Fuels & Lubes International 1998 – Issue #1

PTT calls for R&D to boost ASEAN petroleum industry
By Lolita Villa
SINGAPORE — The Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) affirmed the importance of research and development in the progress of the Asian petroleum industry at the 4th Annual Fuels and Lubes Asia Conference held here at the Regent Hotel, Jan. 14-16.

Passenger car engine oil standard for Asia being reviewed by SAE
TULSA, Okla. — A passenger car engine oil specification for Asia is being reviewed by a steering committee within the Society of Automotive Engineers.

4th Annual Fuels & Lubes Asia Conference focuses on market and technical trends
By Lolita Villa
SINGAPORE — The 4th Annual Fuels and Lubes Asia Conference, being held this month at the Regent Hotel here, brings together a conglomeration of industry experts who will discuss current marketing and technical trends in today’s rapidly changing market.

Heavy-duty engine oil category ballot fails
By Pat Casey
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The proposed new heavy-duty engine oil category, API CH-4, received a setback at last month’s meeting of ASTM’s Heavy Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel (HDEOCP) here.

GF-3 back on track for January 2000
By Pat Casey
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Flawless execution of an ambitious 12-month plan for finishing development of new tests may bring an improved engine oil category to car owners as early as January 2000.

Driveability index passes ASTM subcommittee
By Ronald Tharby
SAN ANTONIO, TX — A number of negative votes on the ballot to incorporate driveability index into the ASTM D 4814 specification were ruled non-persuasive by ASTM subcommittee A (gasoline) at its meeting here. The proposal was to incorporate the same limits balloted previously (see FLI July 1997 issue), but the limits would apply at the refinery gate or at the importing terminal, rather at the retail pump as previously balloted.

Drag reducing additives for jet fuels proposed
By Ronald Tharby
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — There is an urgent need to consider the use of drag reducing additives (DRA) in certain jet fuel delivery pipelines in the U.S. according to Eric Gustafsen, director of pipeline operations at Buckeye Pipeline.

Japan’s multi-sector clean air program now in full swing
THE MULTI-SECTOR Japan Clean Air Program (JCAP) which was established in 1996 is now in full swing, according to a status report delivered during the 4th Annual Fuels & Lubes Asia Conference held in Singapore, January 14-16.

Base oil trends
A QUICK LOOK at base oil demand shows a slight decline in Europe, very limited growth in the U.S. and a significant growth in Asia.

World lubricant market trends
CALCUTTA, India — Manfred Fuchs, chairman of the Fuchs Group, discussed his view of the world lubricants market today and tomorrow at the International Conference on Industrial Tribology organized by the Tribology Society of India here last month.

New performance requirements and the effects on basestock preferences
By Frank H. Denton
IN APRIL LAST YEAR, FLI published a review of articles from four specialists on the base oil requirements which will be dictated by new performance standards. At that time, the emphasis seemed to be on Group II and III oils, with an apparent perspective that Group III will find increasing application as ILSAC GF-3 becomes the standard.

Base oil price trends
FLI LAST RAN a summary of base oil price trends in its November 1996 issue. In that analysis, base oil prices were trending downward and the relationship of price differentials between regions appeared to be changing.

Bechtel exec discusses various lube technologies, presents options for upgrading lube plant facilities
By Edgar Metro
There is no single solution to a general concern being faced by today’s lube manufacturers.

China’s refinery sector in the next century
As China’s oil demand increasingly exceeds domestic crude production, imports are growing in importance. Forecasts are for imports of 50 million tons of crude in 2000 and 100 million tons in 2010. It is expected that 50 to 60 percent of the imports will originate from the Middle East and will have sulfur content in the region of two percent.

BP experts discuss trends in 2-stroke motorcycle engine oils
By Edgar Metro
Two-stroke motorcycle engines are in use throughout various regions in Asia, mainly because it is both reliable and cheap. However, they also pose risks to human health and the environment, as they tend to produce a huge amount of exhaust fumes. A combination of engine design technologies will be required to meet stringest emission regulations of the future, according to BP Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.’s Regional Technology Center’s Albert M. Chan and Shizuka Takagawa

Sustained high speed operation exposes gasoline-powered vehicles to valve seat recession
An analysis of the problem of exhaust valve seat recession (VSR) in engines designed for leaded gasoline shows that sustained high speed operation makes leaded gasoline-powered vehicles at risk from suffering VSR. Conversely, operations may result in complete freedom from VSR, in spite of inappropriate metallurgy for unleaded gasoline.

Cleaner transportation fuels in ASEAN countries urged
MEMBER-COUNTRIES of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) need to invest on major refinery modifications to improve the quality of their transportation fuels, according to Lemigas’ E. Jasjfi and A.S. Nasution, senior principal research staff.