Small Engine Oil Additives
Advanced technology to protect engines and simplify application
The small engine market varies significantly depending upon geographic locations. In North America, the largest market segment consists of 2-stroke and small 4-stroke outboard motors. The balance of the North American market is primarily 2-stroke lawn and garden equipment, such as chain saws and weed whackers. The Asia-Pacific market is dominated by small motorcycles, mopeds and motor scooters. In Europe, the market is divided between outboard motors and small motorcycles.
Outboard motor and lawn and garden performance packages
The Lubrizol Corporation offers a "universal" ashless technology that can be used for both 2-stroke outboard motors and other 2-stroke applications, such as lawn and garden. This greatly simplifies the purchasing and storage of oils and minimizes end user confusion. This is proven technology that can be applied across numerous base oils. In fact, there has not been a field failure of an oil using Lubrizol "universal" technology since the NMMA TC-W3 specification was introduced in 1992.
The key to the success of this formulation is our proprietary, high-temperature, ashless dispersancy. This provides exceptional cleanliness for dependable power and long-term reliability across a range of engine temperatures.
Small motorcycle performance packages
Our low-ash technology for 2-stroke motorcycles, mopeds, and motor scooters provide flexible treat levels. Oil marketers can use a single low-ash technology to meet all industry specification by simply up-treating or down-treating the basic performance package. This reduces their lubricant inventory and simplifies their application needs.
Environmentally-friendly performance packages
Lubrizol has biodegradable formulations available for 2-stroke outboard motors and chain saw motors. These formulations are environmentally friendly and within Europe conform to current biodegradability requirements such as those recommended by the International Council of Marine Industry Association (ICOMIA).
Specialized performance packages
Lubrizol also offers advanced formulations for specialized markets, including: jet skis, jet boats, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles, and high-performance motorcycles. We're also working on low-chlorine, low-sulfur chemistries that will improve emission catalyst efficiency and durability 4-stroke outboard motor formulations are available to enhance protection from rust and corrosion.
High-performance components
Detergents: Analogous in some respects to household detergents except that they work in oil not water. They neutralize impurities in the oil to prevent deposit formation on engine parts. Available in different strengths, they can either prevent further deposits from forming or clean up deposits that have already formed.
Dispersants: These molecules bond to contaminants in the oil to keep them from clumping together. Contaminants are then kept suspended in the oil until they can be removed by a filter or oil change.
Antiwear / Extreme Pressure Agents: These agents bond to metal surfaces to create a strong lubricant film between moving metal parts. This film can withstand extreme heat and mechanical pressure to keep metal parts separated, protecting them from scoring and seizing.
Friction Modifiers: In effect, they make oil more slippery by reducing the friction between moving parts. This both reduces wear and improves fuel efficiency.
Lubricity Agent: These agents reduce the tendency of oil to scuff to maximize an engine's power output.
Antioxidants: Even highly refined base oils contain some organic compounds that can decompose in the presence of heat. This destroys an oil's ability to lubricate and results in severe engine deposits. Antioxidants retard this process.
Rust / Corrosion Inhibitors: Prevents the corrosion and rusting of metal parts in contact with the lubricant by neutralizing the effects of water and acid that inevitably contaminate oil during engine operation.
Pour Point Depressants:Allow oil to remain more fluid at lower ambient temperatures.
Antifoam Agents:Retard the formation of foam in oil that can result from the mechanical action of the engine. Foam reduces an oil's ability to lubricate effectively.
Seal Conditioners: Swell the elastomeric engine seals to prevent fluid leakage.
Fuel Stabilizers: Prevent deposit build up during extended non-operation of equipment, such as winter storage.
PIB: Polyisobutenes and polymers are used to reduce the exhaust smoke of a 2-stroke engine and also provide a fair level of anti-scuff protection.
Metal Deactivators: An inactive film on metal surfaces that reduces the tendency of the metal to react with the oil in ways that increase the rate of oil oxidation.
Viscosity Modifiers:Temperate affects viscosity grade, making an oil either thicker or thinner. This hurts its ability to protect engine parts at temperature extremes. Viscosity modifiers allow the oil structure to adapt to temperature changes, maintain its grade, and retain its lubricating effectiveness. They also make multigrade oils possible
Custom Formulating
With our extensive in-house research and testing capabilities, we offer exceptional opportunities for custom formulation for OEMs and oil marketers. We can dedicate attention to individual customers and control the test turnaround time. Our test results are renowned for reliability and consistency. We also conduct field tests in every engine type with total flexibility over field test conditions and special customer requirements.
