Be GREEN -even save money- with “OIL”       

By:  Harry O. Rakfeldt

Just as living without electricity is difficult to imagine, functioning without lubricants is equally unimaginable.

But, for example, have you ever thought about “oil” when considering how to improve equipment performance, reduce operating costs, offset record fuel prices, extend equipment life, or promote conservation? If we strive for improvements and efficiency in many areas, then why not seek the same in our lubricants?

We usually think of “oil” as beyond our control. Most people are unaware that all “oils” are not equal. Crude oil-based lubricants account for 93%-95% of all usage and dominate the scene. It simply doesn’t occur to us that there may be something different or better.  

There is a  better oil - long-lasting, energy-efficient, man-made synthetic lubricants. These 'designer' lubricants improve equipment performance, help solve our pollution problems, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and save us money.

Synthetics outperform conventional lubricants in all criteria and applications.  Synthetics excel because of three predominant characteristics:  

·         Significant reduction in friction and wear – equipment lasts longer

·         Optimum performance at extended temperature extremes – hot and cold

·         Rigorous and lengthy in-use operation without chemical breakdown – extended 
      use intervals 

What are synthetic lubricants? 

Synthetic lubricants are chemically engineered from pure chemicals rather than refined from crude oil. And synthetics are Made in the USA. 

Synthetic lubricants approach perfection and have significant advantages over refined oils. Synthetics have the ideal physical geometry in molecular size, shape, and weight makeup. Synthetics are pure, uniform, and predictably designable, allowing production of very high performance products tailored to specific applications.   

Synthetics are created through precise molecular engineering (organic synthesis), using various and readily available organic chemicals, such as weak organic acids, long chain alcohols, and ethylene. Ethylene is a plant hormone that differs from other plant hormones in being a gas.  It has the molecular structure: H₂C=CH_2.  Ethylene is released by many fruits, e.g., apples, oranges, avocados, as they approach maturity; ethylene promotes the ripening of the fruit. 

Ethylene is available in natural gas. Ethylene is catalytically polymerized to form polyalphaolefins [PAO’s] which are liquid synthetic hydrocarbons. PAO’s are known as Group IV base stocks.

History

Synthetic lubricants were developed in the late 1800’s. Commercial production of the synthetic polyalkylglycol began in the 1930’s to replace castor oil-based brake fluid. In the 1940’s the Germans, while operating in severe winter temperatures on the Russian front, produced polyalkylglycol to satisfy the need for low temperature equipment lubricants. The Germans were also developing the jet engine and needed a lubricant to withstand the gas turbine’s high temperatures.   

Mid-1960.  LtCol Al Amatuzio served 25 years as an award-winning jet fighter pilot and witnessed the extraordinary benefits of synthetic oils used in jet engines. At the heart of every successful business venture are two things: technical innovation and business foresight. Al Amatuzio believed the outstanding performance benefits of synthetic lubricants would prove invaluable to car, truck, and other internal combustion engines.  

Amatuzio assembled the industry’s most knowledgeable chemists and directed the formulation of the world’s first synthetic motor oil under the brand name AMSOIL. The 10W-40 grade, 100% synthetic motor oil, approved by the American Petroleum Institute (API), was introduced in 1972.  Engine oil quality and performance standards took a quantum leap; this synthetic engine oil had a recommended drain interval of 25,000 miles or one year!   

Energy Efficiency 

“Energy efficiency is the single most cost-effective step to reduce pollution that leads to global warming.”    
                                              David Nemtzow, (past) President, Alliance to Save Energy 

Synthetic lubricants are inherently very slippery (lower coefficient of friction). Compared to conventional oils, much less energy is needed to overcome internal fluid friction; result - Improved performance and efficiency.

Fuel mileage was tracked on a salesman's Ford Taurus. Before using synthetic oil, mileage averaged 24.3 mpg. Mileage increases using AMSOIL premium 0W-30 synthetic engine oil measured 3.8 to 5.2 mpg

Performance

Synthetics are very stable.  Their contaminant-free chemistry is very resistant to thermal and oxidative breakdown. Premium synthetic engine oils can be safely used for extended drain intervals up to 11 times longer than conventional oil! AMSOIL synthetic engine oils deliver extended drain intervals of 15,000, 25,000, even 35,000 miles a year in cars.  (Class 8 trucks- the large tractor-trailer combinations- regularly achieve 70,000 to 200,000 miles between oil drains.)   

