Article
A Century of Lubrication Development: How Engine Oil for Trucks Evolved According to Mobil Engineers
26.01.2026
Justyna
At the end of the 19th century, German inventor Rudolf Diesel patented a compression-ignition engine, which forever changed the face of transportation and industry. However, the new technology introduced entirely new challenges – diesel engines operated under significantly higher loads, at higher temperatures, and with higher pressures than previous engines. This required developing an entirely new approach to lubrication.
The answer to these needs was the work of research teams from Vacuum Oil – the predecessor of ExxonMobil. In 1925, they created an oil specifically designed for diesel engines, capable of meeting extreme operating conditions. Thus, Mobil Delvac was born, initiating a long history of innovation in the commercial vehicle segment.
From Crude Oil to Advanced Technology
A hundred years ago, diesel engine oils were essentially unrefined crude oil. Occasionally, they were enriched with simple detergents, but this was the limit of possible modifications. As Mike Alessi from ExxonMobil emphasizes, modern oils are complex formulations containing several precisely selected additives, each responsible for a different aspect of engine protection.
Original oils were far from today’s standards of cleanliness and efficiency. They contained solid impurities, sulfur, and metallic compounds, making them more similar to contaminated liquid than a modern lubricant. Besides offering limited protection, they also contributed to the formation of deposits, which could degrade engine performance. Nevertheless, in that era, they were the best solution available and were appreciated by truck users.
The dynamic development of refining technology and increasingly advanced engine designs prompted Mobil Delvac engineers to intensively develop new formulations. Over time, simple crude oil was replaced by modern oils with extensive additive packages, providing effective protection even in the most demanding working conditions.
Viscosity Changes and Increasing Engine Demands
Early engine oils were characterized by very high viscosity, making it significantly harder to start engines in low temperatures – notes Reda Kamal from ExxonMobil. However, this is just one of the many differences between past and contemporary products. Previously, engine manufacturers relied on one general industry specification, whereas today, each OEM defines its own detailed requirements.
For oil manufacturers, this means the need to design formulations that meet a very wide range of standards and expectations. An example is modern truck oils, such as Mobil Delvac Ultra, which must simultaneously provide durability, protection, and compatibility with various engine designs.
A breakthrough moment was in 1952 when the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey introduced Uniflo Motor Oil – the first multi-season oil. It allowed for year-round use without the need for seasonal changes, which was a true revolution and significant convenience for long-haul truck drivers at the time.
New Fuels, New Challenges
As highlighted by Steve Jetter from ExxonMobil, three decades ago, the requirements for oils were entirely different. Today, emission reduction, extended change intervals, and fuel economy have key significance. An additional challenge is the dynamic evolution of fuels – alongside diesel, hydrogen, ammonia, and dimethyl ether are increasingly appearing.
Hydrogen, despite its ecological advantage, generates new threats – combustion leads to the formation of water, which may encourage corrosion of engine components. This requires both design changes and the development of oils resistant to moisture.
Creating new engine oil involves a process that includes dozens of rigorous tests. Some of them simulate extreme conditions, such as uninterrupted, 200-hour truck driving under load. Analysis of used oil, in turn, allows for the evaluation of real additive effectiveness, prediction of potential failures, and monitoring of engine condition in practice.
Looking to the Future
Work on the next generations of lubricants is not slowing down. A hundred years after the premiere of the first diesel engine oil, Mobil Delvac engineers are still developing products that meet new standards and specifications, such as PC-12, China D1, or ACEA.
Thanks to this, fleet owners can use comprehensive solutions covering all vehicle lubrication points – from the engine to the drive axle. Modern Mobil Delvac oils provide effective protection, the possibility of reducing fuel consumption, and compatibility with biodiesel-powered engines. The dynamic technological progress in this field is reflected in operational results and positive reviews from transport companies.
