Russian oil marketer Gazpromneft-Lubricants is now producing marine lubricants under the Gazpromneft Ocean brand. The new range of marine products will include 15 diesel engine oils and cylinder and crankcase lubricants for vessels equipped with medium- and high-speed trunk piston, slow -speed or two-stroke crosshead engines using fuels with low- or high-sulfur content (between 0.5 and 4.5 percent), the company says.

The oils protect components against wear, deposits and corrosion in high-load and high-temperature operating conditions, as well as providing water separation properties and defending against foaming. The launch of the marine lubes brand aims to develop Gazpromneft-Lubricants global operations, and the company plans to expand its storage capacity in 2018 to supply more foreign ports, added CEO Alexander Trukhan.
www.marine.gazprom-neft.com

Hang the Drum

Liftomatic Material Handling Inc. has a new range of equipment, named Ergo-Matic, that includes manual, pneumatic and electrically powered solutions for carrying steel, plastic and fiber liquid drums between 270 and 450 kilograms.

Ergo-Matic can lift 36-inch to double-stack drums, has spark-resistant components for flammable areas, clamps for fiber and plastic drums, and wheels and coatings that meet FDA-approved applications. Liftomatic is distributed throughout Europe. www.liftomatic.com

Improved Choices

Petro-Canada Lubricants has enhanced its LUBE 360 online product selector to help customers find the right oil for their heavy-duty vehicles and equipment. The Canadian company teamed up with the U.K.-based lubricant industry data solutions provider OATS to create a free, searchable database of products that allows users to select an oil based on their industry sector and type of vehicle. The search results account for manufacturers recommendations and include oil change intervals. www.petro-canada.ca

Savant Expands Testing

United States-based Savant Labs recently added a seal compatibility test for method CEC L-112-16, a required test for the 2016 European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) engine oil sequences, designed to determine elastomer compatibility with the gasket and sealing material in modern engines.

The test involves cutting and soaking a sample of seal material in oil for a specific number of hours at a particular temperature. When the soak phase is finished, the seals are measured for tensile strength, elongation, hardness and volume swell, then compared to the limits of the specification, Savant explained. The data is then processed and reviewed before the laboratory generates a report according to the test methods guidelines. The elastomer compatibility test is available for ACEA categories A/B for gasoline and light-duty diesel engine oils, C for low- and mid-sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur containing oils, and E for heavy-duty diesel engine oils. www.savantlab.com

Motul Dexos Reformulation

Motul has reformulated its oil to meet General Motors engine oil specification known as dexos1 Gen 2. Motul says 8100 Eco-Lite 5W-30 helps solve the problem of low-speed pre-ignition found in todays smaller high-performance and turbo-charged engines, as well as reduces fuel consumption and lower emissions. Dexos1 was issued by GM in 2015.
www.motul.com

Totals Fully Synthetic, Low Viscosity Engine Oil

Total has formulated its Quartz Ineo Long Life 0W-20 to meet ACEA C5 and the specifications of Volkswagen and Porsche. ACEA C5 is a new mid-SAPS category covering SAE 0W-20 and SAE 5W-20. The French giant also claims the oil is 21 percent more effective against sludge build-up and 72 percent more effective against wear, compared with ACEA limits. www.total.com

Perstorp Launches Worlds First Renewable Polyols

Swedish specialty chemicals company Perstorp began sales in January of the worlds first range of renewable alternatives to essential polyols, substances that can be used as constituents of ester lubricants. The company said the development in response to growing global demand for sustainable coatings, resins and synthetic lubricants.

The market demand for bio-based material is rapidly increasing due to a strong focus on sustainable chemistry and renewable raw materials, said Anna Berggren, Perstorps global market segment manager for resins, in a statement. www.perstorp.com

Improved HDEOs

Phillips 66 is meeting heavy-duty diesel engines evolving low-viscosity demands with its latest Phillips 66 and Kendall brand API CK-4 and FA-4 formulations. The company released four SAE 5W-30 HDEOs – including Phillips 66 Triton Euro and Kendall Euro – that have high shear stability, offer soot control to protect against abrasive wear and oil thickening, resist viscosity and thermal breakdown at high temperatures in addition to foaming and aeration, and defend engine components against sludge and varnish formation, rust and bearing corrosion, Phillips 66 boasts.

The oils are formulated for compatibility with exhaust aftertreatment systems using diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts or selective catalytic reduction, perform in harsh low-temperature environments, and extend oil drain intervals, the oil marketer adds. The oils meet a number of European and North American original equipment manufacturer specifications in addition to ACEA E6 standards. www.phillips66lubricants.com

Essential Oils in Nigeria

Nigerian company Eterna Oil is blending Castrol GTX Essential for the first time at its plant in Sagamu in the southwest of the country. The oil will be sold as 15W-40 for diesel and 20W-50/25W-50 for diesel and gasoline engines. Eterna Oil started importing and distributing Castrol lubricants into Nigeria in 1991 and signed an exclusive distributor agreement with Castrol in February 2017.

Castrol, a BP brand, designed the 15,000 metric ton plant, one of only three such facilities accredited by Castrol in Africa. This is a clear demonstration of the confidence reposed in our manufacturing capabilities by Castrol, said Eterna Oils Managing Director Mahmud Tukur.

Ask Alexia for Protection

Shell Marine introduced its ultra-high BN Alexia 140 two-stroke engine cylinder oil to protect modern marine engines. The launch comes after Man Diesel & Turbo issued a letter of no objection for commercial use, as well as acceptance into full-scale operations by two major customers, according to Shell.

The oil is intended for use on its own or with an onboard lubricant blending system that addresses cold corrosion issues and optimizes oil feed rates when switching among different fuel types, such as liquefied natural gas and high sulfur fuel oil, the company says. The oil is on sale at selected ports in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Oman, South Korea and Malaysia.

The Alexia range also includes Alexia S3 (BN25), Alexia S4 (BN 60), Alexia 50 (BN 70) and Alexia S6 (BN100) covering fuels from LNG to high sulfur fuel oil, operating regimes from full load to slow steaming, and engines of all ages, the Shell statement said. www.shell.com

Surge Racing Performance

Motul recently rolled out a new four-stroke motorcycle oil for on- and off-road racing. The SAE 10W-50 oil optimizes friction control, raises clutch grip, increases torque – thanks to low oil film traction at low revolutions – and has high shear stability in gearboxes when used in off-road activities, the company said.

On the track, the oils enhance oxidative stability, improve engine cleanliness and lower friction at high speeds to boost power output from the bike, Motul added. The oils claim to meet or exceed existing JASO MA2 and API SN standards. www.motul.com