Base Oil Groups


The American Petroleum Institute (API) has set up Base Oil Groups that identify one base oil from another.

Qualities that separate base oil groups include:

  • Sulfur Content: Contaminant that can be corrosive to machinery under certain conditions
  • Percentage of Saturates: Very stable oil molecules. Higher saturates percentage means that the oil will resist oxidation and remain in service longer.
  • Viscosity Index: The measure of how well oil retains its viscosity. Higher V.I. = better viscosity stability over a wide range of temperatures.

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