An electric submersible pump includes a pump, an electric motor that is coupled to the pump by a rotatable shaft, a seal section that is positioned between the pump and the electric motor. The seal section contains an additive and a motor oil for the electric motor. The additive includes one or more superabsorbent polymers or imidate salts to contact the motor oil and to react with a wellbore fluid from a wellbore to prevent premature failure of the electric submersible pump from the wellbore fluid contamination of the motor oil.