Key summary
- Lubricant additives are essential for modern engine protection, helping to reduce wear, prevent sludge, improve fuel efficiency and maintain performance under demanding conditions.
- Different additive types perform different functions, from cleaning engine components and preventing corrosion to improving cold-start performance and reducing friction.
- Choosing the right lubricant and additive package for your vehicle, operating environment and OEM specifications can improve reliability, extend equipment life and reduce maintenance costs.
Lubricants include more than just oil, and each lubricant has a specific job to keep your vehicle operating efficiently. Additive packages are essential for modern engines and heavy-duty fleets because they can properly support the demands placed on modern vehicles. Additives in lubricants can help to reduce wear, prevent sludge, improve fuel economy, protect against corrosion and maintain viscosity in extreme temperatures.
Different additives serve different functions and can benefit your vehicle or fleet in various ways. That’s why selecting lubricants with the right additives for your driving style, conditions and operating demands is essential.
But what additives should you be looking for? In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of additives and how they could benefit your vehicle or fleet. Let’s begin.
What are lubricant additives?
Lubricant additives are organic or inorganic chemical compounds that have been blended into the base oils of lubricants. They make up a significant portion of modern lubricants and can expand the lifespan and efficiency of modern vehicles. The three main purposes of additives are:
- Enhance existing oil properties
- Suppress undesirable properties
- Introduce new protective capabilities
This is essential for modern engines as they are under more strain, so they help to manage high-heat, high-pressure, and tighter tolerances. Additives transform standard lubricants into high-performance fluids for better performance and longevity.
Why additives matter in modern engines and fleet equipment
Higher engine temperatures and tighter tolerances demand higher-performance lubricants. This is especially true for truck, van and off-road fleets who depend on lubricant reliability to reduce:
- Downtime
- Maintenance costs
- Component wear
Any unplanned downtime or maintenance can incur high repair costs, which haven’t been accounted for, and could have been avoided by effective lubricant choice.
As well as improving reliability, performance and efficiency, additives can also help to extend drain intervals and equipment life by preventing component wear, reducing contamination and preventing oxidation.
Common types of additives found in lubricants
Lubricant additives are essential for supporting modern engines, and each additive has its own benefits.
Detergents
What it is: Detergents keep engine components clean.
What it does: They neutralise acids formed during combustion and prevent sludge and deposit buildup.
What engines need it: Commonly used in engine oils for heavy-duty vehicles
Dispersants
What it is: Dispersants improve oil flow and cleanliness.
What it does: They keep soot and contaminants suspended in the oil and prevent particles from clumping together.
What engines need it: Particularly important for diesel engines and fleet vehicles.
Anti-wear additives
What it is: Anti-wear additives reduce metal-to-metal contact.
What it does: They form protective films on engine surfaces, which is extremely important during high-load operations and challenging startup conditions, to reduce friction.
What engines need it: Beneficial for older vehicles, trucks under high stress and high loads and diesel engines.
Antioxidants
What it is: Antioxidants help to maintain lubricant performance over time.
What it does: They slow down oil oxidation caused by heat and air exposure and reduce varnish and sludge formation to extend lubricant service life.
What engines need it: Heavy-duty vehicles, off-road equipment and modern engines with tight tolerances require lubricants with antioxidant additives.
Corrosion and rust inhibitors
What it is: Corrosion and rust inhibitors support long-term equipment reliability.
What it does: They protect internal metal surfaces from moisture and acid attacks.
What engines need it: Important for engines operating in humid or harsh environments.
Viscosity modifiers
What it is: Viscosity modifiers help lubricants maintain proper thickness across temperatures.
What it does: They are a critical component of multi-grade oils for improving cold-start performance while offering protection at high temperatures.
What engines need it: Those operating under heavy loads under a wide range of temperatures, usually commercial vehicles.
Foam inhibitors
What it is: Foam inhibitors ensure consistent lubrication and oil pressure.
What it does: They prevent air bubbles and foam formation, which can reduce the effectiveness of the lubricant.
What engines need it: Suitable for vehicles under heavy loads, high stress or high speeds.
Pour point depressants
What it is: Pour point depressants improve oil flow in cold weather.
What it does: They help engines to start more easily, especially when temperatures are low.
What engines need it: Important for fleets operating year-round.
How additive packages differ between lubricants
Different vehicles and systems will require different additive combinations, depending on the lubricant and what it is used for. This can differ by:
- Passenger vehicles
- Diesel fleets
- Industrial equipment
- Hydraulic systems
- Gear oils
The right lubricant formulation for your vehicle will depend largely on the vehicle you have, but it also depends on:
- Load
- Temperature
- Operating environment
- OEM specifications
Choosing a lubricant with the right additive package helps ensure reliable performance, longer equipment life, and better protection under your vehicle’s specific operating conditions.
What happens when lubricant additives break down?
Lubricant additives deplete slowly over time during normal operation, so it’s not something that just happens overnight. When lubricant additives break down, they lose their protective properties, which can cause wear, corrosion and harmful deposits to build up.
Before you experience a complete engine failure, there will likely be signs that the additives have broken down. These include:
- Increased wear
- Sludge formation
- Corrosion
- Reduced fuel efficiency
The key to preventing damage from additive breakdown, or catching it before symptoms appear, is preventive maintenance. Through regular lubricant analysis, you can identify lubricant degradation before it becomes a problem and also extend drain intervals once you understand the condition of your lubricants.
Using high-quality lubricants that reach your manufacturer’s specifications is essential for giving your vehicle the best protection possible and ensuring reliable performance.
Choosing the right lubricant for your vehicle or fleet
It doesn’t matter what lubricant you choose for what system; it needs to meet your OEM’s requirements and industry standards. Your lubricant selection should always meet:
- API classifications: Define the performance, quality and application of engine oils. They also ensure lubricants meet wear protection, deposit control, and fuel efficiency standards set by your vehicle manufacturer.
- Viscosity grade: Refers to the thickness of the lubricant and its resistance to flow at specific temperatures.
- Application-specific performance requirements: For example, the lubricating properties of engine oil or the cooling properties of coolant.
By working with a trusted lubricant supplier, fleet managers can benefit from optimised maintenance strategies as well as support in selecting the right lubricants for various applications.
Why the right additive package matters
Additives are essential to lubricant performance and play an important role in lubricating modern vehicles. Additive technology helps to protect engines, reduce unplanned downtime and improve efficiency, so you aren’t taken aback by unexpected breakdowns or lubricant failures. Choosing the right lubricant is not just about selecting the right oil viscosity; it’s about the complete additive package to give your vehicle the best support.
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