> Esters are formed by reacting a carboxylic
> acid with an alcohol, by choosing the length of hydrocarbon chain on each
> (this will make the alcohol or acid bit longer or shorter) you can change
> the properties of the final product. Small esters will be more
> volatile and
> thinner, large ones less volatile and thicker. A mixture of the two
> properties would be desirable in an engine oil, to achieve a multigrade
> performance.
It's my understanding that the polyol esters used in synthetic motor oil are
naturally "multiweight", meaning they thin less with temperature than the
reference mineral oil does.
Randall
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