The most important additives used in lubricant formulas are polymeric in nature, which play an important role in the performance of the fluid and act as a viscosity modifier. Due to the fact that lubricants with lower viscosities are higher in demand, the viscosity modifier function has become increasingly important and differential in lubricant formulas. In order to develop new components of technology for lubricants, complex tests, which are high in cost, are necessary. Therefore, preliminary analyses of new studies and the characterization of new data are extremely relevant and important for the customization of the process and timing. The intention is to characterize polymers available on the market as viscosity modifiers using thermal and rheological methodologies, as well as to have a better understanding of the influence of these additives on base oils used in lubricants. The results showed the polymers behaviors on thermal degradation, which are influenced by the polymerization process as well as chemical structure. Rheological analyses demonstrated to be an efficient methodology for the differentiation of these materials. Base oil study results showed the Newtonian fluid behavior and this was modified when substantial amount of polymers were added. The rheological and thermal behaviors of base oils as well as solutions with polymers in different treatment rates were realized by the analyses and techniques executed. For the preliminary evaluations of polymer additives and base oils with them, the methodologies used in this study proved to be efficient.