UAE Lubricant Additives Guide: Pick the Right Oil Formula

Choosing the right lubricant is not just about picking any oil — it’s about giving your engine or machine the protection it truly needs. Modern lubricants do much more than just reduce friction. They are carefully made with special additives that help oils stay strong, clean, and stable even in tough conditions. 

These additives fight wear, stop rust, control foam, and keep your equipment running smoothly for a long time. At Fubex Lubricants, we offer high-quality lubricants for all types of engines. Enjoy fast shipping, a price match guarantee, and no-questions-asked returns. Need help choosing the right oil? Call us at +971 50 544 9614 — our friendly team is ready to assist!

Awais I., Sales Director, says, “Choosing the right lubricant additives is key to keeping your engine protected — they reduce wear, stop rust, and help your oil stay strong even in tough working conditions.’’

What Are Lubricant Additives?

Lubricant additives are special chemicals that are mixed with base oils to make them work better. These additives can be a very small part of the oil or a larger part—usually between 0.1% and 30%, depending on what the oil is used for.

These additives help the oil in three main ways:

• They make the oil’s good qualities even better: For example, they help the oil stay thick enough, fight oxidation, and protect metal parts from rust.
• They reduce bad effects: Additives can stop foam from forming, prevent sludge, and reduce metal corrosion.
• They add new helpful features: This makes the oil perform well even when the engine or machine is under high pressure, high heat, or heavy load.

When the right mix of engine oil additives is used, the oil gives better lubrication, improves fuel efficiency, and helps machines last longer.

Different Types of Lubricant Additives and Their Uses

Lubricant additives are grouped by what they do. Below are some of the most common types and how they help the oil work better.

1. Viscosity Index (VI) Improvers

Oil can become too thin when it’s hot and too thick when it’s cold. VI improvers help the oil keep the right thickness at all temperatures. This helps the engine start easily in cold weather and protects it when it gets very hot. These additives are used in engine oils, hydraulic fluids, and transmission fluids.

2. Anti-Wear (AW) Additives

Friction can damage metal parts. Anti-wear additives create a thin protective layer on metal surfaces. This stops metal parts from rubbing directly against each other. These additives are common in engine oils, hydraulic oils, and gear lubricants.

3. Detergents and Dispersants

• Detergents keep engine parts clean by stopping carbon, sludge, and dirt from sticking to metal surfaces.
• Dispersants help keep dirt and sludge mixed in the oil so they don’t form clumps.

These additives help the engine stay clean and run smoothly.

4. Antioxidants

When oil gets hot and is exposed to air, it can break down and form sludge. Antioxidants slow down this damage and help the oil last longer. They are used in industrial machines, car engines, and heavy-duty lubricants.

5. Corrosion and Rust Inhibitors

Moisture and dirt can cause rust. These additives create a protective film on metal parts so they don’t rust or corrode. They are used in marine oils, gear oils, and engine oils to protect important parts.

6. Extreme Pressure (EP) Additives

Some machines work under very high pressure, like gears and metal-cutting tools. EP additives form a strong shield on metal surfaces so they don’t wear out under heavy loads. They help reduce damage and make parts last longer.

7. Friction Modifiers

These additives lower friction between moving parts. This helps the engine run smoother, improves fuel efficiency, and boosts performance. They are commonly used in engine oils and transmission fluids.

8. Foam Inhibitors

When oil foams, it can’t protect parts properly. Foam inhibitors stop bubbles from forming so the oil works smoothly. They are important in hydraulic systems and high-speed machines.

The Importance of Using the Right Lubricant Additives

Using the right mix of lubricant additives is very important for keeping machines strong and running well. When the oil is made with the correct additives, it helps in many ways:

• It makes engines and machines work better.
• It protects parts from wear, rust, and oxidation.
• It helps improve fuel economy and saves energy.
• It reduces repair needs and cuts down maintenance costs.
• It keeps machines running smoothly even in very hot, very cold, or heavy-load conditions.

Thanks to new technology, today’s engine oil additives and industrial lubricants give stronger protection and last longer. This makes them a key part of keeping machines safe, efficient, and reliable.

How Are Additives Selected?

As lubricating oil technology keeps improving, additive formulas have also become more advanced. Today, many types of additives can be mixed with base oils to make the oil work better, reduce problems, and even give the oil new abilities.

We already know that the amount of additives in a lubricant depends on what the oil is made for. But there’s something else important too: The additives you choose can change the type of lubricant you create — like engine oil, hydraulic oil, or gear oil.

This means there is no one perfect mix for every lubricant. Additives are expensive, and making the right formula takes skill and careful planning.

Each oil formula needs certain additives, and many things must be considered. For example:

• Additives are chosen to meet industry standards.
• They must perform specific jobs, like reducing wear or preventing rust.
• They need to mix well with the base oil.
• They must also work smoothly with other additives in the formula.

Selecting the right additives is a complex process, but it helps create high-quality lubricants that protect machines and make them last longer.

Lubricant Additive Types and Their Roles

You may have heard about some common lubricant additives like rust inhibitors, antioxidants, or viscosity improvers. Each additive plays a special role in helping the oil protect and support the engine or machine.

Additives are grouped into three main categories based on what they do:

• Surface-protective additives
• Performance-boosting additives
• Lubricant-protective additives

Let’s look at each type in a simple way.

Surface-Protective Additives

These additives protect the metal surfaces inside engines and machines. They include:

• Anti-wear agents
• Anti-corrosion additives
• Detergents
• Dispersants
• Friction modifiers

Anti-Wear Agents

Engines face many types of wear, like rubbing wear or scratching wear.
Anti-wear agents help protect metal parts when they touch each other under load.

