Summarize

South Africa’s leading synthetic lubricants blender, the Habot Oil Company offers a broad range of fully synthetic and blended synthetic lubricants to cover a full selection of automotive and other applications.

Habot of course promises that its broad range of quality, leading synthetic lubricants offers several advantages over crude based oils. Heard it all before? Of course, you have! But what does all that mean?

First of all, designer synthetic lubricants are created by artificially breaking down chemical compounds and rebuilding them molecule by molecule from a base stock. A mineral, or conventional oil on the other hand, is made by refining crude oil. Which is why many consider synthetic lubricants superior. 

Synthetic lubricants can be completely made up, or they can be blended from multiple base oil types. A blended synthetic lubricant is a mix of conventional and synthetic base motor oils.

The crux of the matter however, is that synthetic oils benefit greater viscosity. Viscosity is a lubricant’s ability to produce and maintain the necessary film between the metal surfaces of an internal combustion engine and to protect moving parts as they slide or rotate against each other. The same applies to the transmission, differential and other car components. 

More stable synthetics outperform conventional mineral oils in most areas of protection. Synthetic oils are better in shear conditions. Their resistance to oxidation prevents sludge, varnish, and corrosion deposits from building up for sustained improved performance. Reduced volatility and emissions mean less topping up between service oil changes too.

Mineral oils also tend to thicken at extremely low temperatures. To the point that the lubricant will no longer circulate, cause oil starvation and engine failure. Synthetic lubes do not suffer from cold clogging.

A synthetic oil’s greatest advantage is however its longer lifespan versus a conventional oil. Recommended original equipment synthetic oil change intervals are considerably longer than those in OE mineral oils. 

Are there disadvantages in synthetic oils? Yes. Synthetic oils cost between double and four times more. And multigrade synthetic motor oils may exhibit slightly less fuel economy at highway speeds, compared to mineral oils. 

More viscous synthetic oils better withstand more extreme engine temperatures. They resist oxidation and chemical degradation, produce less sludge, and surface deposits and enjoy longer oil change intervals too. And synthetic oils flow better at low temperature. 

But is synthetic oil better for your engine than conventional mineral oil? In general, yes. Provided that you adhere to the carmaker's viscosity grade, or better, and always follow the carmakers' recommended oil change intervals, a synthetic oil will better protect your engine, albeit that it is more expensive.

That is why synthetic oils are rapidly becoming the new lubrication normal. Three-quarters of new cars, bakkies and SUVs already require full or semi synthetic oils, and this number continues to rise. 

Investing in premium lubrication not only improves your vehicle’s performance. It also enhances engine life. Which is why South Africa’s leading race drivers swear by Habot Synthetic Oils in series where every thousandth of a second counts. 

Habot Synthetic Oils really do make a difference and you can do the same for your ride. The Habot Oil Company has a full range of fully synthetic, or blended synthetic lubricant ideally suited to your needs for every aspect of your car. 

Log on to habot.co.za/automotive-lubricants to find your best synthetic lubrication solutions from engine, to gearbox, differential or whatever part of your car, SUV, bakkie or truck needs optimal protection.