The NILS LAB, our Research & Development laboratory, is the heart of NILS innovation. Here we not only develop cutting-edge formulations and tailored solutions for the racing world, but we also analyze hundreds of used oil samples from customers every day. These analyses allow us to: verify the real performance of our products during use; evaluate the health status of the engines on which they are used; identify and correctly attribute wear phenomena; prevent failures and breaks thanks to advanced analysis tools. The continuous flow of data from the racing world and everyday usage allows us to push innovation further, developing higher quality lubricants, tested in real conditions and suitable for every level of use.

A low-quality oil can cause the formation of carbon deposits on rings and pistons, limit temperature dissipation, and reduce the engine's power output. It can compromise the operation of the oil-bath clutch, causing slipping issues, and fail to adequately protect seals and mechanical parts against wear and corrosion — even during long seasonal shutdowns. Additionally, poor-quality oil can increase oil consumption and keep the engine and spark plugs dirty, limiting overall performance.

The synthetic base is just the starting point. The difference lies in the quality of the bases used, the package of additives, and the engineering of the formulation.

Every lubricant is formulated to meet specific application, temperature, and mechanical stress requirements. The main variables that determine performance are the type of base lubricant (mineral, synthetic, PAO, ester), the SAE viscosity grade, and the additive package. In the NILS range, for example, a 4T engine oil like KLASSIC uses a premium mineral base designed for large displacement engines, while RACE is formulated with a 100% synthetic PAO base for extreme usage conditions typical of competition. A clutch oil like CLUTCH is designed to ensure the correct modulation of the oil bath clutch, while a fork oil like FORK requires a high viscosity index to ensure consistent performance over a wide temperature range. For this reason, different lubricants meet different technical requirements.

PAOs (polyalphaolefins) and synthetic esters are both high-quality bases, but with different properties. PAOs are distinguished by excellent thermal and oxidative stability, good flow at low temperatures, and a wide operational range. They also offer superior hydrolytic stability: they better resist degradation caused by moisture and condensation, an aspect on which esters can be more vulnerable. Esters, due to their polar nature, provide excellent lubricity, good solvency, and a strong affinity with metal surfaces, contributing to the formation of a robust lubricating film. In more advanced formulations, the use of high molecular weight PAOs combined with specific additive packages allows for stability, longevity, and protection of the lubricating film at the highest levels.

A multigrade oil maintains its viscosity properties over a wide range of temperatures, providing protection both in cold and hot conditions. The designation (e.g. 10W-40) indicates the behavior at different temperatures.