Article
A Century of Lubrication Development: How Truck Engine Oil Evolved According to Mobil Engineers
26.01.2026
Justyna
At the end of the 19th century, German engineer Rudolf Diesel patented the compression ignition engine, which forever changed the face of transportation and industry. However, the new technology brought entirely new challenges – diesel engines operated under much greater loads, at higher temperatures, and with higher pressure than previous engines. This required a completely new approach to lubrication.
The answer to these needs was the work of the research teams of Vacuum Oil – the predecessor of ExxonMobil. In 1925, they created an oil specifically designed for Diesel engines, capable of withstanding extreme operating conditions. Thus began Mobil Delvac, which initiated a long history of innovations in the truck vehicle segment.
From Crude Oil to Advanced Technology
Just a hundred years ago, Diesel engine oils were essentially unrefined crude oil. They were occasionally enriched with a simple detergent, but that was the extent of modification possibilities. As Mike Alessi from ExxonMobil emphasizes, modern oils are complex formulations containing dozens of precisely selected additives, each responsible for a different aspect of engine protection.
Primitive oils were far from today’s standards of cleanliness and efficiency. They contained solid impurities, sulfur, and metal compounds, making them more resemble a contaminated fluid than a modern lubricant. Besides limited protection, they also promoted the formation of deposits that could degrade engine performance. Nevertheless, in the realities of that era, they were the best available solution and were appreciated by truck users.
The dynamic development of refining technology and increasingly advanced engine designs led Mobil Delvac engineers to intensively develop new formulations. Over time, simple crude was replaced by modern oils with sophisticated additive packages providing effective protection even in the most demanding working conditions.
Changes in Viscosity and Growing Engine Demands
The first engine oils were characterized by very high viscosity, which significantly hampered engine start in low temperatures – notes Reda Kamal from ExxonMobil. However, this is just one of many differences between past and modern products. In the past, engine manufacturers relied on a single general industry specification, but today every OEM defines its own, detailed requirements.
For oil producers, this means designing 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 the year 1952, when the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey introduced Uniflo Motor Oil – the first multigrade oil. It allowed for year-round operation without the need for seasonal changes, which for truck drivers of that time was a true revolution and a significant convenience during long hauls.
New Fuels, New Challenges
As Steve Jetter from ExxonMobil points out, three decades ago the demands on oils were completely different. Today, the reduction of emissions, extended change intervals, and fuel savings are of key importance. An additional challenge is the dynamic evolution of fuels – alongside diesel oil, hydrogen, ammonia, or dimethyl ether are increasingly appearing.
Hydrogen, despite its ecological advantage, generates new threats – combustion leads to the formation of water, which may promote corrosion of engine components. This requires both construction changes and the development of oils resistant to moisture.
Creating new engine oil involves dozens of rigorous tests. Some simulate extreme conditions, such as an uninterrupted, 200-hour truck run under load. The analysis of used oil in turn allows evaluating the real effectiveness of additives, predicting potential failures, and monitoring engine condition in practice.
A Look to the Future
Work on subsequent generations of lubricants does not slow down. A hundred years after the premiere of the first diesel engine oil, Mobil Delvac engineers continue to develop 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 lubrication points of the vehicle – 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.
