As the owner and operator of one of South Africa’s largest crude oil refineries, Astron Energy is a leading supplier of petroleum products in the country. Astron Energy as licensees of the Caltex brand also supply an innovative range of Caltex lubricants – including high-performance synthetic and semi-synthetic oils – aimed at meeting the needs of both consumers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Following the license holder's strict global standards, production occurs at our Durban-based lubrication manufacturing plant. Astron Energy also imports a limited portion of lubricants to complement the locally manufactured products. The extensive product range covers most industry and sector requirements.

Added fuel economy and durability for heavy-duty diesel engines 

One of the premium product lines is the diesel engine oils. The range combines highly refined base oils with advanced additives to offer fuel economy and engine durability, making it a prevalent choice in the transport sector. While this range is suitable for both on-highway and off-highway heavy-duty diesel vehicles, this article will focus on the range of on-highway products.

New engine oils for 2022

Demand for premium lubricants is growing at a healthy pace. To meet these needs, Astron Energy has added the following products to the range in 2022:

• A Premium performance API CK-4 ‘low-SAPS’ synthetic engine oil designed for newer diesel engines to improve fuel economy. It is formulated for newer engines with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. It is fully compatible with previous engine models and previous API Oil Service Categories.
• An API CH-4 multigrade engine oil to support the new regulations relating to the minimum requirements of the approved standards for lubricating oils for internal combustion engines in some SADEC countries,  

A Premium CNG/LNG oil formulated to deliver outstanding protection and long drain performance in a wide variety of compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) engine applications. 

Mineral and synthetic options

The on-highway driveline products include both mineral and synthetic fluids. The mineral oil typically covers older and out-of-warranty vehicles, while the synthetic is suited for newer vehicles requiring OEM-approved products. 

The current range of mineral and synthetic oils comprises the following:

• A multipurpose API GL-5 gear oil with a carefully balanced additive package to provide gear protection and long lubricant life.
• An API GL-5 gear oil compounded with a unique extreme pressure additive containing an inorganic borate technology. The oil is ideally suited for gear sets exposed to extremely high temperatures and loads.
• A premium performance fully synthetic gear oil for use in heavy-duty drive axles and differentials. The oil is approved against Scania STO 2:0 A, a Scania axle oil requirement that gives high fuel efficiency and extended drain interval.  
• A fully synthetic Total Driveline Lubricant (TDL) offering extended drain capability and designed for API GL-4 and GL-5 applications. The product is suitable for many synchronised transmissions and final drives.
• A range of fully synthetic API GL-4 transmission fluids designed for extended drain service in heavy-duty synchronised manual truck transmissions. The SAE 75W80 is also approved for use in Voith retarders. 
• A synthetic automatic transmission fluid (ATF) with an ultra-high viscosity index base fluid with Allison Transmission, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, ZF and Voith Turbo qualifications.
• A mineral API GL-4 gear lubricant designed for synchromesh and constant mesh transmissions and other components of Mercedes-Benz, MAN, and other European heavy-duty vehicles.    
• Automotive gear lubricants conforming to API service designation GL-5, formulated for use in limited-slip differentials.

Coolants and antifreeze additives

Supplied antifreeze and coolants are heavy-duty, ethylene glycol-based engine coolants that use a patented organic corrosion inhibitor technology called aliphatic carboxylates. 

This formula is free of nitrite, nitrate, borate, phosphate, silicate, and amines that offer exceptional protection for mixed fleets where the OEM specifies a nitrite-free coolant. It meets the specifications of ASTM D3306, ASTM D6210, DAF 74002 and is approved for use by Detroit Diesel 93K217, MAN 324 Type SNF, and Mercedes Benz 325.3 under DBL 7700.30 and MTU MTL 5048.

ELC, on the other hand, is free of nitrates, borates, silicates, phosphates, and amines but contains nitrites and molybdates for additional cylinder liner protection as required by some OEMs. With a long service life, the ELC antifreeze and coolant products meet the requirements for ASTM D6210, ASTM D3306 and Caterpillar EC-1. 

Grease for added protection 

On-highway vehicles require effective and long-term protection against component wear under severe conditions and shock loading. Astron Energy supplies high-performance long-service greases for use in ball and roller bearings operating under high-temperature conditions, offering such protection. It’s a lithium complex grease with ISO 220 base oil and has an operating temperature range of -30°C to 130°C with a maximum short-term exposure temperature of 220°C. These qualities make it ideal for use in commercial fleets.

Somewhat more technically advanced is the supplied flagship grease offering. Also, lithium complex grease has a dropping point of approximately 266°C and excellent high-temperature stability of up to 177°C. This premium grease is designed for extended service greasing applications and offers superior waterout protection, a vital requirement for on-highway trucks.

The third grease in the range is a heavy-duty calcium grease with extreme high load-carrying performance. It contains solid graphite and molybdenum disulfide additives, which promote reliable wear protection on fifth wheels. 

This wraps up a quick summary of the range of lubricants Astron Energy supplies. Contact your Astron Energy account manager or the technical services team today for more information or a product data sheet.