Battle of the Brands: Comparing Turbine Oil Options from Top Manufacturers

Your aircraft is a sophisticated piece of machinery and at the heart of that machine is the turbine. Like any engine, the turbine needs lubrication to prevent friction and to keep everything moving smoothly. Aircraft turbine oil is a highly refined and specially formulated lubricant that is designed to deliver the high-performance modern aircraft turbine engines need. Your aircraft operates under extreme conditions and it's important to make sure your turbine oil can handle the temperature fluctuations, pressures and variations in rotational speeds that will happen with each flight. A high-quality turbine oil is designed to handle these everyday stresses with ease, keeping your aircraft running at its peak.

Key Functions

A lot depends on your aircraft's engine. Make sure it has what it needs to operate its best by choosing a high-quality turbine oil. A good turbine oil serves a variety of functions, keeping everything running smoothly and preventing wear.

• Lubrication: The primary role of any engine oil is to lubricate the moving parts. A good lubricant helps reduce friction and wear while keeping everything moving smoothly. Turbine oil leaves a thin, protective film on your engine's parts that prevents metal-to-metal contact, which reduces heat generation and helps prolong the life of critical components.


• Cooling: While turbine oil is different than a coolant, it does help keep your engine cool. A good turbine oil assists in dissipating heat by carrying it away from the engine components and keeping everything working within a safe operating temperature range.


• Maintains Seals: Seals can dry out and crack, losing effectiveness and allowing hot gasses or fluids to pass through. A good turbine oil will lubricate seals to keep them pliable, preventing leaks and reducing maintenance demands.


• Prevents Oxidation and Corrosion: A good turbine oil will have additives that help prevent corrosion and oxidation. These additives do not impact the lubricating properties of the oil, but they do help ensure stability while combating oxygen and moisture, which can damage your turbine's critical components.


• Removes Contaminants: Contamination happens, even if you're as careful as possible. Turbine oil, coupled with a good filtration system, effectively removes contaminants from the engine before they can cause damage. The oil helps trap and remove contaminants that enter the engine, protecting sensitive components from damage.


• Reduces Emissions: Certain formulations of turbine oil can help reduce emissions and improve efficiency. All turbine engines must be in line with aviation industry performance standards.

Turbine Oil Options

Choosing the right turbine oil for your aircraft is critical for safety and performance. The turbine oil you choose should conform to industry standards and any regulations that are in place while also fitting into your budget. Regardless of which turbine oil you choose, performing regular oil analysis and maintenance is critical to keeping your aircraft in top condition. Ultimately, the turbine is your aircraft's main source of power, so you should protect it the best you can by choosing a high-quality turbine oil. Not sure which one to choose? SkyGeek is here to help with a turbine oil comparison so you can choose the best turbine oil for your needs.

• Eastman™ Turbo Oil 2380: This powerful turbine oil improves performance and offers optimal electrical conductivity to prevent short circuits. Best-suited for low-temperature viscosity, this oil helps your engine start even at low temperatures. Reduce hard starts, improve carbon seal life and more by choosing Eastman™ Turbo Oil 2380.


• Exxon Mobile Jet™ Oil II: The legendary, hassle-free, second-generation turbine oil helps keep engines clean and operating at their peak. As the first standard type II oil on the market, Mobile Jet™ Oil II has accumulated more than 5 decades of flight experience. The turbine oil helps control engine deposits, maximizes component life, minimizes oil consumption, helps reduce wear and delivers exceptional low-temperature fluidity. The turbine oil offers outstanding protection at high speeds, making it a great choice for all types of aircraft.


• Exxon Mobil™ Jet™ Oil 254: The synthetic turbine oil has been delivering trusted performance for more than 30 years. The synthetic formula offers high thermal stability and helps control deposits and engine deterioration better than standard type II oils. Mobile™ Jet™ Oil 254 can help reduce shop visits and maintenance costs and reduce consumption costs while improving engine performance.


• ROYCO® 555: This synthetic turbine oil offers an exceptional load-carrying capacity and is designed for use in many helicopter turbines, transmissions and gearboxes, but can also be used in many types of aircraft turbine engines.


• AeroShell Turbine Engine Oil 555: Advanced synthetic hindered ester oil with a fine balance of additives that improve thermal and oxidation stability while simultaneously increasing the load-carrying ability of the base oil. AeroShell 555 was developed to meet the high temperatures and load-carrying requirements of SST engines, but also enhances performance in modern engines, making it a great choice for a wide range of applications.


• RADCOLUBE® 6081: This turbine oil is petroleum-based and intended for use in specific models of military jet engines. The rust-inhibited fluid can be used for lubricating turbines or for preserving hydraulic systems. It has a wide service temperature range of -54°C to +135°C (-65.2°F to 275°F), offering smooth operation in virtually any environment.

This is just a sample of the turbine oils available at SkyGeek. While all turbine oils are made to lubricate and reduce friction, some go above and beyond to help prevent corrosion, improve load-carrying capacities and ensure smooth operation in cold environments. Always consider the unique characteristics of each type of turbine oil and your specific needs before choosing your aircraft. For questions about any of the turbine engine oils offered at SkyGeek, just reach out to our team of Geeks and they'll be happy to help.