BASE OIL & ITS APPLICATIONS

Proper base stock selection is essential to the manufacture of high-quality finished

lubricants. Different product lines make use of the individual performance features
demonstrated by various stocks. The base stock makes up a significant portion of the
finished lubricant.
Base oil is the name given to lubrication grade oils initially produced from refining crude
oil (mineral base oil) or through chemical synthesis (synthetic base oil). Base oil is
typically defined as oil with a boiling point range between 550 and 1050 F, consisting of
hydrocarbons with 18 to 40 carbon atoms. This oil can be either paraffinic or naphthenic
in nature depending on the chemical structure of the molecules.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) introduced standard classification of the base oils
to have a better control (Due to changes in refining/processing geographically) over the
quality of base stocks that plays very important role in manufacturing quality engine oils.
The classification system is now used as a guide for base stock selection across a broad
range of lubricant products.

Group Saturates Sulfur Viscosity

Type content Index
GR-I < 90% >0.03% 80-120
GR-II ≥ 90% <0.03% 80-120
GR-III ≥ 90% <0.03% >120
GR-IV PolyAlphaOlefins
GR-V Others(Not
included in first
four groups

Note: Impurities must be held within the specified limits. Dark color of Base stock represents more nitrogen. Sulfur may
acts as anti-oxidant but only selective forms are favorable or else acidic nature of sulfur may impact the base stock.

Although not officially classified by API. There are other groups(Gr-II+ & Gr-III+)
manufactured by individual companies. These doesn’t affect the sulfur content &
saturation specified officially(Gr-II & Gr-III) but they have their own VI expectations that
falls to high end to standard values i.e. Gr-II+ may have VI between 110-115 & Gr-III+
may have min. VI between 130-140.
Following parameters in the above table can be considered while testing the base oil
sample to determine the type of oil received by measuring the Viscosity Index, % of
Saturation, Sulfur content & sometimes Pour point

Base Stock & Additives impact on Lubricants Properties:

Below table refers to the level of impact Base oil & additives have on some of the
lubricant properties are mentioned in terms of Primary & Secondary importance.

Lubricant Property Base Stock Additives

Impact Impact
Viscosity Primary Secondary
Viscosity stability (VI) Primary Secondary
Thermal stability Primary -
Solvency Primary -
Air release Primary -
Volatility Primary -
Low temperature flow Primary Secondary
Oxidation stability Primary Primary
Deposit control Secondary Primary
Demulsibility Secondary Primary
Antiwear/extreme pressure Secondary Primary
Foam prevention Secondary Primary
Color Secondary Secondary
Emission control Secondary Primary

Base Stock Applications- API Group wise:

Base oils with different groups have their own applications due to its physical & chemical
properties that make them favorable to use for particular fields to produce lubricating oil
like Automotive/Marine/Industrial/Circulating oils etc.
Group Type APPLICATIONS
DEOs
HYDRAULIC OILS
PAPER MACHINE OILS
COMPRESSOR OILS
Group-I MACHINE TOOL WAY & SLIDE
LUBRICANTS
HEAT TRANSFER OILS
INDUSTRIAL GEAR OILS
CONVENTIONAL GREASES
PCMO & COMMERCIAL ENGINE OILS
NATURAL GAS ENGINE OILS
Group-II ATFs
TURBINE OILS
AUTOMOTIVE GEAR OILS
Group-III PCMO(Particularly 0W & 5W Grades
 ATFS
FOOD GRADE LUBRICANTS
WHITE OIL QUALITY LUBRICANTS
HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE OILS
GEAR OILS
COMPRESSOR OILS
Group-IV HEAVY DUTY TRANSMISSIONS
INDUSTRIAL BEARING LUBRICANTS
HYDRAULIC & CIRCULATING OILS
HIGH PERFORMANCE GREASES
TRANSFORMER & PROCESS OILS
Group- GREASE
V(Naphthenics) METAL WORKING FLUIDS
REFRIGERATION & COMPRESSOR
OILS
AVIATION TURBINE ENGINES
FIRE-RESISTANT HYDRAULIC OILS
HEAT TRANSFER OILS
Group-V BRAKE FLUIDS
(Synthetics)
HIGH TEMPERATURE GEAR OILS
REFRIGERATION & COMPRESSOR
OILS
CHAIN OILS

