High-surface-area graphites, that can be prepared by grinding synthetic graphites in vibratory ball mills, can be used in a novel refining technique which can markedly reduce pour points of various petroleum distillates and can be used to prepare oil fractions with high viscosity indices. The treatment also lowers the content of aromatic and sulfur compounds and completely eliminates polycyclic aromatics. Some of the oils obtained by selective adsorption on graphite may well have some of the desirable properties of naphthenic oils and also constitute improved base stocks for multigrade lubricating oils, oils for gas-turbine engines, hydraulic oil and transmission lubricants. Results obtained to date indicate that graphite refining can produce oils similar to those that can be obtained by super-refining treatment i.e., high pressure hydrogenation and deep dewaxing. Otherwise, the process can be used to prepare good quality base oils in one step, thus eliminating furfural extraction, dewaxing and ferrofinin...