Technical Information

Oil compatibility

As part of our rigorous oil compatibility testing, we mix our FRS-1 additive with oils supplied by major manufacturers to ensure they bond well and will produce the desired outcomes when applied to an engine, gearbox or driven axle of a vehicle.

We have tested FRS-1 with Castrol, Mobil, Shell, Millers Oils and other independent oil manufacturers to ensure that our additive bonds with and is effective when combined with any engine oil on the market.

Oil grades

To test oil compatibility, we blend FRS-1 (2% of total volume) with various engine oils and check that there is no separation. We then conduct simulated testing on bearings to see the effect the combined mixture has on reducing friction and wear.

The main difference between engine oils on the market is their grading, meaning that they will have slightly different properties and recommendations for use from various vehicle manufacturers. Vehicle manufacturers will also recommend different grades dependent on the type of vehicle. In all cases, modern engine oils are synthetic and as new vehicles are manufactured, the recommended oil grade is likely to change.

The table below gives an indication of oil grades recommended by their associated manufacturer – all are compatible with FRS-1

HGVs:

HGV Manufacturer	Oil Manufacturer	SAE Grades - Engines	SAE Grades - Gearbox	SAE Grades - Axle	Oil Type
DAF	Castrol	10w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
Volvo	Castrol	10w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
Isuzu	Castrol	10w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
MAN	Mobil	10w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
Mercedes	Mobil	10w-40 / 15w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
Scania	Mobil	15w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic
Renault	Mobil	10w-40 / 15w-40	75w90	75w90	Synthetic

Smaller trucks and Transit vans:

Vehicle	SAE Grades - Engines	SAE Grades - Gearbox	SAE Grades - Axle	Oil Type
Smaller trucks	10w-30	75w90 / SAE 40	75w90 / SAE 40	Synthetic
Transit vans	5w-30 / 10w-40	75w90 / SAE 40	75w90 / SAE 40	Synthetic

Simulated Testing

After completing the oil compatibility testing, we then test the various oils, both in their original format and mixed with FRS-1, in a simulated environment where we generate the effects of load within an engine.

This is performed using the Timken Extreme Pressure tester – an anti-friction anti-wear testing machine which involves applying a load to bearings that mimics the stress experienced within an engine and far beyond. Doing this allows us to verify a bearing’s ability to withstand the load and how different oils improve this.

In the test, we gradually increase the load to test how effective the oils are at reducing friction. The more load that can be managed without scarring, the more effective an oil is at reducing friction. Scarred bearings are a key indicator of increased friction in an engine meaning that it’s important to prevent scarring or keep it to a minimum. Scaring often results in increased engine temperature and wear resulting in reduced fuel efficiency and higher CO2 emissions.

The Timken Extreme Pressure tester simulates the friction through a system composed of weights and levers so that extremely high pressure is generated on the contact point. During the test, the wear on the friction column is accelerated to assess the load-carrying capacity of the lubricants being tested. In this simulated environment, one minute of testing is equivalent to the expected amount of wear in one year of normal operation. FRS-1 significantly reduces wear under the same load and produces less scarring.

Test Results

All tests are performed under ASTM D2782, the standard test method for measuring extreme-pressure properties of lubricating fluids.

Each test is performed multiple times with the loads increased gradually to the maximum capacity.

First using the recommended manufacturer oils mentioned earlier.
Second by testing each of the manufacturer’s oil with 2% of FRS-1 applied.

Using manufacturer only oil

Using manufacturer oil and 2% of FRS-1

The testing confirmed:

Seal compatibility

Another important aspect that we’ve considered when developing FRS-1 is ensuring that it is compatible with the different types of seals. There are several different types of seals that can be made using a variety of materials. Seals retain engine oil and prevent any dirt or contaminants from entering that could otherwise cause damage to an engine, gearbox, or driven axle, so it’s important to ensure FRS-1 is compatible with all seal types.

Component	Type of seal used	Issues arising following use of FRS-1 to date (April 2024) > 2 years and over 500k miles
Engine	Front crankshaft	None
	Rear crankshaft	None
Gearbox	Input drive	None
	Output drive	None
Axle	Driveshaft	None
	Input shaft	None

If you’d like to talk with a member of our team about our friction reducer, please submit our contact form and we will be in touch with your shortly.

Test results

Our testing shows that FRS-1 has no impact on the performance or degradation of engine seals, however it is important to be aware of factors that could cause an engine seal to fail:

Improper installation
Old seals that have become worn over time
A worn oil filter, drain plug, or filler cap
Build-up of sludge
Excessive friction which can cause high temperature and vibrations
High pressure levels
Contamination

We have tested FRS-1 with a wide variety of engine seals to confirm that it does not accelerate wear or degradation.