Kobe Lubricants Co., Ltd. will support you from the selection of the optimum lubricating oil to the purchase. | [The Basics of Lubrication] The Mechanism of Crude Oil Refining (Distillation) | Introducing articles about products handled by Kobe Lubricants Co., Ltd.

◆What is the mechanism of crude oil refining (distillation)?◆

~How gasoline and lubricants are made~

Gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, and lubricants—all essential to our daily lives—are made from crude oil.

So, how is black, viscous crude oil transformed into products for each specific use?

This time, we will explain "crude oil refining (distillation)," the basic process for producing petroleum products, in a way that is easy to understand even for those without specialized knowledge.

◆What exactly is crude oil?◆

Crude oil is a natural liquid resource extracted from deep underground.

It contains a mixture of various types of hydrocarbons (petroleum components) and cannot be used as is.

The process that follows is called "purification."

◆The basis of crude oil refining is "distillation"◆

The core of crude oil refining is "distillation."

This method involves heating a liquid and separating its components by utilizing the differences in the boiling points of each component.

A familiar example is that when you boil water, it turns into steam, but in the case of crude oil, because it is a mixture of many components, you can separate the components at different temperatures.

◆The process of crude oil refining (distillation)◆

① Heat the crude oil

First, the crude oil is heated in a large furnace to approximately 350-400°C.

Then, some of the crude oil turns into a gas.

② Send to the distillation column

The heated crude oil is sent to a huge tower called a "distillation tower."

Inside the distillation column, the temperature is higher at the bottom and lower at the top.

The vaporized components rise upwards, and as the temperature drops, they return to a liquid state at the appropriate location.

③ Extract each component separately

Products can be categorized as follows based on their boiling points:

Location of removal / Main product / Main use

Upper / LPG/Gas/Household gas etc. Upper to Middle / Gasoline/Automotive fuel Middle / Kerosene/Heating/Aviation fuel Middle to Lower / Diesel fuel/Trucks/Construction machinery Lower / Heavy oil/Shipbuilding fuel Bottom / Lubricant raw materials/Asphalt/Lubricant/Road paving

In this way, crude oil is transformed into a variety of products all at once.

Where does lubricating oil come from?

Lubricating oil is produced by further refining the heavier components extracted from the relatively lower parts of the distillation column.

At this stage, there are still many impurities,
We remove unwanted components, adjust the color and odor, and process the lubricant to improve its performance, ultimately creating a lubricant suited to its intended use.

A wide variety of products, including automotive engine oil, factory machinery oil, and grease, are produced here.

Why is refining technology important?

Even the same crude oil can have different properties depending on the region of origin.

Therefore, advanced refining techniques and quality control are essential to producing products of consistent quality.

Lubricating oil in particular,
Because it plays important roles such as preventing wear and tear, extending the lifespan of the machine, dissipating heat, and preventing rust, its quality greatly affects the machine's lifespan.


Crude oil refining (distillation) is a crucial process that separates crude oil at different temperatures to produce petroleum products necessary for our daily lives.

Among these, lubricating oil plays a vital role in supporting machinery and equipment and is widely used.

The gasoline and oil we use every day without even thinking about it are actually produced through advanced refining technology.

We offer a wide range of lubricants and industrial oils.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, such as "I don't know which lubricant to choose" or "I'd like to discuss which oil is suitable for my equipment."