ConocoPhillips has released Guardol ECT and Kendall Super-D XA, synthetic blend heavy duty engine oils with what it says is an industry-first "liquid titanium" additive that enhances wear protection, improves corrosion control and reduces oil oxidation.

"It is an enhancement of premium CJ-4 technology," said Reginald Dias, director of commercial lubricants. "The liquid titanium helps to enhance the performance of premium heavy duty oil and move it to the next level, what I call premium plus."

ConocoPhillips says it was the first major petroleum company to introduce a synthetic blend CJ-4 oil, which it did in 2006. For more than a year they have been working on this new level of technology, which has been fully field tested and has the appropriate API licenses and OEM approvals.

"This liquid titanium forms a very tightly bonded protective layer at the molecular level, a microscopic protective layer," Dias explains. "It helps protect the equipment from wear. Engine tests show that there is a significant reduction in wear. And when we take the parts apart, we show titanium bonded to the metal surface."

He also points out that this is a completely homogeneous liquid material that is used as an additive, not a solid, a suspension or dispersion, so there's no dropout.

In the Cummins ISB test that is part of CJ-4 testing and part of Cummins' lubricant standard, Dias notes, ConocoPhillips' previous formula "passed comfortably, but what we're finding is with the liquid titanium, we've seen a 15 percent reduction in cam lobe wear and 46 percent reduction in crosshead wear."

Despite the improved performance, Dias says, "We are going to the market without any price increase for this enhancement."

More info: www.lubricants.conocophillips.com/titanium