Keeping your fleet running smoothly starts with a simple yet important question: which lubricants should you use – synthetic or traditional? The right selection can mean longer engine life and uptime, and great maintenance savings. But not all lubricants are created equally. Understanding the difference between synthetic and conventional formulations, along with their benefits and setbacks, can help you make smart and cost-effective decisions that will optimize the life and performance of your fleet.
Back to the basics: Synthetic vs. conventional heavy-duty engine oils & greases
A great first step in making the right lubrication choice is knowing the difference between traditional and synthetic formulations.
Engine oils: Traditional or mineral engine oils are more often than not derived from crude oil or base oils through refined processes. They typically contain a wide variety of molecules and fewer uniform molecules.
Synthetics, on the other hand, are usually engineered from chemically synthesized components or ultra-refined base oils and undergo specific manufacturing processes to achieve the desired characteristics.
Greases: Grease provides a protective layer between metal surfaces, long-lasting protection in high-friction areas, and prevents wear, especially in harsh environments. Heavy-duty grease is designed for applications where conventional lubricants like oil may not stay in place or provide sufficient protection. It is commonly used in heavily loaded or high-friction areas such as bearings, gears, and other moving parts.
Grease is composed of a thickener matrix that suspends lubricating oil and helps it adhere to metal surfaces. “Synthetic” pertains to the base oil component of the grease being either fully synthetic or a blend of synthetic and conventional oils. Synthetic greases incorporate synthetic base oils and are engineered to enhance performance across various applications.
Choosing the right products for your fleet
Before deciding between synthetic and traditional products, consider the following key factors:
- Operating conditions: Do your vehicles face cold starts, extreme heat, or heavy loads? Do they operate in harsh terrains and environments?
- Engine compatibility: Always confirm the oil or grease meets your vehicles’ original equipment manufacturer and API specifications. The American Petroleum Institute established industry standards to ensure the quality and performance of engine oils, greases and transmission fluids.
- Engine oils: Key API specs for heavy-duty engine oils include API CK-4 (designed for high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines), API FA-4 (compatible with newer engines), and API CJ-4, CI-4, CH-4, etc. (older categories for engines made before 2017).
- Greases: The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) classifies greases into groups based on their consistency, or capability to keep their form under stress and pressure. NLGI’s descriptive grading system ranges from 000 (very liquid grease) to 6 (extremely firm).
- Customer testimonials: Peer feedback can offer valuable real-world insight into performance and reliability.
- Expert advice: Consult with lubricant specialists, such as CITGO Lubricants experts, to offer tailored recommendations on optimizing performance and cost-effectiveness specific to your needs.
Why many fleets are choosing synthetic lubricants
Many fleet managers are turning to synthetic oils and greases for one reason: they perform better under extreme conditions. Standout benefits of synthetics include:
- Superior viscosity and thermal stability: Synthetic oils maintain their flow and protection across a wider range of temperatures. Lighter viscosities, like 5W-30 or 10W-30, offer faster cold starts, reduced engine friction, and better fuel economy, ensuring durability under stress
- Excellent oxidation resistance: Synthetic lubricants degrade more slowly under heat and stress, potentially allowing for longer use between oil changes.
- Enhanced wear protection: With stronger film strength and advanced additive packages, synthetics can provide better protection in extreme load, high-stress environments.
- Extended maintenance intervals: Longer drain and regreasing intervals reduce downtime and maintenance costs, especially when backed by oil analysis programs.
- Improved engine cleanliness and fuel efficiency: Lower friction and cleaner-running engines improve fuel efficiency and contribute to complying with growing industry and OEM standards.
When synthetics make sense and when they don’t
Synthetics are ideal for fleets that:
- Operate in extreme climates
- Require extended service intervals
- Run in high-load applications
- Can’t afford unexpected downtime
While traditional lubricants are suitable in fleets that:
- Are budget-conscious
- Handle short-haul, light-duty or low-mileage routes
- Operate in mild environmental conditions
CITGARD and Mystik premium synthetic lubricants: The right choice for your fleet
CITGO Lubricants offers a wide range of synthetic oils tailored to diverse commercial vehicle applications. For instance, their CITGO CITGARD 1000 engine oils cater to specific viscosity requirements, optimizing efficiency for over-the-road and on/off-road operations. CITGO Lubricants extends comprehensive support programs, such as the new and improved LubeAlert, a state-of-the-art fluid condition monitoring service used for predictive and preventative equipment maintenance. Moreover, CITGO Lubricants emphasizes adherence to environmental regulations, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.
By combining synthetic and conventional oils, CITGO synthetic blends provide enhanced mobility, stability, and performance, catering to your fleet’s unique needs. CITGO CITGARD 700 synthetic blend engine oils deliver the performance needed for newer engine designs while improving performance in older engines. These premium oils are engineered with a proprietary additive technology that protects engines running at higher operating temperatures and fuel injection pressures while meeting tighter wear limits and lower emission requirements. Their SAE 10W-30 viscosity grade helps attain the new fuel efficiency standards by improving fuel economy (up to 3% fuel economy advantage over conventional SAE 15W-40 oils), increasing cold start-up lubrication, and providing superior engine durability.
Mystik JT-6 Heavy Duty SynBlend 460 #2 Grease represents the latest in grease technology, using an optimized blend of mineral and synthetic base oils. This uniquely refined grease formulation offers excellent wear protection when operating with higher loads, extending equipment component life, and exhibits superior performance properties over a wide operating temperature range (-5° to 350°F).
Choosing between synthetic and traditional lubricants is about long-term performance and maintenance efficiency. By evaluating your fleet’s conditions, operational goals, and maintenance strategy, you can select the right lubricants to reduce maintenance costs, keep your vehicles on the road longer, and your business moving forward.