Additives are integral part of every motor oil and their additional addition is not necessary, because it can cause a disturbance of the oil’s characteristics. Some motor oil manufacturers even forbid adding additives to their oils due to the deterioration of their guaranteed characteristics. The oils from the LUBEX program contain the complete package of additives suitable for their classification and purpose. Any additional addition is an unnecessary financial burden for the user of  LUBEX oils.

Additives protect the engine from the created deposits by neutralizing the harmful acids that are created during the operation of the engine, provide anti-corrosion protection of the metal parts, thereby extending its life. In addition to these two basic additives, the LUBEX oils also contain additional improvers of certain characteristics such as viscosity, oxidative stability of the oil, reduction of the ability to foam and other appropriate additives according to the classification of oils that provide complete and reliable protection of the engine from all possible aspects.

Multigrade oils are suitable for uninterrupted use throughout the year, and are recognized by the label on their packaging, such as: SAE 5W-30, SAE 0W-40, SAE 10W-40. In the marking, multigrade motor oils always have two numbers and the letter W (W-Winter). When comparing two multigrade oils, for example SAE 5W-30 and SAE 0W-40, the SAE 0W-40 oil has better driving characteristics due to the greater resistance to the influence of external temperature on changing viscosity, which means that this oil will not change its properties at higher maximum and minimum annual temperatures, unlike the other. Monograde motor oils are not suitable for year-round use, because they are much more susceptible to the influence of external temperature on the change in viscosity, and in their designation they always have either only one number or one number and the letter W: e.g. SAE 30 (summer) or SAE 5W (winter). Almost all Lubex oils are multigrade oils and their use is recommended throughout the year, which means that the user of Lubex oils has no additional costs for changing the oil with the change of seasons.

The API (American Petroleum Institute) designation for motor oils consists of at least 2 letters. The first letter in the API designation indicates the oil manufacturer’s recommendation for the use of the oil depending on the type of engine. The mark S – Service or Spark (spark) – refers to an oil recommended for use in gasoline engines where the method of ignition of the mixture in the engine is by external initialization, i.e. with a spark. The mark C – Commercial or Compression (compression) – refers to an oil recommended for use in diesel engines where the ignition method of the mixture in the engine is influenced by the high temperature that is generated during the increased compression in the engine. The second letter of the API designation represents a consecutive letter of the English alphabet that indicates the potential quality of the oil, the type of additives that are part of the oil, as well as the recommended age and equipment of the vehicle that would use that oil. The lower this letter is in the alphabet, the higher the quality of that oil and it is recommended for use in newer vehicles.

For example:
– if the oil packaging has the label: API SC, then it is an oil that is for use exclusively in gasoline engines and for older generation vehicles. In contrast, the API SJ designation indicates that the oil is for use in gasoline engines, but for newer generation vehicles.
– if there is a mark on the oil packaging: API CD, then it is an oil that is for use exclusively in diesel engines and for older generation vehicles. In contrast, the API CH-4 mark indicates that the oil is for use in diesel engines, but for newer generation vehicles.

If the API designation contains one S and one C designation (API SJ/CE), then it is a matter of universal oils that are recommended for use in both gasoline and diesel engines.
According to their labels, all Lubex oils are universal oils, which means that they can be used in all types of vehicles (gasoline and diesel) without problems. For example: Lubex Truck Plus API CI-4/SL SAE 15W-40 is a universal oil recommended for all types of vehicles of the latest generation.

According to their chemical composition, oils are divided into three basic types: mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic oils. Mineral oils basically contain base oil of mineral origin and additive packages according to their API and SAE gradation. Synthetic oils in their composition contain base oils that can be of mineral as well as synthetic origin and a package of appropriate additives according to their API and SAE gradation. Semi-synthetic oils are a combination of these two types of oils. In recent times, the oil industry has marketed oils of biological origin, which are still a rarity on our market. They feature biodegradable components that make them attractive in terms of environmental protection and as a potential replacement for existing oils. The oils from the Lubex program are represented by all three types of oils, such as: Mineral – Lubex Universal SAE 15W-40, semi-synthetic – Lubex Unic Plus SAE 10W-40 and the best quality synthetic oil  Lubex SuperSyn SAE 5W-40.

