SSAAI is working his way through Oil Glup, Part 9
The core of this debate lies in the hidden physics of motor oil, specifically the tension between synthetic purity and colloidal stability. While the industry markets synthetics like polyalphaolefins as the peak of lubrication, their non-polar nature makes them chemically dry. This low polarity results in poor solubility, meaning additives and soot easily drop out of the mixture, causing severe engine deposits. True oil quality is not determined by marketing standards but by the physical state of the mixture.
Homogenization through cavitation proves this by breaking down additive particles into a stable colloidal state. This process increases entropy. As particle size shrinks, the oil's properties improve, lowering the aniline point...