Glossary

 A / B / C / E / F / G / L / M  / P / S /  T  /  V / Z

Additive:  Chemical substance added to a petroleum product to impart or improve certain properties.  Common petroleum product additives are:  anti-foam agent, anti-icing additive, corrosion inhibitors, demulsifier, detergent, dispersant, emulsifier, EP additive, fluidizer, oiliness agent, oxidation inhibitor, pour point depressant, rust inhibitor, tackiness agent, viscosity index (V.I.)  improver.

 

Anti-foam agent:  one of two types of additives used to reduce foaming in petroleum products: silicon oil to break up large surface and various kinds of polymers that decrease the amount of small bubbles entrained in the oil.

 

Anti-wear additive: additive in a lubricant that reduces friction and excessive wear.  see boundary lubrication.

 

Asperities:  microscopic projections on metal surfaces resulting from normal surface-finishing processes.  Interference between opposing asperities in sliding or rolling applications is a source of friction, and can lead to metal welding and scoring.  Ideally, the lubricating film between two moving surfaces should be thicker than the combined height of the opposing asperities.  see boundary lubrication, EP additive.

---

 

Basestock:  a primary refined petroleum fraction, usually a lube oil, into which additives and other oils are blended to produce finished products.

 

Boundary Lubrication:  form of lubrication between two rubbing surfaces without development of a full-fluid lubricating film.  Boundary lubrication can be made more effective by including additives in the lubricating oil that provides a stronger oil film, thus preventing excessive friction and possible scoring.  There are varying degrees of boundary lubrication, depending on the severity of the service.  For mild conditions, oiliness agents may be used; these are polar compounds that have an exceptionally high affinity for metal surfaces.  By plating out on these surfaces in a thin but durable film, oiliness agents prevent scoring under some conditions that are too severe for a straight mineral oil.  Compounded oils,  which are formulated with polar fatty oils, are sometimes used for this purpose.  Anti-wear additives are commonly used in more severe boundary lubrication applications.  High quality motor oils contain anti-wear additives to protect heavily loaded engine components such as the valve train.  The more severe cases of boundary lubrication are defined as extreme pressure conditions;  they are met with lubricants containing EP additives that prevent sliding surfaces from fusing together at high local temperatures and pressures.

---

 

Chlorinated Wax:  wax treated with chlorine gas to form straight chain hydrocarbons with a relatively high chlorine component.  Chlorinated waxes are used primarily as polyvinyl chloride plasticizers, extreme pressure additives for lubricants, and formulation components for many cutting fluids.  

Corrosion:  chemical attack on a metal or other solid by contaminants in a lubricant.  Common corrosive contaminants are: (1)  water, which causes rust, and (2)  acids, which may form as oxidation products in a deteriorating oil, or may be introduced into the oil as combustion byproducts in piston engines.

Cutting Fluid:  fluid, usually petroleum based, for cooling and lubricating the tool and work in metal cutting operations.  Some fluids are fortified with EP additives to facilitate cutting of hard metals, to improve finishes, and to lengthen tool life.  Cutting fluids that react chemically with metal surfaces are called active oils;  sulfurized oils for example, have improved load carrying properties, but may stain nonferrous metals.  Some cutting oils are transparent to provide a better view of the work.  Most cutting fluids fall into four basic categories: 1) straight oils, mineral oils blended with fatty oils for good wetting and penetrating characteristics and a good machined finish; 2) emulsified  (soluble) oils, mineral oils dispersed as minute droplets in water to combine the lubricating properties of the oil with the cooling properties of the water;  3) synthetic fluids,  blends of chemical agents in water for improved machining speed, cooling, and the tool life;  4)  semi-synthetic fluids, water dilutable fluids that combine the lubricity of soluble oils with the advantages of synthetics.

Detergent:  important component of engine oils and some industrial lubricants, such as paper machine oils and hydraulic fluids; helps control deposits by preventing contaminants of combustion  from directly contacting metal surfaces and in some cases neutralizing acids.  A detergent is usually a metallic (commonly barium, calcium, or magnesium) compound such as sulfonate, phosphonate, thiophosphonate, phenate, or salicylate.  Because of it's metallic composition, a detergent leaves a slight ash when oil is burned.  A detergent is normally used in conjunction with a dispersant.  

