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Guide to
Understanding "Typical Technical Properties" for Amsoil
Lubricants
Relevant ASTM test
results are reported on AMSOIL product data bulletins as "TYPICAL
TECHNICAL PROPERTIES" Here is a guide to typical technical
properties for AMSOIL motor oils.
KINEMATIC
VISCOSITY
Test Number &
Name:
ASTM D-445 Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent
and Opaque Liquids.
Significance & Use: The proper operation of equipment depends on
the proper kinematic viscosity at operating temperature of the oil used
for its lubrication.
What it means: Kinematic
viscosity is a measure of a liquid's flow under the influence of
gravity. It's handy to think of a lubricant's kinematic viscosity as its
"I.D. card." AMSOIL formulates its synthetic lubricants to
tighter viscosity limits than other manufacturers do, so AMSOIL
synthetic lubricants' kinematic viscosities are midrange, close to
neither the high or low limit. That helps components work their best and
helps the lubricants stay in grade.
VISCOSITY
INDEX
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-2270 Standard Practice for Calculating
Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40° C and 100°C.
Significance & Use:
Viscosity index indicates how much a lubricant's viscosity will change
according to changes in temperature between 40° C (104° F) and 100°
C (212° F), which roughly define the normal temperature range of most
operations.
What it means: The smaller a
lubricant's viscosity change as a result of temperature change, the
higher that lubricant's viscosity index. High viscosity index
lubricants, such as AMSOIL products, protect better in operations with
temperature variations.
COLD
CRANK SIMULATOR APPARENT VISCOSITY
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-2602 Standard Test Method for Apparent
Viscosity of Engine Oils at Low Temperature Using the Cold-Cranking
Simulator.
Significance & Use:
Apparent viscosity has been established as a valid predictor of
engine-cranking viscosities at specified low temperatures. Apparent
viscosity depends on temperature and shear rate.
What it means: Cold cranking
viscosity affects the startability of engines and other equipment in
cold temperatures. Low cold cranking viscosities, such as those of
AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, make for easier cold cranking and more
dependable cold temperature starting.
BORDERLINE
PUMPING TEMPERATURE
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-3829 Standard Test Method for Predicting
the Borderline Pumping Temperature of Engine Oil.
Significance & Use: Borderline pumping temperature is a measure
of the lowest temperature at which an engine oil can be continuously and
adequately supplied to the components of an automotive engine.
What it means: The lower the
borderline pumping temperature, the lower the temperature in which the
engine is protected by circulating oil. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils'
extremely low borderline pumping temperatures assure excellent low
temperature protection.
POUR
POINT
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-97 Standard Test Method for Pour Point of
Petroleum Oils.
Significance & Use: The
test determines the lowest temperature at which an oil flows as the jar
is tilted for a prescribed period. The pour point of an oil indicates
the lowest temperature at which an oil may be used in some applications.
What it means: The lower the pour point, the more useful the
lubricant is in cold temperatures. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants offer
exceptionally low pour points.
FLASH
AND FIRE POINTS
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-92 Standard Test Method for Flash and
Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup.
Significance & Use: Flash point is the lowest temperature at
which application of a flame causes specimen vapors to ignite. Flash
point is used to assess the overall hazard of a material and is used
in shipping and safety regulations to define "flammable" and
"combustible" materials.
Fire
point is the lowest temperature at which a specimen sustains burning
for five seconds.
What it means: Lubricants
with high flash and fire points, such as AMSOIL synthetic lubricants,
are safer to use and transport than lubricants with lower ones and have
a greater high temperature operating range.
NOACK
VOLATILITY
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-5800 Determining the Evaporation Loss of
Lubricating Oils (Noack's Method).
Significance & Use: Test
determines the evaporation loss of lubricating oils at high temperature.
Evaporation loss is particularly important to motor and cylinder
lubrication, due to the high temperature of these operations and the
tendency of evaporative loss to increase in high temperatures.
Significant evaporative loss of oil leads to excessive oil consumption
and destructive changes in oil properties.
What it means: Lubricants with low Noack scores, such as AMSOIL
synthetic lubricants, lose less to volatility than lubricants with
higher scores. Low-loss oils keep their original protective and
performance qualities longer than high-loss oils do, which keeps oil
consumption low and fuel economy and equipment protection high.
HIGH
TEMPERATURE/HIGH SHEAR VISCOSITY
Test Number & Name: ASTM D-4683 Standard Test Method for Measuring
Viscosity at High Temperature and High Shear Rate by Tapered Bearing
Simulator.
Significance & Use:
Viscosity at the shear rate and temperature of this test is considered
representative of the condition encountered in the bearings of
automotive engines in severe service. Lubricant viscosity in the
bearings of automotive engines in severe service is a critical factor in
bearing wear.
What it means: Lubricants with high scores, such as AMSOIL synthetic
lubricants, maintain their viscosity in high temperatures after exposure
to high shear. That means they continue to protect engine bearings even
after exposure to severe service conditions.
FOUR
BALL WEAR TEST
Test Number and Name: ASTM D-4172B Standard Test Method for Wear
Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method).
Significance & Use: Test
method determines the relative wear preventive properties of lubricants
in sliding contact under the test conditions. Lubricant comparisons are
made by comparing the average wear scars on three fixed balls made by
one ball in rotating contact with them in baths of the test lubricants.
What it means: The smaller
the average wear scar, the better the protection. AMSOIL synthetic
lubricants deliver much smaller wear scars - and much better protection
- than other lubricants do.
The
Four Ball Wear Test may be conducted at various levels of severity.
Independent laboratory testing shows that AMSOIL Series 2000 and Series
3000 motor oils' wear scars are significantly smaller than those of
popular competitor oils in extremely severe test conditions, making
these oils ideal for extreme service engine operations.
ASTM
(American Society for Testing and Materials), founded in 1898, is a
scientific and technical organization formed for the development of
standards on characteristics and performance of materials and services.
ASTM is the world's largest source of voluntary consensus standards.
ASTM operates through a system of committees and subcommittees. Its
committees function in prescribed fields under regulations that ensure
balanced representation among producers, users, general interest and
consumer participants.
ASTM
standards govern the majority of testing performed on motor oils in
North America.
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