Polyolefin fluids covering a wide viscosity range have been produced in quantities sufficient for direct comparison with petroleum oils and with existing synthetic-lubricants. Preliminary studies, conducted to choose the best synthesis route, revealed that hydrogenated oligomers of octene-1 offered the optimum balance of high viscosity index, low pour point and excellent stability. Further work with alpha-olefin blends, aimed at the most economical approach, now shows that essentially equivalent results can be obtained with the proper blend of C6to C10olefins. Such fluids when produced in large volumes could compete economically with present synthetics. Tests on two candidate products—an automatic transmission fluid for high-temperature service and a jet engine lubricant—demonstrate product capabilities under conditions which cannot be satisfied with conventional petroleum oils.Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the Lubrication Conference held in San Francisco, Calif., October 18–20, 1965.