Typical Technical Properties of Lubricants

ASTM: (American Society for Testing and Materials), founded in 1898, is a scientific and technical organization formed for the development of standards on characteristics and performance of materials and services. ASTM is the world's largest source of voluntary consensus standards. ASTM operates through a system of committees and subcommittees. Its committees function in prescribed field under regulations that ensure balanced representation among producers, users, general interest and consumer participants. ASTM standards govern the majority of testing performed on motor oils in North America.

Kinematic Viscosity

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-445 Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids.

Significance & Use: The proper operation of equipment depends on the proper kinematic viscosity at operating temperature of the oil used for its lubrication.

What it means: Kinematic viscosity is a measure of a liquid's flow under the influence of gravity. It's handy to think of lubricant's kinematic viscosity as it's "I.D. card." AMSOIL formulates its synthetic lubricants to tighter viscosity limits than other manufacturers do, so AMSOIL synthetic lubricants' kinematic viscosity's are midrange, close to neither the high or low limit. That helps components work their best and helps the lubricants stay in grade.

Viscosity Index

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-2270 Standard Practice for Calculating Viscosity Index from Kinematic Viscosity at 40°C and 100°C.

Significance & Use: Viscosity index indicates how much a lubricant's viscosity will change according to changes in temperature between 40°C (104°F) and 100°C (212°F), which roughly define the normal temperature range of most operations.

What it means: The smaller a lubricant's viscosity change as a result of temperature change, the higher that lubricant's viscosity index. High viscosity index lubricants, such as AMSOIL products, protect better in operations with temperature variations.

Cold Crank Simulator Apparent Viscosity

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-2602 Standard Test Method for Apparent Viscosity of Engine Oils at Low Temperature Using the Cold-Cranking Simulator.

Significance & Use: Apparent viscosity has been established as a valid predictor of engine-cranking viscosities at specified low temperatures. Apparent viscosity depends on temperature and shear rate.

What it means: Cold cranking viscosity affects the startability of engines and other equipment in cold temperatures. Low cold cranking viscosities, such as those AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, make for easier cold cranking and more dependable cold temperature starting.

Borderline Pumping Temperature

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-3829 Standard Test Method for Predicting the Borderline Pumping Temperature of Engine Oil.

Significance & Use: Borderline pumping temperature is a measure of the lowest temperature at which an engine oil can be continuously and adequately supplied to the components of an automotive engine.

What it means: The lower the borderline pumping temperature, the lower the temperature in which the engine is protected by circulating oil. AMSOIL synthetic motor oil's extremely low borderline pumping temperatures assure excellent low temperature protection.

Pour Point

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-97 Standard Test Method for Pour Point of Petroleum Oils.

Significance & Use: The test determines the lowest temperature at which an oil flows as the jar is tilted for a prescribed period. The pour point of an oil indicates the lowest temperature at which an oil may be used in some applications.

What it means: the lower the pour point, the more useful the lubricant is in cold temperatures. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants offer exceptionally low pour points.

Flash and Fire Points

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-92 Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup.

Significance & Use: Flash point is the lowest temperature at which application of a flame causes specimen vapors to ignite. Flash point is used to asses the overall hazard of a material and is used in shipping and safety regulations to define "flammable" and "combustible" materials.
Fire point is the lowest temperature at which a specimen sustains burning for five seconds.

What it means: Lubricants with high flash and fire points, such as AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, are safer to use and transport than lubricants with lower ones and have a greater high temperature operating ranges.

NOACK Volatility

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-5800 Determining the Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Oils (Noack's Method)

Significance & Use: Test determines the evaporation loss of lubricating oils at high temperature. Evaporation loss is particularly important to motor and cylinder lubrication, due to the high temperature of these operations and the tendency of evaporative loss to increase in high temperatures. Significant evaporative loss of oil leads to excessive oil consumption and destructive changes in oil properties.

What it means: Lubricants with low Noack scores, such as AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, lose less to volatility than lubricants with high scores. Low-loss oils keep their original protective and performance qualities longer than high-loss oils do, which keeps oil consumption low and fuel economy and equipment protection high.

High Temperature/High Shear Viscosity

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-4683 Standard Test Method for Measuring Viscosity at High Temperature and High Shear Rate by Tapered Bearing Simulator.

Significance & Use: Viscosity at the shear rate and temperature of this test is considered representative of the condition encountered in the bearings of automotive engines in sever service. Lubricant viscosity in the bearings of automotive engines in severe service is a critical factor in bearing wear.

What it means: Lubricants with high scores, such as AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, maintain their viscosity in high temperatures after exposure to high shear. That means they continue to protect engine bearing even after exposure to sever service conditions.

Four-Ball Wear Test

Test Number & Name: ASTM D-4172B Standard Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method).

Significance & Use: Test method determines the relative wear preventive properties of lubricants in sliding contact under the test conditions. Lubricant comparisons are made by comparing the average wear scars on three fixed balls made by one ball in rotating contact with them in baths of the test lubricants.

What it means: The smaller the average wear scar, the better the protection. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants deliver much smaller wear scars - and much better protection - than other lubricants do. The Four Ball Wear Test may be conducted at various levels of severity. Independent laboratory testing shows that AMSOIL Series 2000 and Series 3000 motor oils' wear scars are significantly smaller than those of popular competitor oils in extremely severe test conditions, making these oils ideal for extreme service engine operations.