from the group consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide under suitable etherification conditions to produce a lubricating additive having the generic structural formula: ##STR9## wherein R1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group having from 1 to 34 carbon atoms; R2, R3 and R4 are independent alkylene groups having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; x is either 1 or 2; m is either