TOTAL, the globally integrated energy producer and provider, has launched the RUBIA GAS 7M 15W-40 featuring the most up to date Cumins CES 20085. This new product that has been launched TOTAL is expected to allow for an increase in the time between oil drains for some specific gas engine models. The new lubricant that has been developed is thought to assist vehicles operating on natural gas fuel, considered to be the fastest growing fossil fuel up until 2035. The rate of use for natural gas has been expected to increase at 1.8% each year until this date which is almost twice the rate of increase for using oil, at just under 1%.

This new lubricant has been specifically designed for gas engines because they operate slightly differently to other oil based fuel engines. Firstly, natural gas burns at a very high temperature and and the severe oil nitration and oxidation can result in a sludge formation and viscosity increase. Natural Gas fuel also doesn’t have any heavy ends which means that there isn’t any soot left in the oil. Gas is also a dry fuel, which means that there is a restricted level of lubrication therefore the addition of Oil ash to act as an antiwear additive for the vehicle and controls the level of wear that occurs to the valves. However, the addition of ash into the lubricant also needs to be at the optimum level because ash deposits can lead to pre-ignition. Natural Gas fuel also lacks sulphur, and because of this a lower base number is required for the engine oil.

TOTAL has developed the dedicated RUBIA GAS range of additive because a more traditional diesel engine oil is not suitable for gas engines because the ash levels in the oil may be too high. More traditional diesel engine oils also don’t always meet the OEM specifications. TOTAL also intend in fast tracking their developments of natural gas engine additives in order to accommodate the requirements of their customers.