302 Lubricant Additives: Chemistry and Applications
The rheological data in Table 10.8 further illustrate several features of LTOCPs mentioned
earlier. Their inherently lower CCS viscosity contributions permit the greater use of higher- viscosity
base oils, which can be bene cial in meeting volatility requirements. The low-temperature MRV
performance of OCP9 was far inferior to that of the other copolymers, indicating that the PPD
chosen for this particular study was not optimized for OCP9 in these base stocks.
Another polyalkymethacrylate PPD was found to bring the MRV viscosity of the OCP9
formulation down to 7,900 and 18,000 cP at –20 and –25°C, respectively. More about interaction
with PPDs is discussed in Section 10.5.5.
Again, the higher thickening ef ciency of EP copolymers versus EPDMs of similar molecular
weight (shear stability) is clearly demonstrated in Table 10.8. Another feature worth noting is that
increasing base oil viscosity can nudge HTHS viscosity upward (compare OCP7 with OCP8 or
OCP3 with OCP9).
10.5.5 INTERACTION WITH POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS
Although base oil and VM play a role in determining low-temperature oil pumpability, the PPD
provides the primary control in this area. SAE J300 [104] speci es the MRV test (ASTM D4684)
as the sole guardian of pumpability protection, although it acknowledges that other tests may also
be useful in the development of lubricants from new components. The Scanning Brook eld test
(ASTM D5133) and Pour Point (ASTM D5873), although not required within SAE J300, are often
contained in other standards established by original equipment manufacturers, oil marketers, and
governmental agencies and, therefore, must also be considered in the development of modern
engine oils.
Advances in base oil technology have led, in recent years, to a wide range of mineral and syn-
thetic lubricant base stocks [116], classi ed as API Group I, II, III, IV, and V stocks. The API system
classi es oils according to viscosity index (VI), saturates content, and sulfur level. Group I mineral
oils are de ned as having <90% saturates, VI >80 and more than 0.03% sulfur. Groups II and III
oils have <0.03% sulfur and >90% saturates, but they differ mainly in VI. Group II oils have VI
>80, whereas Group III stocks have VI values in excess of 120.
Formulating these conventional and highly re ned oils to meet all the rheological requirements
of SAE J300 is not always straightforward. An important aspect of base oil technology that is not
embodied within the API Group numbering scheme is the type of de-waxing process or processes
employed. It is well known [117–123] that the low-temperature oil pumpability performance of
engine oils is often impeded by nucleation and growth of wax crystals, which can coalesce and
restrict the ow of oil at low temperatures. The type and amount of wax that forms dictates the
TABLE 10.8
Rheological Properties of SAE 15W-40 Engine Oils Containing
Different OCP Viscosity Modifi ers
OCP7 OCP3 OCP8 OCP9
Polymer content (wt%) 0.95 0.85 0.85 0.64
150N base oil percentage 76 76 70 70
600N base oil percentage 24 24 30 30
Kinematic viscosity (cSt) at 100°C 15.04 14.97 15.25 15.12
Viscosity index 141 140 140 135
CCS viscosity (cP) at −15°C 3,080 3,040 3,070 3,010
MRV viscosity (cP) at −20°C 10,000 9,900 8,800 Solid
MRV viscosity (cP) at −25°C 20,500 18,600 18,300 Solid
HTHS (cP) 4.17 4.38 4.25 4.42
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