In any case, it is good to change the oil more often, especially if the vehicle is used in start/stop city driving conditions, but at the same time it should be known that sometimes motor oils of lower quality and lower cost, although new, do not have some of the properties that quality oils have even when they are at the end of their service life. The oils from the LUBEX program do not lag behind the world-famous brands offered on the Macedonian market in terms of their quality, they are more affordable for their price and are the real choice for anyone who wants to protect their engine with quality.

In recent years, the motor oil industry has been producing oils that provide better and more durable lubrication of all mechanical parts of the engine, thus ensuring its protection. In doing so, the friction of the moving elements in the engine is reduced, which is the main reason for the loss of part of the useful energy obtained during the operation of the engine. These reduced losses of useful energy are made possible by high-quality multigrade motor oils, whereby fuel consumption can be reduced by 2-3% compared to the use of low-quality motor oils. All LUBEX oils belong to the group of quality oils that, in addition to efficient protection of the engine, ensure reduced fuel consumption.

The basic division of motor oils is done according to the viscosity class. This term refers to the fluidity of the oil. The designation is applied internationally and consists of the three letters  SAE, as an abbreviation of the Society of Automotive Engineers followed by two more numerical designations and the letter W (Winter) between them. The first number refers to the viscosity, i.e. the fluidity of the oil at winter temperatures, while the second number refers to the fluidity at summer temperatures, i.e. when the engine is warmed up.

The lower the first number, the greater the fluidity of the oil in winter temperatures, and thus the ability of the oil to quickly reach the moving parts of the engine. Accordingly, a higher value of the second number in the designation means that the oil retains its ability to lubricate even at high temperatures. For example, the 5W-40 designation on our premium Lubex Supersyn motor oil means that it provides reliable and thorough engine lubrication over the entire temperature range between -35 ^oC and more than 40 ^oC.

However, the viscosity class is not the deciding factor for the quality of a particular engine oil. That’s what the specification is for.

ACEA stands for the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association and labels motor oils according to the following:

– ACEA class A are motor oils for gasoline engines in passenger cars
– ACEA class B are engine oils for diesel engines in passenger cars and delivery vehicles
– ACEA class C are engine oils for gasoline and diesel engines with a smoke particle filter in the exhaust system
– ACEA class E are engine oils for diesel engines in cargo vehicles

The class designation is supplemented by a numerical designation, which basically refers to the limits of the amount of sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur:

– ACEA A1/B1 – engine oils for reduced fuel consumption and low viscosity at winter temperatures
– ACEA A3/B3 – oil for high-performance and low-speed engines; reduced volatility and prevention of deposits; possibility of extended replacement intervals. Not intended for direct fuel injection diesels.
– ACEA A3/B4 – same as A3/B3, but intended for diesels with direct fuel injection.
– ACEA A5/B5 – engine oil with extremely high performance, for gasoline and diesel engines with direct injection; possibility of extended replacement intervals. 

The specification according to the American Petroleum Institute (API) indicates the quality and properties of the oils. Marking is done with two letters after the basic API designation: S refers to oils for gasoline engines, C for diesel engines. According to this specification, they differ:

– AAPI SM – valid since 2004, with reduced fuel consumption and protection of the exhaust gas purification system.
– API SL – valid since 2001.
– API SJ – valid since 1996; reduced evaporation loss.
– – API CI-4 – valid since 2002; for engines with exhaust gas recirculation
– API CH-4 – valid since 1998

In addition to these specifications, car manufacturers set special requirements regarding the quality of motor oils with their own specifications, such as BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Volkswagen, etc.

