Why Motor Oils Are Different!
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Why Motor Oils Are Different!
Here is a brief description of the different types of motor oils. Group I-II-III oils are made from petroleum based oils (Mineral Oil). Group IV (pure synthetic) oils are lab made from chemicals. Group V oils are made from fatty acids in plants and animals. And soon to be on the market, Group VI oils are made from natural gas.
Group II oils are made with the Iso-DeWaxing process and are significantly more pure and have higher performance than Group I base oils.
If the Viscosity Index (VI) of the oil is 90 to 100, it is called Group II; if it's refined to a VI of 110 to 115 it is called Group IIa. In the late '90s, an even more involved process was invented yielding base oils with VIs over 120. These base oils are called Group III or "unconventional base oils." The higher the VI, the fewer additives are necessary to achieve the required viscosity.
Group IV oils are made by using a Poly-Alpha-Olefin "PAO" base oil. They start with a chemical such as olefin, and they make new molecules by attaching them to each other in long chains, hence "poly." These oils are pure synthetic (lab made) and no mineral base is used.
Group V. Esters start life as fatty acids in plants and animals, which are then chemically combined into esters and diesters. This is very expensive oil that has a very high detergency rate. You will see it mixed into some of the higher quality oils.
Soon to be Group VI oils are made from liquefied natural gas called GTL (gas to liquid) base oils. Natural gas is primarily made up of only one type of molecule, so the refining is already done for you.
"Semi-synthetics" are oils which are a blend of petroleum oil and no more than 30% synthetic oil. Which are a blend of Group II and III.
By-the-way Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec are Group III oils!
Koz
Group II oils are made with the Iso-DeWaxing process and are significantly more pure and have higher performance than Group I base oils.
If the Viscosity Index (VI) of the oil is 90 to 100, it is called Group II; if it's refined to a VI of 110 to 115 it is called Group IIa. In the late '90s, an even more involved process was invented yielding base oils with VIs over 120. These base oils are called Group III or "unconventional base oils." The higher the VI, the fewer additives are necessary to achieve the required viscosity.
Group IV oils are made by using a Poly-Alpha-Olefin "PAO" base oil. They start with a chemical such as olefin, and they make new molecules by attaching them to each other in long chains, hence "poly." These oils are pure synthetic (lab made) and no mineral base is used.
Group V. Esters start life as fatty acids in plants and animals, which are then chemically combined into esters and diesters. This is very expensive oil that has a very high detergency rate. You will see it mixed into some of the higher quality oils.
Soon to be Group VI oils are made from liquefied natural gas called GTL (gas to liquid) base oils. Natural gas is primarily made up of only one type of molecule, so the refining is already done for you.
"Semi-synthetics" are oils which are a blend of petroleum oil and no more than 30% synthetic oil. Which are a blend of Group II and III.
By-the-way Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec are Group III oils!
Koz
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 182
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From: MI
Here is a brief description of the different types of motor oils. Group I-II-III oils are made from petroleum based oils (Mineral Oil). Group IV (pure synthetic) oils are lab made from chemicals. Group V oils are made from fatty acids in plants and animals. And soon to be on the market, Group VI oils are made from natural gas.
Group II oils are made with the Iso-DeWaxing process and are significantly more pure and have higher performance than Group I base oils.
If the Viscosity Index (VI) of the oil is 90 to 100, it is called Group II; if it's refined to a VI of 110 to 115 it is called Group IIa. In the late '90s, an even more involved process was invented yielding base oils with VIs over 120. These base oils are called Group III or "unconventional base oils." The higher the VI, the fewer additives are necessary to achieve the required viscosity.
Group IV oils are made by using a Poly-Alpha-Olefin "PAO" base oil. They start with a chemical such as olefin, and they make new molecules by attaching them to each other in long chains, hence "poly." These oils are pure synthetic (lab made) and no mineral base is used.
Group V. Esters start life as fatty acids in plants and animals, which are then chemically combined into esters and diesters. This is very expensive oil that has a very high detergency rate. You will see it mixed into some of the higher quality oils.
Soon to be Group VI oils are made from liquefied natural gas called GTL (gas to liquid) base oils. Natural gas is primarily made up of only one type of molecule, so the refining is already done for you.
"Semi-synthetics" are oils which are a blend of petroleum oil and no more than 30% synthetic oil. Which are a blend of Group II and III.
By-the-way Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec are Group III oils!
Koz
Group II oils are made with the Iso-DeWaxing process and are significantly more pure and have higher performance than Group I base oils.
If the Viscosity Index (VI) of the oil is 90 to 100, it is called Group II; if it's refined to a VI of 110 to 115 it is called Group IIa. In the late '90s, an even more involved process was invented yielding base oils with VIs over 120. These base oils are called Group III or "unconventional base oils." The higher the VI, the fewer additives are necessary to achieve the required viscosity.
Group IV oils are made by using a Poly-Alpha-Olefin "PAO" base oil. They start with a chemical such as olefin, and they make new molecules by attaching them to each other in long chains, hence "poly." These oils are pure synthetic (lab made) and no mineral base is used.
Group V. Esters start life as fatty acids in plants and animals, which are then chemically combined into esters and diesters. This is very expensive oil that has a very high detergency rate. You will see it mixed into some of the higher quality oils.
Soon to be Group VI oils are made from liquefied natural gas called GTL (gas to liquid) base oils. Natural gas is primarily made up of only one type of molecule, so the refining is already done for you.
"Semi-synthetics" are oils which are a blend of petroleum oil and no more than 30% synthetic oil. Which are a blend of Group II and III.
By-the-way Mobil 1 and Castrol Syntec are Group III oils!
Koz
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