One comment we frequently hear from service managers and others is “I don’t believe in additives.” The reality is that every truck / vehicle owner not only believes in additives but uses them regularly.

So what am I talking about?

Have you ever wondered what differentiates one major brand of motor oil from another, or one brand of fuel from another - besides the size of their marketing budget?

All these products start out using similar base oils whether mineral or synthetic. However, in themselves base oils are useless in an engine application until they are blended with an additive package, which includes things such as detergents, emulsifiers, lubricants, etc. Even bio diesel is a fuel additive. Oils and fuels are specifically formulated for specific applications. The additive package formulated for a high performance race engine is very different then the add package formulated for use in a transit bus axel.

As an example, consider diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is principally a blend of petroleum-derived compounds called middle distillates (heavier than gasoline but lighter than lube oil) and may contain additional additives. Lubricity is the characteristic that ensures protection against fuel pump and injector wear. Since 2005 the use of lubricity additives has become common and all major blends of diesel fuels intended for over the road use contain them.

The reality is every one of us chooses our preferred diesel and engine lubricant products at least in part based on what we perceive that manufacturer’s formulation does for our vehicles and certainly this is how the manufacturers are marketing their brands.

Lorne Shantz, CEO Green Performance Systems