Synthetic Lubricants Mean Less Dependence on Foreign Oil Consumption
In today’s world, lubricants play a crucial role in the functioning of machines – both big and small. From cars, trucks, and airplanes to factories and power plants, everything needs lubricants. In the United States, the majority of these lubricants are derived from crude oil, causing a massive dependence on foreign oil consumption. Synthetic lubricants are an excellent alternative to conventional mineral oils that help reduce the import of foreign oil.
The United States is heavily reliant on foreign oil. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the United States imported 9.14 million barrels of oil per day in May 2021, with almost half of it coming from OPEC countries. This dependence on foreign oil can be an economic and national security threat to the country. It can also be an environmental threat due to the high amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced during the extraction, transportation, and refining of crude oil.
But the development of synthetic lubricants has revolutionized the lubrication industry. Synthetic lubricants are created from synthetic base oils with specific additives added to impart unique characteristics, unlike conventional mineral oils. Synthetic base oils contain fewer impurities, as well as higher viscosity indexes, which means they are less affected by temperature changes, leading to better performance and less wear on machinery compared to conventional mineral oils.
The benefits of synthetic lubricants are many, including lower fuel consumption, extended machinery life, greater efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. They have been gaining popularity in various industries, including the automotive, aviation, and manufacturing sectors. Synthetic lubricants also have been becoming increasingly environment friendly in recent years and have gained attention as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional mineral oils.
The United States is the largest consumer of synthetic lubricants globally, with the automotive industry being one of the biggest users. Synthetic motor oils are being increasingly used in automotive and related industries due to stringent regulations on emission levels. The United States has adopted these regulations to meet stringent limits on carbon dioxide emissions, and synthetic lubricants have proven beneficial by reducing GHG emissions and improving fuel economy.
The aviation industry is another important user of synthetic lubricants. Aircraft engines require high-quality lubricants to withstand high temperatures, high altitude, and extreme speeds. Synthetic aviation lubricants have met the industry's high usage needs, with synthetic turbine oil increasingly being used due to the need for higher heat and oxidative stability.
The manufacturing industry, including the energy and power sectors, is also a significant user of synthetic lubricants. In the energy and power sectors, synthetic lubricants are being used to achieve better performance and increased efficiency by reducing frictional losses while cutting down on downtime and maintenance costs. They have proven helpful in reducing energy consumption in power plants by improving machinery efficiency.
By using synthetic lubricants, the United States can reduce its reliance on foreign oil by producing domestically made synthetic oils from natural gas, providing a significant advantage in the global market. Synthetic lubricants are manufactured using raw materials derived from natural gas, which the United States has in abundance. Therefore, using synthetic lubricants can create a sense of energy independence and security, with benefits for both economic and strategic interests.
The adoption of synthetic lubricants can also benefit the environment by reducing GHG emissions. The Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation estimates that switching automotive and industrial lubricants to synthetic oils could save up to 800 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Synthetic lubricants reduce friction, which in turn helps conserve fuel, and the constant lubrication of oil results in less wear on machinery, leading to fewer GHG emissions.
Furthermore, synthetic lubricants are more cost-effective compared to mineral oils in the long run. Although the cost of synthetic lubricants is relatively higher than mineral oils, they have high viscosity indexes, consume lesser fuel, require less maintenance and, consequently, extend machinery life. The increased performance and efficiency, combined with longer intervals between oil changes, make synthetic lubricants more cost-effective in the long run.
In conclusion, synthetic lubricants are a viable alternative to conventional mineral oils that have revolutionized the lubrication industry. Their many benefits include reduced fuel consumption, extended machinery life, greater efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. Synthetic lubricants are an eco-friendly and energy-efficient alternative to conventional mineral oils, and their adoption can help reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. The benefits of synthetic lubricants extend from the economic and national security benefits to the environmental benefits and ultimately provide a sustainable future for future generations.