What is TBN?
TBN stands for Total Base Number. It is a measure of the ability of an oil to neutralize the acids that enter the crankcase as by-products of combustion. A base neutralizes an acid, so the higher the TBN, the more acid can be neutralized. With today’s low sulfur fuels, TBN is not as much of an issue as it was several years ago.
The Total Base Number (TBN) can be described as a measure of oil’s ability to neutralise strong acids created during the combustion process. It is often referred to as the alkalinity of the lubricant. With Shell Marine Engine Oils, the TBN value also gives an indication of the lubricant condition in terms of the detergent additive concentration and therefore the level of detergency and dispersancy.
