Base Oils SN150 and SN500: Grades, Uses and Packaging

October 5, 2026

Base oil makes up most of a finished lubricant, usually the large majority by volume, with the rest being additives. Two solvent-neutral grades account for a large share of what blenders buy: SN150 and SN500.

What “solvent neutral” means

Solvent neutral base oils are produced by solvent extraction and dewaxing, processes that remove the aromatic and wax fractions that would otherwise shorten the life of the finished lubricant. The result is a stable, consistent stock with low volatility and good oxidation resistance. The “SN” prefix simply identifies that production route; the number roughly indicates viscosity, with SN500 thicker than SN150.

The two grades side by side

• SN150 — the lighter grade. Often used in hydraulic oils, light industrial oils and some engine oils. It flows readily at low temperature and is the natural base for products that need to be poured or pumped in cold conditions.
• SN500 — heavier and more viscous. Used in gear oils, heavier industrial products and engine oils that need higher viscosity. It supplies body where a formulation would otherwise be too thin at operating temperature.

Blenders routinely combine the two — and sometimes a third grade — to hit an exact target viscosity. That is normal practice, not a compromise: matching a specification often requires a blend rather than a single stock.

Key quality indicators

Buyers should confirm these against their blending specification before committing:

• Viscosity at 40 °C and 100 °C — the primary grade numbers
• Viscosity index — how much viscosity changes with temperature; higher is better for multi-grade products
• Flash point — the temperature at which vapour ignites; a safety and specification figure
• Pour point — the lowest temperature at which the oil still flows
• Colour and water content — routine indicators of consistency and contamination

Ask for a certificate of analysis per shipment rather than accepting a typical-values sheet, because blending targets are tight enough that variation matters.

Packaging: flexibag or drum

Two routes serve different buyers:

• Flexibags in containers — the standard bulk option. Lower unit cost, fast loading, and suited to blenders buying on a regular cycle with tank storage on site.
• Drums — better for smaller or mixed orders, for buyers without flexibag handling, and for destinations where container discharge is easier than flexibag pumping.

Mixed pallets of SN150 and SN500 let a smaller buyer stock both grades without committing to a full flexibag of each.

Ask us for a quotation

Send the grade, packaging route, volume and destination port, and we will confirm stock, lead time and price basis.