… in cars up to 1910, the driver had to pump the oil using a hand pump into the engine housing or bearings. … until 1925, drivers still had to intervene by injecting an additional amount of oil through the hand pump at higher engine loads, usually on motorcycles. … in modern high-revving engines, the flow of oil through the lubrication system is between 300 and 400 liters of oil per minute. For comparison, the blood flow in the human body, with five to six liters of blood, reaches a flow of about 100 liters per minute during strong exertion. … the temperature of the upper piston rings and their grooves reaches a temperature between 240 and 280 degrees Celsius, depending on the engine. The oil also has the task of absorbing part of this heat

The lower the first number, the greater the fluidity of the oil in winter temperatures, and thus the ability of the oil to quickly reach the moving parts of the engine. Accordingly, a higher value of the second number in the designation means that the oil retains its ability to lubricate even at high temperatures. For example, the 5W-40 designation on our premium Lubex Supersyn motor oil means that it provides reliable and thorough engine lubrication over the entire temperature range between -35 ^oC and more than 40 ^oC.

However, the viscosity class is not the deciding factor for the quality of a particular engine oil. That’s what the specification is for.

Antiaging additives
Even the best quality lubricating oil is susceptible to oxidation, i.e. aging, under the influence of heat and oxygen. This creates acids and deposits in the form of resins, which usually do not dissolve in the oil. Aging is very slow in the beginning and the oil does not change. But after inactivating and neutralizing some of the additives that have the function of slowing down the aging process, the rate of oxidation increases at an accelerated pace.

Detergents and dispersants
During the combustion process in diesel and gasoline engines, a multitude of combustion products are created, which affect the engine oil to a greater or lesser extent. These are mainly products of oil aging, partially or completely unburned fuel residues, smoke, acidic compounds, nitrogen oxides and water. The task of detergent, i.e. dispersant additives, previously known as HD-additives, is to wrap solid and liquid impurities and keep them in the oil in order to prevent their deposition on engine parts. In addition, acidic compounds must be neutralized.

Additives for corrosion protection
Corrosion is basically chemical or electrochemical etching of metal surfaces. The most common causes of corrosion are oxygen and water. The water necessary for corrosion and acid formation comes primarily from moisture in the air. In a smaller amount, water appears from the combustion resulting from the reaction of the fuel with the oxygen from the air.

Anti-extreme pressure and anti-wear additives
When parts that slide against each other, such as bearings, pistons, valves and gearwheels, can no longer be completely separated under high load, the surfaces of the sliding bodies come into contact, causing increased wear and, in extreme cases, their deformation or partial melting. These additives create an extremely thin layer on the sliding surfaces. Under normal conditions, they are non-sliding, but under pressure and temperature they acquire the ability to slide. In this way, direct metal-to-metal contact, i.e. excessive wear, is prevented. As needed, these layers are constantly renewed.

Viscosity index improvers
Mineral oils change viscosity depending on temperature. At a low temperature, they are less fluid, and at a higher temperature, they are more fluid. This change in viscosity with respect to temperature can be more or less pronounced in different oils and it is expressed in a dimensionless numerical value VI – viscosity index. Monograde (single-zone) motor oils have a VI between 90 and 100, while multigrade (multi-zone) motor oils have a VI higher than 120. This value can be achieved in mineral oils with a VI between 90 and 100 by adding viscosity index improvers, which are long hydrocarbon molecules in the form of fibers. When the oil is cold, the molecules are compacted and undissolved, not affecting the increase in viscosity. When the oil is heated, they completely dissolve and swell, achieving the desired thickening of the oil, and thus a higher viscosity index.

Pour-point reduction additives
The pour-point is the lowest temperature at which the oil is still liquid. The thickening of the oil is due to the crystallization of the paraffin contained in the base oil, which also leads to an increase in viscosity. To prevent these phenomena, additives are used, which create a large number of small and unconnected crystals, which affect the fluidity of the oil to a lesser extent compared to large and connected paraffin crystals.

Antifoam additives
Moving parts, such as the crankshaft, pistons, gearwheels, etc. cause intensive mixing of the oil with the water, which leads to foaming. Foam adversely affects the full functionality of the lubrication system and can cause severe malfunctions.