Formulated lubricants meeting 0W and 5W low temperature performance specifications made from a mixture of base stocks obtained by different final wax processing routes

Abstract

Formulated lubricating oils meeting 0W and 5W low temperature CCS and MRV performance specification and exhibiting a Noack volatility of about 15 wt % or less are prepared from a mixture of base stocks/base oils of similar kinematic viscosity grade range produced by different final wax processing routes and omitting or reducing the amount of viscosity modifiers and pour point depressants.

1 . A multi-grade engine oil meeting SAE engine oil viscosity classification for 0W-X or 5W-X low temperature specification and NOACK volatility of 15% or less, a 0W-X specification of CCS viscosity at −35° C. of 6200 cP or less and of MRV at −40° C. of 60,000 cP or less, or a 5W-X specification of CCS viscosity at −30° C. of 6600 cP or less and of MRV at −35° C. of 60,000 cP or less, and a yield stress of less than 35 pascals comprising a mixture of at least two base stocks, or of base stock(s) and base oil(s) or of two base oils each base stock or base oil being produced employing different final wax removal or conversion processing routes wherein each base stock or base oil individually has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 3.5 to 7 mm 2 /s and the mixture thereof without additives has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 4 to 6 mm 2 /s and wherein the pour point of each stock and/or base oil is mixture is about −30° C. or higher provided that as compared to the temperature at which the MRV is measured for each engine oil grade the difference between the pour point of the oil mixture and the temperature of measurement of the MRV of the formulated oil is at least about 10° C., and about zero to 0.1 wt % of a pour point depressant (as received) based on the total weight of the engine oil.  
     
     
         2 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein each base stock or base oil individually has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 4 to 7 mm 2 /s.  
     
     
         3 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein the pour point of each base stock and/or base oil in the mixture is about −25° C. or higher.  
     
     
         4 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 2  wherein the pour point of each base stock and/or base oil in the mixture is about −25° C. or higher.  
     
     
         5 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a single solvent dewaxing technique and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed using a single catalytic dewaxing technique wherein the amount of catalytically dewaxed stock combined with the solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 5 to 35 wt %.  
     
     
         6 . The multi-grade engine oil of 5 wherein the amount of catalytically dewaxed stock combined with the solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 10 to 25 wt %.  
     
     
         7 . The multi grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed using a first catalytic dewaxing technique and the other base stock base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed to produce a second catalytically dewaxed stock using a second, different catalytic dewaxing technique, and is wherein the weight ratio of the first catalytically dewaxed stock to the second catalytically dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         8 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a first solvent dewaxing technique to produce a first solvent dewaxed stock and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a second, different solvent dewaxing technique to produce a second solvent dewaxed stock and wherein the weight ratio of the first solvent dewaxed stock to the second solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         9 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a single solvent dewaxing process technique or catalytically dewaxed using a single catalytic dewaxing technique to produce a first dewaxed stock and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is GTL oil, hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil, or mixture thereof produced using a single same synthesis technique or final wax hydrodewaxing or hydroisomerization/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxing process technique to produce a second stock and wherein the weight ratio of the first dewaxed stock to the second dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         10 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 1  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is GTL oil and/or hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil produced using a first, final wax processing technique and the other base stock, or base oil or mixture of base oil is GTL oil and/or hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil produced using a second final wax processing technique different from the first to produce a second stock and wherein the weight ratio of the first dewaxed stock to the second dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first stock is a GTL oil and the second stock is a GTL oil or a hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil.  
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a base oil for use as the base oil in the formulation of 0W-X or 5W-X multi-grade engine oils meeting a NOACK volatility of 15% or less, a 0W-X specification of CCS viscosity at −35° C. of 6200 cP or less and of MRV at 40° C. of 60,000 cP or less, or a 5W-X specification of CCS viscosity at −30° C. of 6600 cP or less and of MRV at −35° C. of 60,000 cP or less, and a yield stress of less than 35 pascals when formulated, said method comprising mixing at least two base stocks, or base stock and base oil, or two base oils produced by different final wax removal or conversion processing routes, wherein each base stock or base oil individually making up the mixture has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 3.5 to 7.0 mm 2 /s, the mixture itself, without additives, having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 4 to 6 mm 2 /s and wherein the pour point of each base stock or base oil in the mixture, without additive, is about −30° C. or higher, provided that as compared to the temperature at which the MRV is measured for each engine oil grade the difference between the pour point of the oil mixture and the temperature of measurement of the MRV of the formulated oil is at least about 10° C.  
     
     
         13 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein each base stock or base oil individually has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. in the range of about 4 to 7 mm 2 /s.  
     
     
         14 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein the pour point of each base stock and/or base oil in the mixture is about −25° C. or higher.  
     
     
         15 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a single solvent dewaxing technique and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed using a single catalytic dewaxing technique wherein the amount of catalytically dewaxed stock combined with the solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 5 to 35 wt %.  
     
     
         16 . The multi-grade engine oil of 15 wherein the amount of catalytically dewaxed stock combined with the solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 10 to 25 wt %.  
     
     
         17 . The multi grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed using a first catalytic dewaxing technique and the other base stock base oil or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is catalytically dewaxed to produce a second catalytically dewaxed stock using a second, different catalytic dewaxing technique, and wherein the weight ratio of the first catalytically dewaxed stock to the second catalytically dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         18 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a first solvent dewaxing technique to produce a first solvent dewaxed stock and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a second, different solvent dewaxing technique to produce a second solvent dewaxed stock, and wherein the weight ratio of the first solvent dewaxed stock to the second solvent dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         19 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is solvent dewaxed using a single solvent dewaxing process technique or catalytically dewaxed using a single catalytic dewaxing technique to produce a first dewaxed stock, and the other base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is GTL oil, hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed base stock or base oil, or mixture thereof produced using a single same synthesis technique or final wax hydroisomerization-hydrodewaxing/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxing process technique to produce a second stock provided that if a catalytic dewaxing or solvent dewaxing step is employed as the final step in producing the second base stock, base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil it is different from the solvent dewaxing or catalytic dewaxing step practice to produce the first base stock, base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil, and wherein the weight ratio of the first dewaxed stock to the second dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         20 . The multi-grade engine oil of  claim 12  wherein one base stock or base oil or mixture of base stock and base oil is GTL oil and/or hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil produced using a first, final wax processing technique and the other base stock, or base oil or mixture of base oil is GTL oil and/or hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil produced using a second final wax processing technique different from the first to produce a second stock, and wherein the weight ratio of the first dewaxed stock to the second dewaxed stock ranges from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the first stock is a GTL oil and the second stock is a GTL oil or a hydrodewaxed, or hydroisomerized/cat (and/or solvent) dewaxed wax base stock or base oil.