 

Detergent - Dispersant:  engine oil additive that is a combination of a detergent and a dispersant; important in preventing the formation of sludge and other engine deposits.

Dispersant:  engine oil additive that helps prevent sludge, varnish, and other engine deposits by keeping particles suspended in a colloidal state within the bulk oil.  Dispersants are normally used in conjunction with detergents.  A dispersant can be distinguished from a detergent in that the former may be nonmetallic and thus, does not have an ash when the oil is burned; the term ashless dispersant.

---

Engine Deposits:  hard or persistent accumulations of sludge, varnish, and carbonaceous residues due to blow-by of unburned and partially burned (partially oxidized) fuel, and/or from partial breakdown of the crankcase lubricant.  Water from condensation of combustion products, carbon, residues from fuel or lubricating oil additives, dust, and metal particles also contribute. Engine deposits and impair engine performance and damage engine components by causing valve and ring sticking, clogging of the oil screen and oil passages, and excessive wear of pistons and cylinders.  Engine deposits are increased by short trips in cold weather, high temperature operation; heavy loads (such as pulling a trailer) and over extended oil drain intervals.

EP additive:  lubricant additive that prevents sliding metal surfaces from seizing under conditions of extreme pressure (EP).  At the high local temperatures associated with metal-to-metal contact, an EP additive combines chemically with the metal to form a surface film that prevents the welding of opposing asperities, and the consequent scoring that is destructive to sliding surfaces under high loads.  Reactive compounds of sulfur, chlorine, or phosphorus are used to form these inorganic films. 

 

Lubricant:  any usually oily liquid or solid that reduces friction, heat, and wear when applied to the surfaces of moving parts.  See rolling aluminum rolling oil, anti-seize compound, automatic transmission fluid, block grease, chain oil, concrete form coating, compounded oil, coning oil, cutting fluid, cylinder oil, drawing compound, engine oil, fire-resistant fluid, fire-resistant grease, gear oil (automotive), gear oil (industrial), gear shield, graphite, grease, hydraulic fluid, industrial lubricant, ink release agent, launching lubricant, metal working lubricant, mineral oil, mineral seal oil, mold lubricant, molybdenum disulfide, multi - grade oil, multi-purpose grease, paper machine oil, rail flange grease, refrigeration oil, ring oil, rock drill lubricant, rolling oil, single-grade oil, soluble oil, straight mineral oil, synthetic lubricant, synthetic turbo oil, thread compound, torque fluid, turbine oil, way lubricant.

 

---

Molybdenum Disulfide:  a black lustrous powder (MoS2) that serves as a dry film lubricant in certain high temperature and high vacuum applications.  It is also used in the form of pastes to prevent scoring when assembling press-fit parts, and as an additive to impart residual properties to oils and greases.  Molybdenum disulfide is often called moly or molysulfide.  

Multi-grade Oil:  engine oil that meets the requirements of more than one SAE viscosity grade classification, and may therefore be suitable for use over a wider temperature range than a single grade oil.  Multi-grade oils have two viscosity grade numbers indicating their lowest and highest classification, e.g., SAE 10W-40.  The lower grade number indicates the relative fluidity of the oil in cold weather for easy starting and immediate oil flow.  The higher grade number indicates the relative viscosity of the oil at high temperatures for adequate wear protection.  The AW@ means A winter@ grade.  Multi-grade oils generally contain viscosity index (V.I.) improvers that reduce the tendency of an oil to lose viscosity, or thin at high temperatures.

---

PfL:  For the past 29 years, this unique proven formula has been providing full-time protection and improved performance.  XcelPlus' proprietary formulation chemically bonds a micro-thin PermafusedT Lubricant film to all metal surfaces inside an engine.  XcelPlus reacts only with PfLT activated metal, leaving no build up that could change tolerances or alter oil flow.  It is unequaled by modern day motor oils, synthetic lubricants, oil additives, moly or PTFE type engine protections.  The use of XcelPlus Permanent Engine Protection will not void manufacturer's engine warranty.

 

---