New additive development is initiated when a new lubricant need is identified. The need is usually expressed by the OEMs and end users. This can result from either inadequate performance of existing products in current equipment, or the perceived needs of equipment under development.
Additive companies, either alone or by collaborating with the lubricant supplier, try to satisfy the performance requirements established for the new product. If an additive system based on their existing technology base is insufficient, they initiate a project to develop and test a new additive.
New additives are blended with other additives in the base oil of a customer and initially evaluated in a number of proprietary bench tests. The bench tests closely simulate the conditions the lubricant is expected to experience in actual service.
Then, full testing using actual equipment is carried out. This can be done in a laboratory or in collaboration with an end user. For additives used in automotive products, field trials may also be necessary. The costs associated with the development and testing of new additives can be phenomenal.
The performance package that has successfully met all the performance requirements is then ready to be marketed, either through factory fill or the service fill lubricant blenders.