PMM ’s Editor Kieran Nee puts the questions to Petronas’ Technical Service Manager, David Aldous about the lubricants company’s new Syntium range of oils.
Hi David, could you start by telling us a bit about Petronas?
Established in 2008, Petronas Lubricants International is a leading global lubricants company, currently ranked amongst the top 10 in the world. We manufacture and market a full range of high-quality automotive and industrial lubricants products in over 100 markets worldwide. We also work in tandem with Mercedes-AMG engineers to co-design the V6 hybrid Formula One engine and develop fuels, lubricants and functional fluids that power the Silver Arrows Race Team.
Can you give readers an idea of the range of products you offer?
We have an extensive portfolio of advanced lubricants and fluids for a range of vehicles, including cars, bikes, motorsport, trucks, agriculture, and construction. For example, this year we launched our new Petronas Syntium range for road cars which boosts thermal efficiency and controls engine dissipation. Our CoolTech+ technology cuts vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by up to 3% – minimising the environmental impact of driving and saving motorists money – which we all know is more important than ever given the current climate.
For both light and heavy-duty trucks, we have our Petronas Urania oil range which delivers the durability needed to withstand the toughest situations and the heaviest loads. Whether this is extreme engine temperatures, oxidation or damaging deposits, Petronas Urania brings core strength to the trucks and commercial vehicles, while providing better fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced reliability too.
For our audience who are unfamiliar with the brand, what separates your products from those of your competitors? How has experience on the race track helped the company create a better product for the workshop?
Our customers are looking for products they can trust and depend on, regardless of the situation. Whether this is everyday motorists who want confidence on the open road and products that reduce the impact on their engines, wallets and the planet, or truck drivers who need products that can withstand challenging schedules, terrain and weather conditions. As we develop and test our products under the most extreme pressures, such as F1 or the Dakar Rally, our products deliver winning performance. Our relationship with the racetrack puts us in a unique position to deliver motor racing level technology to drivers all over the world, and even into the car on your driveway!
What benefits does the new Syntium range offer drivers?
Modern vehicles must work harder and more efficiently to generate more power from smaller engines, all while consuming less fuel to reduce emissions. That’s why the Petronas Syntium range focuses on addressing thermal efficiency and controlling the dissipation of engine heat, transforming the performance of road car engines for cleaner, more cost-effective mobility. For example, it now offers almost 40% stronger protection against the wear of critical parts compared to past generations and provides up to 68 per cent higher oxidation resistance too. It’s this attention to detail that counts.
The new range utilises CoolTech+ technology, could you explain what that is?
Our CoolTech+ technology is all about efficiency. It lubricates the moving parts to protect and reduce wear, removing heat generated by friction and combustion. It can deliver up to 3% better fuel economy and few emissions, for cleaner, more cost-effective, and efficient mobility. By improving fuel efficiency, we have reduced the overall heat generated from combustion, which keeps the engine at the optimum operating temperature. Similarly, by reducing fuel consumption we have reduced the CO2 emissions generated from the combustion process.
How important is sustainability to today’s drivers?
Sustainability is something that cannot be ignored. Whether this is drivers, companies like PLI or garage owners – we all have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment. From a car owners’ perspective, having a better performing and cleaner car engine reduces the impact on their wallet as well as the planet. It is our job to provide customers with solutions to help them be more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions, as well as offer products that are sustainably packaged.
Engines are getting smaller, whilst drivers are expecting increasingly comfortable drive experiences – how can the Syntium range help vehicles achieve this?
A vehicles performance is vital to the driving experience and is directly linked to ride comfort. Most engines only convert around one third of their potential fuel energy into power, the rest is left unconverted or disappears as waste heat. Excessive heat can cause damage to critical engine parts, such as turbochargers, pistons and bearings, which ultimately affects the driving experience. The Petronas Syntium range enables motorists to unlock peak engine performance for a more stable car, and a smoother ride.
What else is Petronas doing to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions?
We strongly believe it’s time to change, and it’s our goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. As part of this journey, we have redesigned our packaging. The Petronas Syntium range now uses 15% less plastic across the entire collection and our new 20L Ecovent pail now contains up to 50% recycled plastic, with the pails themselves fully recyclable. This new packaging is a major step forward in our netzero ambitions and supports our customers to operate more sustainably.
