General FAQ’s
Motul’s 100% synthetic top of the range offering is denoted as the 8100 range in gold colour as well as the specific line in silver colour. Motul is combining the newest and best performing synthetic base oils to exceed car manufacturers requirements. The 8100 range is basically a combi-product with many different car manufacturers approvals whereas the Specific Range is dedicated for special approvals from given car manufacturers.
Motul’s term for its Semi-Synthetic oil.
Technosynthese® is an ingenious combination of synthetic and best mineral base stocks for optimal performance and price competitiveness. Technosynthese® is a registered trademark from Motul.
The base stocks used in Motul’s mineral range entirely proceed from the refining of crude oil.
Innovative processes have been used to optimize the first-class lubricating capability, adhesion to metallic surfaces, excellent flow at low temperatures as well as resistance to high temperatures, shear stability and stable viscosity. The success story of Motul products is closely related to ester technology, as verified by the outstanding results obtained with Motul lubricants even under the extreme operating conditions that occur in racing. Motul have succeeded in making a product series with outstanding properties just that little bit better.
Viscosity describes the inner friction of fluids and gives an indication of flow behaviour at low and high temperatures. HTHS viscosity (high temperature high shear) or dynamic viscosity is measured in milli Pascal seconds (mPa*s) at 150 °C and under very high shear load 106 s-1. This describes the behaviour of the lubricant under operating conditions at
the cylinder respectively in the conrod bearing or crankshaft bearing. Low HTHS: 2.9-3.5 mPa*s = reduced HTHS viscosity, permits low fuel consumption. High HTHS: ≥ 3.5 mPa*s = high HTHS viscosity, high wear protection.
The viscosity grades of engine lubricants are stipulated according to SAE J300 (Society of Automotive Engineers).
For example, SAE 10W40: the number before the ‘W’ stands for low-temperature viscosity and ‘W’ stands for winter. The number after the ‘W’ stands for high-temperature viscosity. The higher the warm viscosity grade, the higher the loads that the oil can take at high temperatures. To avoid the mixture between engine and gear oils, the SAE viscosity grades for gear oils are classified according to SAE J306 (e.g. SAE 75W90).
In view of the fundamental differences between operating conditions and engine characteristics in Europe and America, the ACEA Organisation (Association des Constructeurs Européens d‘Automotobiles) introduced its own classification system in 1996. It is based on the API classifications but with a greater focus on the special lubricant requirements of the engines in European motor vehicles together with the
respective EURO emission regulations. This also includes successful conclusion of test runs in defined European test engines. The current ACEA-2016 is divided into A-sequences (A3, A5) for car gasoline engines, B-sequences (B3, B4, B5) for car Diesel engines, C-sequences (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) for engine oils with limited SAPS level and E-sequences (E4, E6, E7, E9) for heavy duty Diesel engine oils.
The API classes (American Petroleum Institute) describe the American requirements and quality criterias of engine oil or transmission fluids.