As technology progressed in the automotive industry, the oils had to adapt to be compatible. During the Vietnam War, jetfighter crew members came to rely on the performance provided by synthetic oils. Synthetic oils flow better through the lubrication system and perform their functions better than conventional petroleum oils. One such crew member, a pilot named LTC Albert J. Amatuzio, brought the benefits of synthetic lube to the commercial sector and developed AMSOIL, the first synthetic motor oil that surpassed American Petroleum Institute certification requirements.

Comparing Conventional Oils to Synthetic Take a jar and pour milk, water, and cooking oil in it. Let it sit for a few hours, and you will see that each type of liquid has separated and formed its own layer. Your motor oil is made with a very advanced form of the same process. Crude oil is refined, or separating the oil from the impurities within it. The different molecular structures are separated by weight producing different products with different characteristics. Since a specific weight doesn’t belong solely to one type of molecular structure, there is a large array of impurities hanging out with the desired molecular compounds, which is a hindrance to performance.

The only way to completely eradicate impurities is to chemically design and produce a pure product. Yes, a pure product. The purity is achieved by using chemicals and their reactions to molecules to obtain only the desired product. The molecular uniformity of oil produced this way greatly reduces friction, which, in turn, improves fuel economy and engine longevity. Take temperature. For instance, when it is hot, synthetic oil does not get thin, and the performance of your oil is not affected. When it is cold, conventional oil thickens because of impurities, called paraffin. Synthetics have no impurities.

So How Do We Measure the Quality of Our Oils? There are standards put forth in the oil industry by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) that must be met to receive certification. The ASTM was created in 1898 and has become an association recognized worldwide. They currently have over 130 technical committees covering industries like metal production, oils, and environmental. They have devised standards that oil companies meet for performance in specific areas or lubrication. Using an oil that is rated by the ASTM standards is important, because 20% of consumer-level oils perform below the standard for which they state they perform.

For example, the ASTM D-5293 Cold Crank Simulator Apparent Viscosity Test tests the ability of the engine’s starting capacity at cold temperatures. Low-temperature viscosities make starting the engine in cold weather easier, due to the retention of its designed flowability. Cold-temperature viscosity is detrimental to cold weather starting because the battery is already weaker than it is designed to be, due to the frigid temperatures.

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