PENN-GRADE

In 1959, oil was first discovered in America only a few miles away from our Bradford refinery. In 1881 the Kendall Refining Company was founded here in Bradford in the midst of the domestic oil boom. While the ownership of the refinery has changed hands to Witco Corporation and again to American Refining Group, Inc., the tradition of refining high quality Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil continues.

Lubricants refined from Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil are Widely recognized as a proven performers in the field, which is why they have been a choice of manufacturers and consumers throughout the world. Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil is a unique, thermally stable paraffinic crude that makes an excellent choice for refining into lubricating base stocks. It is free of asphalt constituents, has a natural high viscosity index, and sulfur and nitrogen are present only in trace amounts.

recently, we trademarked the symbol PENN-GRADE to signify our unique and premium quality oils. With the natural lubricating characteristics of Penn Grade Crude Oil, our state-of-the-art ISO 9001-2000 facilities, and some of the most highly experienced people in the business, the American Refining Group, Inc., continues to provide excellent quality and performance for today's demanding lubricant needs.

PENN GRADE VISCOSITY

Viscosity has been defined as that property of a liquid which causes it to show a resistance to flow. The resistance is important because motor oil must adhere very tenaciously to the moving parts of the engine.

As temperatures decrease, lubricating oils become thicker, heavier and show greater resistance to flow in short, they become more viscous. Conversely, the same oils become thinner, lighter and show less resistance to flow in other words, they become less viscous as temperatures increase. The amount of viscosity can be critical to engine maintenance and performance especially in severe temperatures.

It is the viscosity of the motor oil which determines the temperature below which the engine cannot be started in cold weather. It also is the determining factor in the thickness of the oil film on the engine. If the oil film is so thin that it cannot keep moving parts protected, wear results. The grades of viscosity in crankcase oils have been classifieds by the Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.). the system of classifications developed from the use of the Saybolt viscometer which measures the flow of the crankcase oils in the seconds through a standard orifice at the atmospheric pressure and at a predetermined temperature.

Under these classifications, 5W (for Winter), 10W and 20W are determined by the oils' Viscosity at 0 deg. Fahrenheit, while grades 20, 30, 40 and 50 are determined by its viscosity at 210 deg. Fahrenheit.

While all lubricating oils become more viscous as temperatures fall, and less viscous when temperatures rise, they do not change in viscosity to the same degree. The rate of change in viscosity with the change in temperature is known as the Viscosity Index (VI).

For example, two oils of the same SAE grade which have roughly the same viscosity at 210 deg. Fahrenheit may have radically different viscosities at higher and/or lower temperatures than 210 deg. F. The oil showing the least change is the most desirable because it results in the lower consumption, less engine wear and makes possible the starting of an engine at lower temperatures. Some crankcase oils with high VIs, however, are the result of additive agents, which lose their effectiveness in use.

Penn Grade Crude, from which GULF Motor Oil is refined, has one of the highest VI of all the oils produced and marketed. In a crude state, Its VI is 95-100 and after refining its index averages 100-115. Plus Penn Grade Crude Oil is free of asphalt constituents. Sulfur and Nitrogen are present in trace amounts.

By comparison with Penn Grade Crude, Mid-Continent shows a VI of 65-70, East Texas VI's are 50-60 and California are 0-35 and 40-60.