Low Odor Lubricants

Most people who have sat in a new car have probably experienced the new car smell. Some consumers like this smell, but it can be unpleasant or concerning to others. Concerned consumers are cognizant of the potential risks of inhaling the chemicals responsible for these scents. Car manufacturers and governments have been developing standards regarding vehicle interior air quality (VIAQ) for several years. The Asia-Pacific region has government implementation of VIAQ, while car manufacturers and regulatory bodies drive the US and EU implementations. The VIAQ standards require evaluating each material sourced inside a vehicle, and one thing is sure; we will be eliminating the new car smell.

Why Do Lubricants Smell?

What causes this new car smell, and how do lubricants contribute to the overall smell of a car? Odor is a product of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released as vapor molecules. These molecules are responsible for all smells, both pleasant and unpleasant. Most VOCs are benign, like the smell of vinegar or lavender, but others can be harmful. These VOCs can be present in the dashboard materials or the lubricants that one can find in the interior controls of a car. Certain lubricant additives release more VOCs than others. Additionally, the volitalizing process can accelerate at elevated temperatures like one would experience on a hot summer day.

Removing VOCs does not negatively affect the performance of the lubricant. However, the presence of VOCs can impact the quality of a product in the eyes of a consumer. For example, consider a car’s HVAC system. Suppose the car manufacturer selects an odorous lubricant for the register vanes. In that case, the scent will circulate in the car and disturb passengers.

How is a Lubricant’s Odor Assessed?

Selecting odorless or non-offensive lubricants is key to improving product quality and user experience. The VDA 270 BMW Odor Test method is widely regarded as the industry-standard method for assessing lubricant odor under environmental conditions. Per VDA 270, lubricant samples are placed in a test chamber and exposed to different temperatures and levels of humidity. Once released from the chamber, experts assess the scent on a subjective 6-grade scale ranging from not perceptible to not acceptable:

Low Odor Lubricants and Oils for Automotive Interiors

Nye’s lubricants were sent to an independent laboratory to test via VDA 270 (Table 1). Experts tested each product at three temperatures: 23 °C, 40 °C, and 80 °C. VDA 270 testing at 40 °C (104 °F) is comparable to the temperature of a car interior on a hot day. This testing has helped our research and development team identify additives that emit harsh odors. Nye’s scientists use this information to ensure that all lubricants developed for automotive interiors do not contain these problem additives. Additionally, Nye will be evaluating these lubricants for VOCs using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry using various automotive OEM test methods.