Glossary
A
Additives – Additives are chemical components which are used to chemically modify structures within base oils. The effects of this include enhanced formulations for better efficiencies, for example sludge protection, better performance, and higher lubrication capabilities.
API (American Petroleum Institute) – This label which can be found on Ravenol's products specify that Ravenol oils have been approved by the API to meet its current service rating.
B
Base Oil – All types of oil will initially start with a base oil, and then additives will be missed in with the base oil to produce the final product. Ravenol uses specially formulated additives within its base oils to create high-quality products, which results in lower emissions and longer lasting effectiveness for mechanical components within your vehicle.
C
CleanSynto – This technology formulated by Ravenol actively reduces deposits of soot and dirt particles helping oil reach critical lubricating points more effectively and keeps your engine clean and running like new for longer. In addition, the CleanSynto technology dramatically improves engine efficiency and significantly reduces the risk of developing engine problems in the future.
D
DIN EN ISO 14001 – This certification shows that Ravenol has met or exceeded the requirements for a safe, health and performance-promoting work environment that brings environmental protection to life.
DIN EN ISO 9001 - This certification shows that Ravenol has met the requirements and standards of TÜV Rheinland, who is a leading certification provider, and shows that Ravenol has met or exceeded the requirements of the ‘Production and distribution of motor oils, transmission lubricants, hydraulic oils, greases, winter chemicals, and car care products’.
Direct injection – Direct injection is a type of fuel delivery. Unlike other fuel delivery systems, direct injection allows fuel to be inserted into the piston chamber, allowing precision during the delivery and ignition process.
F
Fully synthetic – Most modern vehicles require fully-synthetic oil due to its strong properties. This type of oil offers the highest level of protection for your engine as it is 100% synthetic and is not mixed with mineral oil.
H
HFE (High Fuel Economy) – This code found on Ravenol oil product labels shows that rigorous testing has proven that HFE oil formulations show higher fuel efficiency ratings. Therefore, meaning you’ll see better fuel economy when you choose these products.
High Mileage Oil: If like 60% of vehicles on the road yours has over 75,000 miles on the clock, you should consider high mileage oils. Specially formulated for engines with larger gaps due to wear, they include anti-wear additives, seal conditioners to restore flexibility and viscosity-index improvers to maintain oil pressure and reduce oil consumption.
I
IATF 16949 – This certification shows that Ravenol has met the requirements and standards of the International Automotive Task Force for the blending of oils.
ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee) – This label found on our products specify that our oils have been approved and mee their current engine protection standard and fuel economy requirements.
O
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) – This approval shows that Ravenol oil products have been approved and recommended by the original car manufacturer. This shows the quality of the oil meets and can even exceed the manufacturers requirements.
Oil grades – Every grade of engine oil will include a set of numbers and letters, but what do they mean? The first number and the preceding ‘W’ indicates the oil’s thickness (viscosity) at low temperatures and stands for ‘Winter’. The last number indicates the oil’s thickness (viscosity) at high temperatures. In practice, this means the lower the first set of numbers, the better it will perform in lower temperatures. Correspondingly, the higher the last set of numbers, the better it will perform in higher temperatures. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than the other. In fact, car manufacturers recommend the specific oil grade (which if found in the owner’s manual) for your car based on the most efficient oil it can run on during the engine testing stage during manufacturing. This means you’ll see the best mix of fuel economy and performance to ensure your engine’s life lasts longer.
S
SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) – This code found on Ravenol oil product labels is known as the ‘viscosity rating’ and indicates that our oils have passed the Energy Conserving test.
Semi synthetic – This type of oil contains a mixture of mineral and synthetic oil. They offer good properties in protecting your engine. Though cheaper than fully synthetic oil, it does not protect your engine to the same level.
Shear stability – This shows the oil’s ability to resist against the shear forces which occurs when the oil reaches different temperatures. In technical terms, when the oil is heated or cooled to extreme temperatures, polymer chains will break down, resulting in less viscous (thinner) oil and less protection for the engines moving components. Simply put, the higher the shear stability, the more effective it will be during extreme high or low temperatures.
U
UFE (Ultra Fuel Economy) - This code found on Ravenol oil product labels shows that rigorous testing has proven that UFE oil formulations show much higher fuel efficiency ratings than standard oil. Therefore, meaning you’ll see better fuel economy when you choose these products. A byproduct of better fuel efficiency also means it’s better for the environment, so it’s a win, win!
USVO (Ultra Strong Viscosity Oil) - Lubricant requirements for modern vehicles are becoming increasingly demanding, with unwanted changes in viscosity quickly causing serious problems. To counter this, Ravenol has developed the USVO® lubricant technology to provide a very high viscosity stability at both high and low temperatures. To achieve this only the highest quality fully synthetic base oils and additives are used.
V
Viscosity – Viscosity is measured through the resistance to flow through components. Oils that too thin will result in components wearing quicker. Similarly, oils that are too thick will make the components struggle more and become less effective. Therefore, make sure you get the oil specifications recommended in the owner’s manual as they have been specifically tested by car manufacturers for the best efficiency for the engine, resulting in a longer engine lifespan.