Myth #1 - Paraffinic oils cause engine sludge. Oils from paraffin-based crude are loaded with wax and create engine sludge. Paraffin base stocks cause sludge. "x" Brand of motor oil causes sludge, varnish and/or engine deposits. ?Paraffinic? motor oils cause wax-like deposits on the underside of the oil fill cap.
Fact: There are two basic types of crude oil, naphthenic and paraffinic. Most conventional engine lubricating oils today are made from paraffinic crude oil. Paraffinic crude oil is recognized for its ability to resist thinning and thickening with temperature, as well as its lubricating properties and resistance to oxidation (sludge forming tendencies). In the refining process, the paraffinic crude oil is broken down into many different products. One of the products is wax, and others are gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils, asphalt, etc. Virtually every oil marketer uses paraffinic base stocks in blending its engine oil products. Many people believe the term paraffinic to be synonymous with wax. Some have the misconception that paraffinic oils will coat the engine with a wax film that can result in engine deposits. This is not true. The confusion exists because paraffinic molecules can form wax crystals at low temperatures. In lubricating oils, this wax is removed in a refining process called dewaxing. Wax is a premium product obtained from crude oil, and in order to ensure that we produce the highest quality base stocks available, Havoline removes the maximum amount of wax possible during the refining process. The end result is a motor oil product formulated with premium lubricating base oil.
