There are plenty of options for base oils and extenders, but viscosity index improvers (VIIs) make up a specific class. These VIIs (also called VI improvers or VI modifiers) improve an oil's viscosity index.
Understanding the Viscosity Index of your engine oil could mean the difference between getting a car service or not. Viscosity index improvers are additives intended to improve a lubricant's ability to reduce friction.
As the name suggests, viscosity index improvers provide a solution for improving the viscosity of some industrial products. The viscosity of a fluid is defined as a measure of its resistance to flow. This property is highly dependent on temperature and mass density. Viscosity index improvers can be utilized in many industrial processes, including asphalt cementing, water treatment, paint, and plastics manufacturing.
As a definition, a viscosity index improver is a low molecular weight or number (narrow) hydrocarbon molecule that interferes with the polymerization of the base oil. This product, also known as VI Improver and VI Improves, was developed years ago to extend the Viscosity Index Range of base oils. The higher range of viscosity index improvers is used for motor oils and hydraulic fluids.
When added to a lubricant, Viscosity index improvers can increase the fluid's resistance to flow. That is not simply a lubricant additive for paints and coatings. Viscosity index improvers can function in many non-paint applications and help increase your machinery's performance by reducing energy lost and increasing horsepower and torque produced.
5 Benefits of Viscosity Index Improver:
Viscosity index improvers are a class of chemicals added to the oil to improve the lubrication properties. They reduce engine friction and wear, leading to fewer repairs and better fuel economy. This article discusses five benefits of viscosity index improvers when used in engine oil.
1. Better Friction Reduction:
A Viscosity Index Improver (VI) is made of polymers and other additives mixed into a base oil to make it more slippery. When this sneaky additive is added to the oil, it can reduce friction between moving parts in an engine, which results in less wear on those parts. That means that VI's help extends the life of machines and improves their efficiency at lower temperatures, too.
2. Reduced Wear:
A significant benefit of synthetic oils is that they have higher viscosity indexes than conventional ones. Viscosity index improvers allow more efficient oil pumps to function correctly, so synthetic oils also offer more protection. That makes them a natural choice for drivers trying to improve their cars' performance and longevity.
3. Improves Engine Performance:
The primary purpose of viscosity index improvers is to increase the viscosity of crude oils and other petroleum products to meet specific standards required for different applications. However, if you add VI improvers to these low-viscosity crudes, you can get a dense product with a longer life span for engines. That will help you save on engine maintenance costs because you will need fewer breakdowns and repairs over time.
4. Viscosity Index Improves Low-Temperature Performance:
Applying engine oil at low temperatures may have too much drag on the moving parts to protect them adequately. To prevent this problem, you need a lubricant with high VI levels — which can achieve through viscosity index improvers. Without them, you'll experience poor stability, reduced engine life, and increased emissions.
5. It Reduces Sludge Formation:
Sludge is a thick, oily substance that forms when water and dirt mix with used motor oil. This mixture becomes a goopy mess that can clog up your engine's parts and cause expensive problems down the road if not cleaned out immediately. When VI improvers are added to your diesel fuel, they prevent sludge from forming inside your engine's parts by keeping moisture levels low in your fuel tank and preventing dirt from building up inside your fuel lines and injectors.
