Base oils can’t do it alone. Base oils serve as the foundation of all lubricants used in automotive products, including engine oils, transmission and gear lubricants, and greases. But base oils need the help of additives to maintain the proper viscosity for lubrication, improve performance, prevent contamination, avoid chemical breakdown, and protect engine parts.

The properties of base oil determine how they are used. It’s the additive technology that makes all the difference, reacting with the base oil in three possible ways:

• Enhance existing base oil properties
  Examples: corrosion inhibitors, demulsifying agents, antifoam agents, and antioxidants
• Suppress unwanted base oil properties
  Examples: Viscosity index (VI) improvers and pour-point depressants
• Create new base oil properties
  Examples: Extra pressure (EP) additives, metal deactivators, tackiness agents, and detergents