Friction modifiers are additives used in lubricants to decrease the amount of friction between two lubricated surfaces. They are often used in auto transmission and engine lubricants to improve fuel economy.
Lubricants are used in a variety of situations to reduce friction. They are commonly used in the automobile industry to reduce surface friction when a car is shifting gears. Friction modifiers are sometimes added to further enhance lubricity.
Friction modifiers, when added to more basic lubricants, increase the efficiency of the lubricants and machinery being lubricated. Before the development of synthetic lubricants, substances such as whale oil were used as modifiers.
The purpose of friction modifiers and lubricants is to help engines perform as efficiently as possible. The more efficiently an engine functions, the less wear it suffers over time. Engines that suffer less friction last longer and require less maintenance.
