.M. Crafts in 1877. The first attempt at commercial development of synthetic hydrocarbons did not occur until 1929, by Standard Oil of Indiana. These results were reported later, acknowledging that many gallons of synthetic oil had been made by polymerizing different olefins. There was little to no demand for these new synthetic oils because of their high costs, and the initial attempt at marketing failed. During the same time frame, other types of synthetic oils were also being investigated. One was a water-insoluble poly alkylene glycol (PAG) being developed by Union Carbide and Carbon Corp. H.R. Fife of the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research carried out the original work in the 1930s. Later, these research efforts were augmented by development activities of the Carbide and Carbon Corp. and Linde Air Products Co. It was readily recognized that these synthetic oils, referred to as Ucon LB Lubricants, were inherently more expensive to produce than the best petroleum oils being marketed at that time. Although these synthetic oils possessed special qualities, such as excellent low temperature fluidity, desirable viscosity-temperature relationships, reduced carbon formation tendencies, and good solvency, Union Carbide and Carbon Corp. realized that the high production costs could eventually become market barriers for their synthetic oils. Extensive field tests of these PAG engine oils in fleets of new, older, and commercial vehicles were conducted starting as early as 1942 and continued into the mid-1940s. The results indicated the PAG engine oils performed extremely well. However, one shortcoming of the PAG engine oils revealed during testing was their ability to absorb water (about 3% to 4% at room temperature). This water tolerance resulted in a tendency for rusting and corrosion on oil wetted surfaces when engines were exposed to high humidity. Some limited testing was conducted in diesel engines, but ring sticking and piston deposits indicated the need for additional research. A number of U.S. Army aircrafts operating in Canada and Alaska were lubricated with the PAG engine oils through the summer of 1944 and accumulated more than 150,000 hours with no problems. The German Factor The synthesis of petroleum substitutes from carbon monoxide and hydrogen using the Fischer-Tropsch process was commercialized in Germany by 1939. Germany realized early on that supplies of crude oil would become a major problem in operating its war machine during World War II. So the country expended a considerable amount of technical effort to develop its own synthetic fuels and lubricants industry. From this industry, which was based on coal gasification technology, three processes became commercialized, producing about 10% of the German supply of lubricating oil. One process produced lubricating oils by polymerization of cracked waxes, another by reacting chlorinated Fischer-Tropsch middle oils with naphthalene, and the third by the synthesis and then polymerization of ethylene. Additionally, Germany was able to produce a synthetic bright stock by the condensation of paraffin with olefins and subsequent ethylene polymerization. Germany also developed special engine oils for operation on the Russian front because of the extremely low prevailing temperatures. These oils were blends of light synthetic oils with adipic acid ester, giving the resultant blended oils very low pour points and high viscosity indexes. When you want the best for your next Synthetic Oil Change, for cold winters and extreme temperatures in Pharr, use AMSOIL XL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil with Extended-Drain Boost Technology. Synthetic Oil Gets Defined Although the field of synthetic engine oils had principally been led by the PAOs and to a lesser degree the diester base oils, a new base oil emerging in the mid-1990s began to compete with the established market: the very high viscosity index, or hydroisomerized, base oils. Since the introduction of these base oils, there has been much controversy as to whether engine oils formulated with the hydroisomerized base oils can be considered synthetic. In April 1999, a ruling by the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus allowed engine oils formulated with hydroisomerized base oils to be classified as “synthetic oils.” The Future of AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Changes in Pharr Synthetic-based engine oils have continued to grow during the past decade, and you can expect a continued increase in automotive applications of these products. Almost every oil company now carries a premium-type synthetic-based engine oil in its product line. Moreover, many automobile manufacturers are now specifying synthetic oils for not only engine crankcases, but also transmissions, differentials, and transaxles. For your next AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Change, contact or call your Amsoil Dealer, Ed Welliver at 956-458-9399 in Pharr.
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