Safety Data Sheets for engine oils list the non-synthetic oils that are in the product by the CAS# which then can be looked up on this page to know what group of oil it belongs to. This page reveals much more than the promotional literature which intentionally obscures the fact that the product may have a lot of group 1 oil or solvents in it. For example, Amsoil Dominator is promoted as "Synthetic" without any direct mention of mineral oil content although around 50% of it is group 1 oil "solvents" (with low flash points) which they probably then countered by adding a lot of detergents to help clean off the carbon that oil produces, as well as anti-smoke additive since group 1 smokes a lot. So would you rather buy a product with cheap oils that it had to counter with lots of additives, or would you rather buy an engine oil that used good quality base oils to start with?
Here's the section of its safety data sheet that reveals what's in it. What's red is what I added:
Look at the changes in specs between the different groups of oil:
CAS # |
Carbon
Chain # |
Flash
Point °C |
Boiling
Point °C |
Density |
Viscosity
@ 40°C |
| Synthetic Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
11138-60-6
|
60
|
238 |
|
.95 |
|
| Castor Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
| 8001-79-4 |
51
|
229 |
|
.96 |
|
| Group 4 Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
| Shell XHVI 4.0 |
|
215 |
|
.82 |
|
| Bright Stock Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
| 64742-01-4 |
>25 |
|
400
|
.9 |
|
| Group 2 Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
| 64742-54-7 |
20-59 |
200 |
280
|
.86 |
|
| Group 1 Oil |
|
|
|
|
|
| 64742-89-5 |
15-30 |
190 |
280
|
.84 |
|
Here's a graph showing the viscosities of mineral, castor, and synthetic oils:
Light Oils/Solvents which have much lower flash points than group 1 oils. They immediately evaporate off of the hot cylinder.
CAS 64742-88-7
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained from the distillation of crude oil or natural gasoline. It consists predominantly of saturated hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9 through C12 and boiling in the range of approximately 179°C to 210°C
Synonyms: mineral spirits, solvent, turpentine substitute, medium aliphatic solvent naphtha
flash point: 57°C
density: 78 g/mL at 20 °C
64742-48-9
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C6 through C13 and boiling in the range of approximately 65°C to 230°C (149°F to 446°F).
Synonyms: Hydrotreated heavy petroleum
Viscosity kinematic: 1.23 mm2/s (40°C)
flash point: 62°C
density: 0.775
64742-47-8
Technically this is a group 3 oil but with such a low flash point it has to be classified by me as a solvent since it will immediately flash off of the hot cylinder. It's a complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9 through C16 and boiling in the range of approximately 150 degree C to 290°C (302°F to 554°F).
Synonyms: Hydrotreated light distillates (petroleum), kerosene
flash point: 71°C
density: 0.776
CAS 68476-30-2 (source: #1, #2)
A distillate oil having a viscosity of 6.4 cSt @40C, density 0.84 g/cm3, Flash Point: 52°C, Autoignition Temperature: 257°C, Boiling Point: 310°C, with carbon numbers in the range C9 and higher.
CAS 68784-17-8
Reaction products of fatty acids, C14-C18 (branched and linear) and C18 (unsaturated) with tetraethylenepentamine (linear, branched, cyclic). Isooctadecanoic acid.
Molecular Formula: C18H36O2?C8H23N5
Molecular Weight: 473.785
CAS 64742-46-7 (source: #1)
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C11 through C25.
Synonyms: Hydrotreated Middle Distillate (Petroleum base oil), white mineral oil, paraffine oil
flash point: 99°C
density: 0.8
boiling point: 254C
EC 926-141-6 solvent oil
n-alkanes, isoalkanes, cyclics, under 2% aromatics
Common equivalents: Odorless kerosene / isoparaffinic solvent
Carbon range: C11–C14
Boiling range: ~180–250°C (kerosene range)
Viscosity: ~1–3 cSt @ 40°C (very low)
Group 1 Oils
CAS 64741-89-5 group 1 (source: #1)
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as the raffinate from a solvent extraction process. It consists predominantly of saturated hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C15 through C30 and produces a finished oil with a viscosity of less than 100 SUS at 100°F (19cSt at 40°C).
Synonyms: Distillates (petroleum), severely solvent-refined light paraffinic oil, white mineral oil, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons
Density (at 15°C): 0.844
Flash Point [Method]: >190°C [ASTM D-92]
Viscosity: 9.3 cSt (9.3 mm2/sec) at 40°C
boiling point: 280°C
Molecular Formula: C6H13O5P
64741-88-4 group 1 (source: #1)
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as the raffinate from a solvent extraction process. It consists predominantly of saturated hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C50 and produces a finish oil with a viscosity of at least 100 SUS at 100 °F (19cSt at 40 °C).
Synonyms: Solvent-refined heavy paraffinic distillate, mineral oil
flash point: 238°C
density: 0.88 g/cm3 at 25 °C
boiling point: 389°C
CAS 64742-62-7 (Bright Stock) (source: #1)
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by removal of long, branched chain hydrocarbons from a residual oil by solvent crystallization. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly greater than C25 and boiling above approximately 400°C (752°F).
