Making the Choice between a General Purpose or Synthetic Machinery Lubricant

Posted: Oct 14, 2012
Author: Bumgarner Oil

All manufacturers and business owners expect two things from their operating machinery: increased productivity and decreased downtime. As the importance of having good working machinery to maintain customer satisfaction grows, the need to maintain these performance levels does as well. One of the simplest and most overlooked ways to maintain the performance of operating machinery is proper lubrication provided by an appropriate lubricant.

Choosing the right type of lubricant for your machinery needs can be a difficult task because there are so many different varieties of lubricant to choose from currently in the market. The two main types of lubricant are general purpose lubricants and synthetic lubricants. All machinery differs; however, so it’s good to consult an expert on which type will be the best to get the most life out of your equipment. 

One of the first questions that your supplier should ask is if you’re looking for a general or synthetic lubricant based on whether your equipment’s lubrication will be “maintained for life” or at regular intervals. Although the function of the lubricants are the same, the main difference between general lubricant and synthetic lubricant is that synthetic lubricants are man-made and developed to work under extreme conditions, thus their ability to “maintain for life,” whereas general lubricant is made from crude oil pumped from the ground and has to be changed regularly. Here are some defining qualities of both types of lubricant:

General Lubricant

• Derived from crude oil
• Requires regular changes
• Can break down in extreme conditions
• Much more affordable than its synthetic counterpart

Synthetic Lubricant

• Man-made
• Contains no contaminants and does not require regular changes
• Performs well under extreme conditions
• Very expensive

Often when deciding which lubricant to buy, it is important to pick the right kind of supplier. Choose a supplier who is well recommended to help you make the best choice of which lubricant to choose for your machinery. Picking a knowledgeable supplier can make a big difference.