ConocoPhillips introduced its next generation of premium low ash natural gas engine oil, El Mar LA4EXD, and the addition of a mainline low ash product, El Mar Low Ash, to its line of Conoco natural gas engine oil offerings. Formulated to meet the increased performance demands of today’s high-output natural gas engines, Conoco said the new oils are designed to help natural gas industry operators increase productivity by enabling their engines to operate smoothly at maximum efficiency, protecting the hardware and minimizing down time, while also improving the bottom line by reducing operational expenses.
“We understand the challenges of keeping natural gas engines operating at peak condition under the most demanding circumstances. Operators who use our new El Mar LA4EXD formulation stand to benefit from enhancements in wear reduction, engine parts cleanliness, valve recession control and ability for extending oil drain service,” said Reginald Dias, director of commercial products, ConocoPhillips. “In fact, both the El Mar LA4EXD and the El Mar Low Ash have passed extensive field tests, and performed extremely well under the most severe conditions, ultimately keeping engines clean and running at optimal levels.”
El Mar LA4EXD is a premium quality, low ash dispersant-detergent gas engine oil designed for use in four-stroke cycle engines fueled by natural gas or LPG. It combines the advantages of high-quality group II base stocks and a field-proven performance additive to provide excellent engine cleanliness, deposits control, and wear and corrosion reduction, according to the company.
In field testing, the new formulation outperformed the earlier El Mar LA4 version, which in turn had already excelled against a leading competitor at most inspection points in a matching test, ConocoPhillips said. The formulation shows better engine cleanliness, less deposits on critical parts, reduced wear and corrosion, and better resistance to oil oxidation under extended drain conditions. The new low ash technology helps to protect emissions control devices such as catalytic converters and exhaust after-treatment from fouling from high ash or catalyst poisons, the maker said.
El Mar Low Ash offers excellent oxidation and nitration control, reduced valve seat recession and enhanced engine cleanliness. These features help to prevent or minimize problems such as exhaust valve recession, guttering, deposits formation and plug fouling, common to natural gas engines operating under adverse conditions, ConocoPhillips said. The formulation is recommended for use in all naturally aspirated and turbo-charged gas engines requiring low ash engine oil, such as Caterpillar, Waukesha Dresser Rand, and other four-stroke cycle natural gas engines. The low ash formulation is compatible with catalytic converters and other exhaust after-treatment devices installed in modern gas engines for emissions control, the company said.