Characteristics -- Synthetic lubricants

 ·         Ideally-designed molecules and uniform, strong intermolecular bonds protect synthetics from oxidative damage. Systems remain deposit-free for longer life cycles.  

·         Low coefficient of friction - friction and heat significantly reduced, greatly reducing component failure and rate of component wear. Equipment runs cooler and lasts longer

 ·         Exceptionally strong – with much higher film strength than conventional oils, metal-to-metal breakthrough is significantly reduced, resulting in optimum protection.

 ·         Cling tenaciously to metal parts – much stronger than conventional oil; synthetics improve sealing.

 ·         Highly stable - they demonstrate significantly reduced high temperature volatility (fluid loss due to vaporization). Lubricated systems remain clean and efficient for superior performance and long life. This also means reduced emissions and a cleaner environment.

 ·         High temperature integrity - heat damages system components and impacts petroleum oils. Synthetics reduce friction and heat at high temperatures, greatly reducing component wear and failure.

 ·         Fluid down to -70 plus degrees F, synthetics deliver dependable cold weather engine starts, fast lubrication, and maximum protection. 

 ·         High viscosity index rating – inherent resistance to high temperature-induced fluid degradation - significantly improves equipment protection and longer life-cycles.  

Value

 "...The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot -- it can't be done..."  
                                           John Ruskin, 1819-1900, English author, architect and economist 

The value of synthetics is the ability to provide a unique solution to a lubrication consideration.  

The higher, initial price for AMSOIL synthetics is offset by the long-term value of the solution provided. The price of premium synthetic engine oil can be set against

    - lower oil consumption
    - longer drain intervals
    - reduced maintenance costs
    - longer equipment life
    - better performance
    - reduced emissions (compared to conventional)
    - improved productivity
    - resource conservation
    - cost effective - Higher Quality Costs Less
    - Made in the USA

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES 

From cradle to grave, synthetics tread more lightly on the environment. Because synthetics perform much longer, fewer products overall are produced for a given customer’s needs. This means less packaging, less resultant waste, less disposal, and, overall, less energy used in production, distribution, and in use. From cradle to grave, AMSOIL synthetic lubricants are “The Right Environmental Choice.”®

(Some Related Insight -- Synthetic lubricants are as different from each other as they differ from crude oil based lubricants. There is no single, accepted definition for “synthetic” lubricants (but the predominant following is that synthetics are man-made from non crude oil base stocks). Price is not always a comparable benchmark. Synthetics sold in some specialty/sporting equipment stores may be priced very high. For conventional oil companies, synthetic lubricants represent only token interest compared to their conventional products.  Many mechanics are not lubricant literate when it comes to synthetic vs conventional characteristic comparisons. Beware of claims -  at least one popular brand product  - CASTROL® Syntec  - is marketed as a synthetic but uses highly refined crude oil for its base stock.) 

Synthetic lubricants represent an unrealized opportunity 

Whether you’re a soccer mom, operate a lawn care firm, drive thousands of miles as a Realtor, crunch tax numbers, go RV’ing, build web sites, enjoy boating, have a hay farm, operate a fleet of vehicles, run a construction company, manufacture products, sell native plants, have an auto repair business -- put AMSOIL premium synthetic lubricants to work for you, your pocketbook, and the environment. This is a practice all of us can do.   

                              True Value is not price – but what a service or product can do 

“Consumers…buy a product for a combination of reasons. One is…excellent performance… In the future, delivering performance that is both based on sustainability and recognized as added value will become increasingly important for consumer choices.”
                                                              
                                                            C-A  Weinberger, Corp Senior VP and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Henkel             

 Be GREEN and save money; Help our planet –with the right kind of “oil” – US Made AMSOIL synthetic lubricants.

