Industrial lubricants are crucial parts of the manufacturing industry. Metalworking, for example, cannot be effectively done without lubricants, and they are key industrial supplies for a number of other tasks as well. However, there is a wide variation between different types of lubricants. Not only do they serve a wide variety of different roles, but they also vary in terms of quality. For example, there is a difference in performance between synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants. This difference in performance is reflected in the cost of the lubricants, with completely synthetic lubricants often costing more than semi-synthetic lubricants. In the past, this has led some companies to attempt to save money by investing in the cheaper semi-synthetic products, but this inevitably comes with accompanying results.

This is why it's important to explore the benefits of investing in synthetic lubricants, whether you're seeking out mil spec oils and lubricants or other types of products. While in the short term it may seem wise to save money by investing in lubricants that are of a lower quality, in the long term you may seem some negative effects that could end up costing you more than you expected. Remember that lubricants are used on machinery, and if that machinery is damaged in any way it can be extremely difficult to repair it in a cost-effective manner.

What Are Mil Spec Oils And Lubricants?

When looking into the differences between synthetic lubricants and semi-synthetic lubricants, the term mil spec oils or mil spec oils and lubricants often appeal. Mil spec in general refers to military specification products. These products were made to military specifications, and therefore can sometimes be of a higher quality than comparative products. Mil spec oils and lubricants can still be used outside of a military setting, including manufacturing and other machine-related industries. However, clearly products made for the military would be made with the highest quality synthetic materials. This is one reason why synthetic products have become more recognized as preferable products. If a product was made for the military, there are stricter standards and expectations involved, inevitably.

What Is The Difference Between Synthetic And Semi-Synthetic Lubricants?

The difference between synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants is essentially in the makeup of synthetic lubricants, and will result in the long-term performance. Synthetic lubricants are made of artificial materials, which often makes them slicker and higher in viscosity. This is particularly noticeable when they're being used in low or high temperature environments, in comparison to semi-synthetic or crude oil lubricants. While synthetic lubricants will maintain performance levels in these more extreme environments, often crude oil or semi-synthetic products will experience a drop in quality. Some may believe that a semi-synthetic lubricant is an effective substitute for a synthetic lubricant, but this is not necessarily the case. Now, semi-synthetic products will contain less than 30% oil content in concentrate. In contrast, pure synthetics will contain no oil in concentrate. This lack of oil can account for a higher cost for synthetic materials.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Synthetic Lubricants?

There are a number of benefits to investing in synthetic lubricants. The colder pour points of synthetic lubricants means that they will start working faster on extremely cold mornings, for example. While some environments are constantly regulated in terms of temperature, at times it's impossible to shield your equipment from weather conditions completely. This is why synthetic lubricants come in handy. A synthetic lubricant will also offer a higher resistant to issues like sludge, oxidation, and thermal breakdown. This means that these products need to be changed less frequently than crude oil products. Therefore, when machinery needs to be used frequently, a synthetic lubricant may be a more optimal investment.

Again, the initial investment in a synthetic lubricant may seem to be unnecessary. While this type of lubricant may be more costly initially, it will maintain the integrity of your equipment much more effectively. Consider the long term costs that come with consistently buying synthetic lubricants, compared to the expense of repairing or replacing equipment. Ultimately, the benefits of buying synthetic lubricants on that level alone are clear. They're worth the additional cost.