Lubricant maker Valvoline has released results of side-by-side tests that show that its own fully synthetic motor oils, when compared with a leading fully synthetic alternative, provide up to 24 times greater protection against common contaminants that can damage, or even kill, motor engines.
The contaminants in question are ethanol, water and fuel. For example, water is a by-product of internal combustion engines, and while most is typically expelled through the exhaust, it can sometimes get into the oil system, together with any unburned fuel. In addition, the new E10 fuels that were introduced to help reduce CO2 emissions contain 10% renewable ethanol, which contributes further to the range of possible contaminants.
The Senior Technology Manager for Light Duty Lubricants at Valvoline, Dr. Michael D. Warholic, said this situation can become even more problematic once oil settles in the pan:
“Water is heavier than oil, so if it separates from the oil, it sinks to the bottom of the pan. When you start your car in the morning, the first thing your oil pump sees could be water, which is a terrible lubricant.”
It is therefore critical for commercial vehicle oil and passenger car engine oil to be able to emulsify these contaminants and maintain this emulsified state for a reasonable period to prevent catastrophic engine failure. In extensive tests, which were complemented by independent third-party tests, Valvoline researchers found that Valvoline oils showed a 24-fold improvement in emulsion stability when compared to a leading fully synthetic equivalent product.