 Addendum –    

Case Study

Situation

The Alabama Department of Finance fleet:  200 plus vehicles, using conventional oil and filters. Vehicles are ‘rented’ to other government agencies around the state and log 25,000 miles or more annually.

Task

Explore ways to maintain or reduce operating costs without sacrificing safety and performance.

Action

In 1998, the fleet began testing AMSOIL premium synthetic motor oil and AMSOIL oil filters in a group of 1998 FORD Taurus AFV’s (Alternative Fuel Vehicle). In FY 2000, the entire fleet was converted.  AMSOIL premium synthetic engine oil and the nano-fiber oil filter are changed at 25,000 miles or one year.

Result

Oil and filter quantities alone were cut by over 70% per each 25,000 miles of operation compared to conventional oil, filters, and shorter change intervals. Since FY 2000, annual fleet mileage has slowly increased to over 5 million miles – all on the AMSOIL extended oil and filter change program.

Comparison of oil and filter change intervals over average of two years. X indicates an oil and filter change. 5K miles is used for the conventional oil/filter change interval.

 
                          Per Vehicle Usage                   

 Estimated Fleet Savings

Oil:  2,000 gallons   
Filters:  1,600    
Labor:  $11,800

Savings only include the direct labor to change the oil and filter (20 minutes average).  It does not include additional savings in management, inventory handling, inventory control, ordering, down time, accounting, waste, disposal fees, and scheduling.  

                    

                                                                      “It’s only a penny”

Most people won’t stop to pick up a penny in a parking lot. Likewise to many it may seem insignificant to change the vehicle engine oil from conventional (crude-oil based) to American-made AMSOIL premium synthetic. 

 Here’s a widescreen look –

In 2004 an estimated 243 million motorized vehicles were on the road in the US alone and an estimated 800 million motorized vehicles in operation throughout the world.  Assuming an average service life of 100,000 miles and a 5-quart oil capacity each, 20.2 billion to 40.5 billion quarts of used oil will be generated during a regular service lifetime (oil changes every 3,000 to 6,000 miles).  

If you put 40.5 billion quarts of used oil in 55-gallon barrels and lined them up, this line would stretch from Los Angeles to Washington, DC and back 12 times.

AMSOIL recommends 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes -- up to 35,000 mile drain intervals.  Imagine the savings on the environment, resource conservation, and reduced dependence on foreign/domestic crude oil if, for example, the 243 million cars (excludes trucks, buses, and taxis) in the US were equipped with long-lasting AMSOIL synthetic engine oil.  

It adds up - really adds up.     

Harry Rakfeldt is an independent AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants Certified Dealer trained in commercial, fleet, and industrial applications. Early on, he completed a career as a naval officer and performed duties in the field of special intelligence (cryptology) that included his training as a Russian linguist.                        

His interest in synthetic lubricants fits perfectly with his views on living more gently on Planet Earth. A few years after his naval career, Harry and his wife moved 'off grid' for seven years and lived in a passive solar home they designed for their 80 acre forested high elevation property in SW Oregon. Harry installed a micro-hydro system for their power source.

Harry has personally used AMSOIL products for 29 years. He promotes the AMSOIL Dealership business opportunity to entrepreneurs who seek a business of their own and provides AMSOIL product solutions and programs for consumer, business retail, commercial, fleet, and industrial applications across North America.

      “Our Dealership welcomes the opportunity to analyze, propose, and implement world-class lubricant applications to meet consumer-to-factory requirements. We show you how to do more with less and significantly move away from conventional lubricants. It’s the  ‘right choice’ all of us can make.”

 Visit his web sites -- www.syn-lubes.com and www.4topoil.com

  
Harry O. Rakfeldt, AMSOIL Direct Dealer #83885, 550 NE Belfair View Rd, Belfair, WA 98528

877-4-TOP-OIL (486-7645), www.syn-lubes.com, -- info@syn-lubes.com,   (local) 360-275-8921

                                                    © Harry O. Rakfeldt, 2009

Home  / Proof / General Use  / Hi Performance / Commercial / Retail Outlets
 Preferred Customer /   How To be GREEN / Business Opportunity / Links / About