ExxonMobil leverages its lubes technology

Creates rapid growth in premium products

This article originally appeared in the Lamp, 2007 — Number 3

Lubricants grease the wheels of the world, and ExxonMobil has been a global player in the lube business since the 1800s.

First of a two-part series

Lubricants protect against the destructive effects of friction and wear by creating distance between contiguous surfaces. They are a vital component of the modern world, for without them the gears and cogs of the machinery most of us take for granted would literally grind to a halt. Even high-tech devices are lube-dependent to some degree; computers, for example, have hard drives built of many moving parts.

The lubrication concept has roots originating with the invention of the wheel, and it could be said the wheel and lubrication evolved together. Ancient Greeks and Romans applied animal fat to the wheels of racing and war chariots to make them move more efficiently. Some historians speculate that lubrication predates the wheel, and that Egyptians used mud as a lubricant to slick the wooden ramps upon which massive stones were hauled en route to pyramid construction sites.

In the thick of it
The dawn of lubrication’s modern age coincided with the debut of the steam engine cylinder, a very lube-dependent technology. At the time, whale oil was being nudged aside by petroleum as the dominant medium for heating and light, mainly because whales had already been hunted to near-extinction, and kerosene was cheaper.

"While the thickness of the heavier molecules in a barrel of crude made them inappropriate for either warmth or illumination, they were ideally suited for lubricants," says Bill Maxwell, senior engineering advisor. "ExxonMobil began formulating lubricants in the second half of the 19th century. One hundred and thirty years later, we’re still at it."

The company’s first lubricant, Vacuum Oil, was introduced by Socony-Vacuum, one of the enterprises that would eventually become ExxonMobil. Vacuum Oil has a distinguished history, flying with the Wright Brothers, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. It was also the lubricant of choice for America’s earliest gas-powered auto manufacturers and was used in Thomas Edison’s first power-generating system.

A full range
"Our engineers and chemists are driven in their search for new technologies that will provide our customers and race teams with next-generation lubricants," says Nancy Carlson, director of strategic global alliances and motorsports. "Our extensive team of lubricants and specialties researchers has the technical expertise it needs to formulate products in an environment where standards are apt to change very quickly."

Today, ExxonMobil is a world leader in lubricant research, development and production. The company is the largest supplier of lubricant basestocks derived from naturally occurring petroleum (mineral oils) or synthesized from chemical reactions (synthetic basestocks). ExxonMobil formulates its various product offerings by blending these base fluids with additives to manufacture high-performance finished lubricants. The company offers the industrial and consumer marketplace a full range of synthetic and mineral lubricants. ExxonMobil produces these products at 11 lube basestock refineries and 48 blending plants around the world.

Evolving from research dating to World War II, synthetic lubricants were created to better meet the temperature and pressure demands imposed by stress-inducing technologies. ExxonMobil’s passenger car synthetic lube line was launched in 1973 with the introduction of Mobil SHC 10W-50 synthetic oil. Mobil 1 synthetic engine lubricant, destined to become the flagship of the fleet and the world’s leading passenger car engine oil, has been on the market for more than 30 years.

"Mobil 1 synthetic oil was custom-made," Maxwell recalls. "The product was built from scratch from proprietary formulations and processes with a proven track record. This custom method of creating the highest quality of synthetic oils, a combination of ‘art and science,’ continues to this day for the Mobil 1 family. One of our favorite sayings is, 'nothing outperforms Mobil 1 synthetic oil.’ This maxim is equally valid technically, commercially and on the racetrack."

ExxonMobil works with the motorsports industry not merely to promote Mobil 1 engine oil but to test the lubricant under extraordinary conditions. The company has built important partnerships around the product: Chevrolet Corvette since 1992, Porsche since 1996 and a number of others including Cadillac, Dodge Viper, Mercedes-Benz, Acura RDX and Mercedes-AMG, the high-performance division of the German carmaker’s automotive family. Mobil 1 EP (Extended Performance) engine oil is an enhanced product formulated for greater durability and longevity, enabling a motorist to safely rack up as many as 15,000 miles between oil changes.

Lubes for all seasons
"ExxonMobil formulates lubricants to meet the performance specifications of our customers’ applications," says Grant Karsner, product technology manager. "There are five product families in all: passenger, commercial, industrial, marine and aviation, and we offer a line of products for every one of them."

Passenger vehicle lubricants are designed to meet the industry and automotive specs of markets around the world. Mobil 1 synthetic oil plays a starring role on the international stage as it meets more than 50 car manufacturer specifications. Big markets for this world lube leader include the United States and Western Europe, with rapid growth in emerging markets including Asia and Eastern Europe. ExxonMobil also makes lube products for on- and off-highway commercial vehicles. These commercial vehicle lubricants are built to meet the performance demands of commercial cargo haulers, mobile farm and construction equipment and the wheeled workhorses employed in warehouses, such as forklifts. Mobil Delvac 1 lubricant, Mobil 1300 Super lubricant and many other products are formulated with these special applications in mind.

ExxonMobil’s family of industrial oils is formulated to meet the working requirements of a wide variety of applications ranging from gas and wind turbines to hydraulic and paper machine applications. For example, the Mobil SHC 600 is one of a number of synthetic lube series of products that enables high performance in mechanically taxing, industrial environments.

The company blends a range of marine lubricants. Mobilgard 570 oil, our most widely used marine lubricant, is formulated to extend the life of cruise liners, oil freighters and container vessels.

The company also produces engine and hydraulic oils for aviation. Examples include Mobil Jet Oil II and Mobil Jet Oil 254 for engines, and HyJet 1V-A+ for hydraulic systems.

"ExxonMobil has developed a set of global process and quality standards that work consistently around the world," Karsner adds. "Global strategic alliances with Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, Caterpillar and many other companies have enabled the development of high-performance lubricant products that very rapidly meet customer needs. Such relationships allow ExxonMobil to be best and first, and that has steered the company down a road of continuing excellence."