DEVELOPMENT OF LONG DRAIN MULTIGRADE DIESEL ENGINE OILS FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET

A line of high quality multigrade diesel engine oils suitable for long drain applications has been developed using hydrotreated basestock. The process differs from those more commonly found in North America since fractionation occurs after the major refining step and the severe hydrogenation (hydrotreating) replaces the more common solvent extraction with furfural or phenol. Laboratory and engine dynamometer tests indicated that lubricating oils using hydrotreated basestock have superior control of diesel piston deposits and oxidative viscosity increase. Excellent performance of multigrade diesel engine oils using both hydrotreated and solvent refined basestock over extended oil change intervals has been demonstrated in extensive field trials. Cold weather benefits for multigrade diesel engine oils were defined by cold room studies and outdoor trials.