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What is SelTec® Oil Additive? Over the years, as we have downsized engines increasing the demands on the engine oil, the standard quality of engine oil has had to improve to keep up with the demands. The current API (Automotive Petroleum Institute) standard is "SJ". This designation is the standard set by the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers,) "S" represents gasoline engine, the second letter "J" designates a change in the additive package. SelTec® Oil Additive contains additive package equal to 5 quarts of oil. By adding it to a standard oil change it effectively doubles the additive package, providing the benefits of improved pour-point and thermal stability, raising the overall quality of the oil to synthetic standards, while meeting and exceeding all SAE, API and OEM specifications.
The American Standard Test Method (ASTM) that all engine oils must pass in order to receive the SJ rating is called the "Sequence IIIE Test". In this test they use a Buick engine on a bench running at 3,000 rpm for 64 hours. It is the accepted industry standard that 3,000 rpm for 64 hours represents 3,000 miles of driving at 50 mph. As the oil additive package wears out due to time and heat, the oil begins to thicken. The viscosity index represents the thickening of the oil. If the oil exceeds 300% viscosity index at the 64-hour point it fails the test. If the oil does not exceed 300% at 64 hours then the oil passes and gets its SJ rating. SelTec® Premium Oil Change® improves thermal stability. Thermal stability of oil is its ability to perform under high-heat conditions, which is the most important factor in protecting against engine wear. When we added SelTec® Oil Additive to standard engine oil, it tripled the length of the test reaching only 125% viscosity. This demonstrates how much the product improves thermal stability. This does not mean that you can extend the oil change interval, it simply provides more insurance that we will be changing the oil before it breaks down, which is the best long-term maintenance we can do for our vehicle. The SelTec® Oil Additive substantially improves thermal stability - the oil will not breakdown as easily or as quickly as regular engine oil. In the real world we are dealing with stop and go driving and poor crankcase ventilation. The most critical time on the engine oil is when you are sitting still. If you have been driving on the freeway on a hot day, and you pull off and stop at a stop light, the oil will literally boil. The most critical environment on the engine oil is when the vehicle is not moving, and that time does not show up on the odometer. Since we cannot know for certain exactly when oil breaks down, it is always good maintenance practice to improve thermal stability with a Premium Oil Change at the recommended service interval. SelTec® Premium Oil Change lowers pour point to -39°. Pour point is the point at which engine oil stops pouring in cold weather. This is another important factor next to thermal stability. When the outside temperature reaches the freezing point-32°-oil will begin to thicken - the colder it gets the thicker the oil gets (10W30 stops pouring @ 0º, 5W30 stops pouring @-10º). The pour point of the engine oil will determine how long it will take to provide full lubrication to the upper engine during the cold weather start-up phase. It is possible to go for several minutes without full upper-engine lubrication even if the engine block heater is plugged in. SelTec® Premium Oil Change lowers the pour point of the engine oil to -39°, which is on par with true synthetics, and sufficiently covers our winter weather. SelTec® Premium Oil Change does not contain Teflon, PTFE, phosphorous, graphite, etc It is important not to add anything to the engine oil that is not compatible with OEM specifications. For instance, a few years ago Daimler Chrysler issued a bulletin regarding engine oil additives. In this bulletin they refer to products such as EOS (Engine Oil Supplement) that are high in phosphorous. The problem is that if you increase the phosphorous level in the engine oil there is potential to degrade emission components such as catalytic converters. Teflon® is another harmful substance that many companies use in their oil additives that is not accepted as being compatible with engine oil. Teflon® is finely ground particulate matter that has the potential to block oil filters and oil galleries, as well as baking to the inside of the engine over extended use. Dupont is the company that holds the patent on Teflon® and was recently sued due to engine problems resulting from its use. Since the lawsuit no one can legally use the name Teflon, it is now referred to as PTFE (it is the same product). SelTec® Oil Additive, which is the additive we use in the Premium Oil Change, does not contain any ingredient that is not compatible with engine oil, or that is harmful, such as Teflon, PTFE, phosphorous, graphite, etc.
Most synthetics do not lower the pour point to -39°, or triple the sequence IIIE test. Mobile 1 is one of the few true synthetics that will achieve these results, however, at $80 the cost is significantly higher. When you combine the benefits of -39° pour point, with extended thermal stability, in a product that meets or exceeds all OEM specifications, SelTec® Premium Oil Change becomes your best option, even over synthetics.