Flash point: 314ºC
Density: 0.89
CAS 64742-01-4 (Bright Stock)
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained as the solvent insoluble fraction from solvent refining of a residuum using a polar organic solvent such as phenol or furfural. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly higher than C25 (listed as C26 on one website) and boiling above approximately 400°C (752°F).
Synonyms: Residual oils (petroleum), severely solvent-refined
Flash point: 252ºC (486ºF)
Density: 0.90
Viscosity 454 cSt @ 40ºC
Group 2 Oils
Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated heavy paraffinic have a flashpoint above 150°C and an initial boiling point of above 280°C.
64742-54-7 group 2
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C59 and produces a finished oil of at least 100 SUS at 100.degree.F (19cSt at 40°C). It contains a relatively large proportion of saturated hydrocarbons.
Synonyms: Hydrotreated (mild) heavy paraffinic distillate
flash point: 200°C
density: 0.86
boiling point: 280°C
CAS 64742-70-7 group 2
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained from a catalytic dewaxing process. It consists predominantly of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C50 and produces a finished oil with a viscosity of at least 100 SUS at 100 degree F (19cSt at 40°C).
Structure: Heavy hydrocarbons (typically >C25)
Viscosity @ 100°F (~38°C) ~106 SUS, 20–25 cSt @ 40°C
Viscosity Index: ~80–105 VI
Boiling range: Very high (often >400°C)
Pour point: ~20°F (-6°C)
Flash point: high (can exceed 250–300°C depending on cut)
Density ≈ 0.86–0.88 g/cm³
CAS 64742-65-0 group 2+
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by removal of normal paraffins from a petroleum fraction by solvent crystallization. It consists predominantly of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C50 and produces a finished oil with a viscosity not less than 100 SUS at 100°F (19cSt at 40°C).
Flash Point: 185 °C
Density: 0.88 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)
Molecular Formula: Petroleum hydrocarbon (petroleum has a mixture of different oil molecules which is why they don’t specify one here)
Hydrocarbons: C20 - C50
Synonyms: Mineral oil, petroleum distillates, solvent-dewaxed heavy paraffinic
Group 3 Oils
CAS 64742-48-7 group 3
This is used like a solvent due to its medium solvency.
It's a light, hydrotreated aliphatic hydrocarbon — classified as Group III base oil when used in lubricants, and widely used as a low-odor solvent in cleaners and thinners.
Synonyms: Hydrotreated light distillate, Low aromatic solvent naphtha, Type III mineral spirits
Boiling range: ~150–200°C (302–392°F)
Flash point: ~38–60°C (closed cup, depending on exact grade)
Density at 15°C: 0.75–0.80 g/cm³
Viscosity at 40°C: Very low (~1–2 cSt)
Solubility: Insoluble in water; soluble in most organic solvents
Saturates: >99%
Sulfur: <0.001–0.003%
Viscosity Index (VI): >120 (often 130+)
Carbon chain range: Predominantly C10–C13 (10 to 13 carbon atoms)
CAS 848301-69-9 group 3 (source: #1, #2)
Heavy paraffinic base oil obtained using Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of natural gas.
Carbon #'s C18-C50
flashpoint 200°C
Density: 0.81
boiling point: 314°C
Synthetic Oils
CAS 68334-05-4 group 5 (in Red Line's oils)
Synonyms: Fatty acids, C18-unsatd., dimers, 2-ethylhexyl esters
Molecular formula: C44H80O4
flash point - 260C
Carbon chain - 52
CAS 11138-60-6 group 5 (in Super M)
Synonyms: Caprylic acid, TRICAPRYLATE/TRICAPRATE, Trihydroxymethylpropyl ester
Molecular Formula: C60H116O12
Hydrocarbons: C60
Flash Point: 238ºC
Density: 0.953g/cm3
CAS 64742-52-5 group 5
This is strange for being group 5 because it has a low viscosity index of 60, and more solvency than normal.
A complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C20 through C50 and produces a finished oil of at least 100 SUS at 100°F (19cSt at 40°C).
Synonyms: Hydrotreated (mild) heavy naphthenic distillate
flash point: 215°C
boiling point: >250°C
CAS 64742-53-6 group 5 but it has a low viscosity index of 60, and more solvency than normal.
Description: Distillates (petroleum), hydrotreated light naphthenic
Hydrocarbon range: ~C15–C30
Viscosity: < 100 SUS @ 100°F (~19 cSt @ 40°C)
Viscosity Index: 30 - 70
Flash point ~146°C
CAS 1000172-11-1 group 5 but with lower VI and less lubricity than esters
synthetic isoparaffinic oligomer oil, highly branched saturated hydrocarbons
Carbon range: ~C20–C40+
Volatility: low
Viscosity : ~4–10 cSt @100°C
Viscosity Index: typically 120–140+
Castor Oil
CAS 8001-79-4 (source: #1)
It contains a mixture of glycerides of fatty acids, the predominant acid being ricinoleic acid, C17H32(OH)COOH. Castor oil is the fixed oil obtained by cold-expression of the seeds of Ricinus communis Linne. The oil is a mixture of triglycerides of which 75 to 90% is ricinoleic acid. This mixture is hydrolyzed to release ricinoleic acid. It is soluble in alcohol and is combustible.
density - 0.96
carbon chains - 51
viscosity - 240 @ 40°C, 19 @ 100°C
viscosity index - 88.5
flash point - 229°C
