PURPOSE: To provide a group II metal overbased sulfurized 16-22C alkylphenate composition suitable as a cleaning agent/dispersing agent very effective for use in a lubricating oil and having a further lowered viscosity at a constant total base number.

CONSTITUTION: A group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenate composition is derived from an alkylphenol enriched in alkyl substituents attached to the phenol ring in a skewed position of the formula (wherein the CRR'R"alkyl substituent is a substantially straight chain, R and R' are each at least 3C alkyl, the C number of R' is greater than that of R by at least 4, R" is H, methyl or ethyl, and the total C number of R, R' and R" is 15-21; and n is 1 or 2). This composition can be obtained by reacting an alkylphenol enriched in the compound of the formula, sulfur and an oxide or hydroxide or a 1-6C alkoxide, a 1-4C alkylene oxide or a ≥8C alkanol of a group II metal(suitably, Ca) with a compound selected from an oil-soluble group IT metal neutral or overbased hydrocarbyl sulfonate and an alkenyl-succinimide and successively reacting the reaction product with CO2.