Base Oils 2 – Mineral Oils

Base Oils 2 – Mineral Oils dives into the foundational base stocks used in most of the world’s lubricants. While synthetics often dominate the spotlight, mineral oils remain the workhorse of the industry—powering engines, hydraulics, compressors, and gearboxes across every sector.

This course explores the different types of mineral oil base stocks by molecular structure and refining method. You’ll learn the differences between paraffinic, naphthenic, and aromatic molecules, and how solvent refining, hydrotreating, hydrocracking, and gas-to-liquid (GTL) processes influence performance properties such as oxidation stability, volatility, and solvency.

Whether you’re involved in lubricant formulation, sales, or equipment reliability, this course gives you the knowledge to understand mineral base oil groups, evaluate their applications, and make informed recommendations based on cost, performance, and compatibility.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Distinguish between the main molecule types in mineral base oils
• Understand the refining processes behind Group I, Group II, and GTL base oils
• Compare the properties and trade-offs of solvent-refined vs. hydroprocessed stocks
• Recognize where mineral oils are best suited—and where synthetics may be required
• Communicate base oil differences clearly to customers, clients, or colleagues