Groups I, II, and III are generally derived from crude, and they are most often thought of
as mineral oil based.
Group IV is reserved solely for PAOs. In contrast to the separation processes used for
mineral base stocks, PAOs are synthetic in origin, being built up from gaseous
hydrocarbons such as ethylene.
Group V is a “catch-all” category for all base stocks not included in the first four groups. It
includes both mineral-based naphthenic oils and nonconventional synthesized base
stocks. This group includes synthetic base stocks such as organic esters, polyglycols,
silicones, polybutenes, phosphate esters, and alkylated aromatics.
 ADDITIVES (MASS%) USE WITH BASE OIL FOR GASOLINE ENGINES:

1947 API Regular Premium

1952 API ML MM MS
1972 API SA SB SC SD SE SF SG SH SJ SL
YEAR 1971 1971 1971 1971 1972 1980 1987 1992 1996 2001
ADDITIVES
ASHLESS DISPERSENT - 1.8 4 5 5 5.5 6 4.5 4.5
METAL SULFONATE - 0.6 1 1.8 1.2 0.8 1.7 1.5 1.5
THIOPHOSPHONATE - 1 1
PHENATE(Ca) - - - 1.8 1 1.2 0.5 0.5 0.5
Other ANTI-OXIDANTS - 0.1 - - 0.2 0.5 1.3 1 1.5
ANTI-RUST - - 0.2 0.1
ZDDP - 0.2 0.6 0.8 1 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5
SUM OF ADDITIVES(%) Nil 0.3 4 7 9.7 8.7 9.3 10.9 9 9.5

ADDITIVES (MASS%) USE WITH BASE OIL FOR DIESEL ENGINES:

1952 API DG DM DS
1972 API CA CB CD CE CF-2 CF-4 CG-4 CH-4 CI-4
YEAR 1971 1971 1971 1985 1994 1994 1995 1998 2002
ADDITIVES
ASHLESS DISPERSENT - - 3.5 3.5 3.5 4 5 7 8
OVERBASED
SULPOHNATES - - 2 1.5 1 2 1.5 1.7 2
OVERBASED PHENATES - - 1.5 1 1 1 1.5 1.5 1.5
Aryl ZDDP - - 1.5 - - - - - -
PHENATE(Ca) - - - - - - - - -
Other ANTI OXIDANTS - - - - - - 0.1 0.2 0.3
ANTI-RUST - - - - - - - - -
ZDDP - 0.5 - 1 1 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5
SUM OF ADDITIVES(%) Nil 0.5 8.5 7 6.5 8.5 9.6 11 13.3

Metal sulfonate, Phenates- Detergents/Anti rust, Thiophosphates, ZDDP- Antiwear/Antioxidant agents,

VI, PPD & Anti-foam, TBN are used based on type of API & SAE grades.

The Above tables gives the information on %Mass of additives that goes with specific
grades standardized by API(American Petroleum Institute) & due to continues
improvement in machine design, Strict environmental policies & high energy/efficiency
requirement formulations keeps on upgrading accordingly to fulfill the needs of end users.
 Lubricant Additives Purpose
Anti-oxidants Reduce oxidation of the lubricant.
Reduce wear at moderate temperature. Adsorb on the surface to form
Anti-wear (AW) thin protective films.
Neutralise acidic contaminants in the lubricant (sulphuric acid, oxidation
Basic additives products etc.)
Protect certain non-ferrous metals (copper, lead, silver, aluminium etc.) by
Corrosion inhibitors reacting with the surface. Form a protective film.
Detergents Prevent the build-up of deposits in hot running engines.
Prevent the coagulation of carbon deposits which may form a sludge and
Dispersants block oilways.
Extreme pressure Prevent scuffing of components operating under severe conditions. React
(EP) with the metal surfaces producing a thin protective film.
Foam inhibitors Long chain polymers or silicones which act to destabilise surface foam.
Reduce friction under boundary lubrication conditions. Form an organic
Friction reducers surface film on the component surfaces.
Pour point Sulubilise the wax structure that forms in paraffinic oils at low
depressants temperatures.
Rust inhibitors Adsorb onto ferrous surfaces to protect against corrosion
Viscosity index (VI)
improvers Polymer chains uncoil to thicken the lubricant at elevated temperatures.

As can be seen in the previous table there are few additives that are not mentioned in the
formulation of GASOLINE/DIESEL engine oils as each oil type has its own formulation
and applications for Engine Oils, Transmission Oils, Industrial Gears Oils, and Hydraulic &
Marine Oils.