• These additives stick to metal surfaces.
• They react with heat to form a protective film.
• This film reduces wear and keeps parts safe.
• They are often made with phosphorus.

The most common anti-wear additive is ZDDP. It is used in many oils, including engine oils and hydraulic oils. ZDDP also helps protect the oil from oxidation and stops the metal from rusting.

Over time, anti-wear additives break down, and then the metal becomes more at risk of damage.

Corrosion Inhibitors

Corrosion happens slowly when metal reacts with water, air, or chemicals. It weakens the metal and causes damage.

Corrosion inhibitors:

• Neutralize acids
• Form a shield to block moisture
• Keep metal safe from rust

They work in two ways:

• Passivation: forming a protective layer on the metal
• Neutralization: reacting with harmful chemicals to make them harmless

These additives are used in almost all industrial oils. One common corrosion inhibitor is ZDDP, which also works as an anti-wear agent.

Detergents

Detergents keep engine parts clean, especially parts that get very hot.

• They help remove dirt, deposits, and acids.
• They are made from calcium, magnesium, phosphates, or sulfonates.

But detergents can leave ash when the oil burns, which is why some equipment needs low-ash oils.

Dispersants

Dispersants help keep the engine clean by:

• Holding soot, dirt, and sludge particles in the oil
• Stopping particles from clumping together or settling

They work best when combined with detergents. Dispersants are usually ashless, which means they don’t leave residue behind.

Friction Modifiers

Friction modifiers are used in:

• Engine oils
• Automatic transmission fluids (ATFs)

Their main job is to:

• Reduce friction between moving parts
• Improve fuel economy
• Help transmission clutches work smoothly

Performance-Boosting Additives

These additives make the oil’s existing features work even better. They help the oil perform well in different temperatures, protect seals, and keep the oil flowing smoothly.

Pour Point Depressants

The pour point is the lowest temperature where the oil can still flow. When it gets very cold, wax in mineral oils turns solid and blocks the oil from moving.

Pour point depressants fix this problem by:

• Making wax crystals smaller
• Helping the oil stay smooth and flow even in freezing temperatures

This keeps the oil working during cold starts.

Seal Swell Agents

Seal swell agents help seals in engines and machines stay tight.

• They react with rubber-like seals (elastomers).
• They make the seals swell just a little.
• This helps stop leaks and improves sealing.

These additives are usually made from organic phosphates.

Viscosity Index (VI) Improvers

The viscosity index shows how much the oil’s thickness changes with temperature. A high VI means the oil stays stable even when temperatures rise.

VI improvers:

• Stop the oil from getting too thin at high temperatures
• Help the oil stay thick enough to protect parts
• Improve flow at low temperatures
• Reduce wear and improve fuel economy

VI improvers are used in:

• Multigrade engine oils
• Gear oils
• Automatic transmission fluids
• Power-steering fluids
• Greases
• Some hydraulic fluids

The most common VI improvers are olefin copolymers.

However:

• VI improvers can break down under heavy stress.
• Parts inside the engine or gearbox can “cut” these long molecules into smaller pieces.
• When this happens, the VI improvers don’t work as well.

This is why high-quality VI improvers matter. Good ones are stronger and less likely to break, giving better protection and longer oil life.

Lubricant Protective Additives

These additives help protect the oil and reduce damage that can happen while the oil is being used. They keep the oil stable, clean, and working properly for a long time.

Antioxidants

Air can be a big problem for base oils. When oil reacts with oxygen, especially at high temperatures or when water and dirt are present, the oil starts to break down.

This causes:

• Acids that lead to corrosion
• Sludge that makes the oil thicker
• Deposits that stick to metal surfaces

Antioxidants help stop this. They are also called oxidation inhibitors.

Their main job is to:

• Slow down oil breakdown
• Keep the oil cleaner
• Make the oil last longer

Antioxidants are “sacrificial,” which means:

• They get used up while protecting the oil
• Over time, they break down and disappear

This is why old oil must be replaced — its antioxidants run out.

Metal Deactivators

Metal deactivators are very important, especially when metals in a machine can cause oil problems.

They:

• Stick to metal surfaces
• Create a thin protective layer
• Stop metal ions from reacting with the oil

This helps keep the lubricant stable and prevents harmful chemical reactions. These additives often contain nitrogen, sulfur, or other organic compounds.

Anti-Foaming Additives

Sometimes oil can create foam, which is not good for machines. Foam traps air, and air can cause oxidation and reduce lubrication.

Anti-foaming additives:

• Reduce surface tension in the oil
• Stop foam bubbles from forming
• Keep the oil smooth and steady

They are made of silicone polymers and organic copolymers. But they must be used in very small amounts. If too much is added, it can actually cause more bubbles instead of stopping them.

Final Takeaways

Using the right lubricant additives makes a big difference in how well your engine or machine performs. These tiny chemical helpers keep the oil clean, protect metal parts, and make the equipment last longer. When you choose a well-balanced lubricant, you’re not just improving performance — you’re also preventing future problems. 

That’s why picking quality additives and trusted products like Fubex Lubricants is always a smart decision for smoother, safer, and longer-lasting operation.

FAQs

Q1: What are the uses of lubricant additives?

Lubricant additives help parts move smoothly against each other. They reduce friction, prevent wear, and stop parts from getting too hot, keeping machines and engines running safely and efficiently.

Q2: What are the 4 types of lubricants?

There are four main types of lubricants: Oil, Grease, Penetrating Lubricants, and Dry Lubricants. The most common ones you’ll see every day are oil and grease, but machines and facilities also use dry and penetrating lubricants for specific jobs.