Base Oil SN150 & SN500

Base oil SN150 and SN500 are the two workhorse grades of the Group I base oil market. SN150 is the lighter, lower-viscosity cut; SN500 is the heavier, higher-viscosity cut. Blenders use them together to build lubricants that meet a target viscosity, and refiners use them as the solvent-neutral backbone of engine oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils and process oils.

INTBES supplies both grades in bulk and in ISO tanks, with a certificate of analysis issued for each lot. The two grades are sold separately and as a pair, because most blending recipes call for both.

Specification

Each lot is sold against a written specification confirmed before shipment:

• Viscosity at 40°C — SN150 in the light range, SN500 in the heavier range; the exact figures are stated in the certificate of analysis.
• Viscosity index, pour point, flash point, colour and sulfur — reported per lot.
• Form — liquid base oil, shipped in bulk or ISO tank.
• Minimum order quantity — set per route and per discharge terminal.
• Delivery — bulk cargo or ISO tank, terms by agreement.

Why blenders use these two grades

Group I base oils are solvent-refined and dewaxed. They are not the newest technology, but they are predictable, widely available and cost-effective, and they blend well with additives. SN150 brings low viscosity and good flow at low temperature; SN500 brings film strength and viscosity. A blender who stocks both can cover the full range of finished lubricants without holding a long list of specialty cuts.

That makes the pair attractive to independent blenders, lubricant plants and traders who supply regional markets. The economics are driven by the spread between the two grades and by the additive package that turns the base oil into a finished product.

Applications

SN150 and SN500 feed four main channels. Lubricant blenders use them for engine oils, hydraulic fluids and gear oils. Industrial users take them as process oils, metalworking fluids and heat-transfer oils. Grease makers use them as the base for soap-thickened greases. Traders blend them to meet a customer’s viscosity target. The exact split depends on the recipe and on the local market’s viscosity preference.

Supply and logistics

Base oil is loaded in bulk parcels or ISO tanks. Loading port, laycan, Incoterm (FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP) and inspection are agreed in the offer. The shipment travels with a certificate of analysis and a certificate of quantity. Because the grades are liquid and temperature-sensitive, storage and pumping at the discharge terminal are confirmed before the shipment is fixed.

Quality assurance

Each lot is sampled at loading and tested for viscosity, viscosity index, pour point, flash point and colour. The certificate of analysis is issued before the vessel sails. If the lot falls outside the agreed window, it is not released, which protects the blender from a base oil that would change the finished product’s viscosity.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SN150 and SN500? SN150 is lighter and lower in viscosity; SN500 is heavier and higher in viscosity. They are used together to hit a target viscosity in a blend.

Are these Group I base oils? Yes. SN150 and SN500 are solvent-refined Group I grades, widely used in lubricant blending.

Can both grades ship in one cargo? They are separate grades and are normally shipped as separate parcels. Combined shipments are arranged case by case.

What documents come with the lot? Certificate of analysis, certificate of quantity, bill of lading and the commercial invoice.

Request an offer

Send the required grade, the volume and the discharge port, and the trading desk will return a specification, an indicative price and a loading window. For finished lubricant inputs, see lubricant additives.

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