PAO base oils: the low temperature advantages in vehicle engines

The lubricant oil has a high viscosity at low temperatures with slow fluidity, which will increase the friction and fuel consumption. At extreme conditions, it will axe and lose fluidity, leading to dry friction. Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO) as the basic oil in high synthetic oil, owing to its high viscosity index, extremely low pour point and excellent oxidation stability, is the core of solving the dry friction.

The unique advantages of PAO base oil compared with mineral oil

Poly Alpha Olefin is a Group IV base oil synthesized from C8–C12 linear alpha-olefins, characterized by a regular, comb-like molecular chain structure. Compared to traditional API Group I–III mineral oils, it exhibits superior low-temperature performance, viscosity-temperature characteristics, and thermal-oxidative stability.

The key performance comparison between PAO base oil and Group I II, and III mineral oils

VHVI: Very High Viscosity Index

HT: Hydrotreated Mineral Oil

SN: Solvent-Refined Neutral Mineral Oil

 

*The pour point of PAO is different according to the different brands, and the common pour point of PAO is usually at -54℃～-60℃,the index can not represent all the PAO base oils' common index. Meanwhile, the performance of high viscosity index products in Group III (like 149 VHVI) now approaches that of certain PAO grades, however, their low temperature liquidity and volatility remain lower than that of PAO.

 

From the above table, it can be seen that Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO) base stock has significant advantages of pour point and volatility, which means lower cold-start viscosity, reduced oil consumption, and extended oil change intervals.

 

Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO) base oil's core advantages in engine

1. High temperature stability and cleanness

PAO oil can keep a stable viscosity in a wider temperatures, and it's difficult to oxidize and form sludge, prolonging the engine life service.

2. Low temperature advantages and start protection

Owing to the low pour point and low viscosity at low temperature, PAO base oil is helpful to promote the engine's cold-start performance, and reduce self-start wear.

3. Environmentally friendly

PAO contains virtually no impurities such as sulfur or nitrogen, resulting in cleaner combustion and helping to reduce carbon deposits within the engine, as well as the risk of poisoning in exhaust after-treatment systems. Furthermore, its biodegradability is superior to that of mineral oils.

 

The application of PAO base oil in engines

The modern engine oils have higher demands for low temperature starting, high temperature cleanness, low volatility. PAO oils is the multi-engines important base because of its regular structure, high viscosity index, and low evaporation loss.

 

Reduce cold starting wear: during a cold start, delays in oil pump circulation can easily lead to dry friction. PAO possesses exceptional low-temperature pumpability and carriers no wax crystallization risk. PAO base oil can maintain excellent fluidity at -35 ℃, thereby ensuring normal engine operation and reducing start-up friction in cold environments.

 

Reduce engine oil consumption: high volatile base oil will gasify under high temperatures, increasing the engine oil consumption. The NOACK loss of PAO base oil is only 6%-10%, and it's lower than Group I base oil (＞18%) and Group III base oil (8%-12%).

 

In practical application, the Poly Alpha Olefin (PAO) oils can reduce the oil change frequency, prolong engine oil changing intervals. At the same time, it can lower particulate emissions, inhibiting sludge formation, and protecting the exhaust after-treatment system.

 

Chorus PAO has an excellent thermal stability that can decrease the engine oil sludge formulation and keep the engine clean to prolong the service life.

 

Besides, PAO base oil is widely used in hydraulic oil, air compressor oils, gear oils, refrigeration oils, lubricant grease, etc, which has a wide application in vehicle industrial and mechanical industries.

 

Chorus is a professional PAO base oil supplier in China. We can provide you with PAO base oil and the matched lubricant additives like anti-wear additives, rust-preventive oils, and other additives.

 

If you have other demand for lubricant additives and components, please contact us. We can offer you a professional solution.