Does the cloud point of oil affect its usage negatively?

Does the cloud point of oil affect its usage negatively?

The cloud point of oil products significantly affects their performance, with varying impacts depending on oil type and application scenarios:

I. Negative Effects of High Cloud Point

‌Reduced Low-Temperature Fluidity‌

Lubricating oils/fuel oils: High cloud point causes wax to precipitate at higher temperatures, clogging filters and oil passages, increasing engine wear risk.

Jet fuel: May lead to fuel system blockages or even safety incidents.

‌Accelerated Performance Degradation‌

High-cloud-point oils are prone to reduced oxidation resistance due to wax crystallization, shortening oil change cycles.

II. Cloud Point Requirements for Different Oils

‌Low-temperature lubricants‌ require optimal fluidity in extreme cold environments, so the ideal cloud point should be ‌as low as possible‌‌.

‌Surfactants‌ need enhanced hydrophilicity and cleaning power, so the cloud point should be ‌as high as possible‌‌.

‌Industrial cleaning agents‌ must avoid residual crystallization, so the cloud point should be ‌as low as possible‌‌

III. Comparison of Related Indicators

‌Cloud Point‌: Temperature at which wax precipitation causes turbidity (GB/T 6986-2014)

‌Pour Point/Freeze Point‌: Temperature at which complete fluidity loss occurs, typically 5–10°C lower than cloud point

‌Crystallization Point‌: Highest visible crystallization temperature, strictly controlled for aviation fuels

IV. Solution Recommendations

‌Cold-region oils‌: Select products with cloud points 5–10°C below ambient temperature

‌Base oil preference‌: Group III/IV base oils (e.g., PAO) offer lower cloud points

‌Comprehensive evaluation‌: Consider viscosity, flash point, and other indicators (e.g., API/ACEA certifications)

‌SH113B-Z Petroleum Cloud Point Tester‌ is designed and manufactured in compliance with the Chinese National Standard *"Determination of Cloud Point of Petroleum Products" (GB/T 6986-1986)*‌. It is suitable for measuring the cloud point of petroleum products according to the methods specified in this standard‌.

‌Cloud Point‌ refers to the temperature (expressed in °C) at which a clear and clean liquid petroleum product becomes hazy or cloudy due to wax crystallization under specified test conditions‌