The world of motor oils contains all kinds of things to think about, but the most important one for most of the last 100 years has been free, or cheap. Crude oil was cheap because once you poked a good hole in the planet it just kept coming. The problem is that petroleum is non-polar and therefore Iron Fe on steel would naturally repel the oil like a magnet is repelled by another with the wrong pole. Remember seeing a magnet flip around to get aligned? That happens with oil and metal, petroleum just didn’t want to stick to metal and that can be very bad. Vegetable based oils are Polar and the metal wants to attract the oil and soak it in to the pores. Another way to think of it is seasoning a pan, especially a stainless steel pan. If you were to put eggs in without seasoning with oil, you’ll be scrapping off half the egg later because it burned and stuck. If you use petroleum it wouldn’t work, but plant oils do. If you put a great coconut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil in the pan and let it heat up until the pores of the metal soak up the oil, then that egg will dance and slip around, just like you’d like your piston ring, crankshaft, and camshafts to dance.
Like our little alien friend he might not immediately mix with the crowd but he can work on his people skills. New things like plant or algae based oils can be scary, but they have been around for decades and are proven successors to crude oil. Crude and petroleum oils can be made to work with modifiers, more refining, additives, etc. But wouldn’t it just be better to fit in with a nice match for the metal in your engine? Give plant based oils a try and see why they work so much better. If you’re trying to get some long life from an engine, you really need them. If you are trying to go super fast, you have to have them to compete if someone else brings them to the track. Plant based oils are so strong and tightly structured that you don’t need as much bad additives and modifiers. We can sell you a standard mix for your car, truck or diesel or we can give you a racing mix. If you have a larger budget or are a manufacturer that wants to win or reduce warranty costs drop us an e-mail and we can consult with you to build the perfect mix of oils for your application. You can even sell it as a value add after break in through your dealer network service centers. There are many customers that aren’t cost conscious and will gladly pick a biodegradable oil if it is better for their engine, their children’s environment and the air we breathe. You’ll have fewer warranty issues, better mileage and happier customers because you introduced them to plant based oils and show that you care about the environment.
Look it up yourself on Grok, Gemini or ChatGPT:
Understanding the Power of Polarity in Motor Oils
“When it comes to engine performance, the interaction between oil and metal surfaces plays a crucial role. Oils with polar properties have a unique ability to form stronger bonds with metal parts, such as cylinders and pistons. This helps reduce friction and wear, even in the most demanding engine conditions.
What does this mean for you? Polar oils create a more stable lubrication film on engine components, providing better protection against metal-to-metal contact. This can lead to less wear and tear, potentially extending the life of your engine and improving overall performance. It’s all about keeping your engine running smoothly, longer.” April 2025 ChatGPT 4.5 deep research
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