Basics on lubricants

COMPOSITION OF OIL
BASE OIL + ADDITIVES Additive is a substance added to base oil to enhance or prolong its performance

Why a plain Mineral oil wont suffice ???

External Environment

Friction Wear

Ingredients of an Engine Oil

VI Improvers Base Oil Detergents Dispersants Anti-wear Antioxidants, antifoam

What are Additives ???

Base oils : 70 90 %

Types : Mineral and Synthetic

Additives :

Performance chemicals blended with base stocks to Boost or Suppress or add new property to the base oil

Lubricant additives
DETERGENTS Function :
high temperature deposit control Neutralize acids rust inhibitor
e .g. Sulphonates , Phenates , Salicylates of Ca, Mg and other metals

Lubricant additives
DISPERSANTS
Functions
Controls engine sludge Prevents soot agglomeration and oil thickening Controls engine varnish

e.g
Succinimides (mono,bis) , manich type etc

Lubricant additives :Antioxidant and antiwear additives

Antioxidants : Controls oxidative decomposition of oil Minimizes oil thickening

e.g. Hindered phenols , Dithiophosphates etc

Antiwear additives

-reduces wear between contacting surfaces

e.g. Thio phosphates ( ZDP) , Sulphurised olefins etc

Lubricant additives :VI improver & PPD

VII :
Reduces the rate of change of oils viscosity with temperature. e.g. PMA , PIB , OCP etc PPDs : Lowers pour point Prevents interlocking e.g.:PMAs , Poly alkyl fumarates

Lubricant additives : FMs

Function : Reduces friction between contacting surfaces e.g. : fatty acid compounds with polar ends , Graphite MoS2 dispersions Other additives : Corrosion inhibitors , rust inhibitors , Metal deactivators , anti foams etc

Lubrication Points in an Engine

Camwear Valve Train Wear Piston Deposits Piston Rings Sticking Filter Choking Bearing Corrosion

Cylinder Bore Polish

Sludge Oil Thickening

COMPOSITION OF OIL

ADDITIVES DETERGENTS DISPERSANTS CORROSION INHIBITORS ANTIWEAR ADDITIVES VISCOSITY IMPROVER POUR POINT DEPRESSANTS EXTREME PRESSURE (EP) ADDITIVES

DETERGENT
A substance added to a fuel or lubricant to keep engine parts clean. In engine oil formulations, the detergents most commonly used are metallic soaps with a reserve of basicity to neutralise acids formed during combustion.

DISPERSANT
An additive which helps keep solid contaminants in a crankcase oil in colloidal suspension, preventing sludge and varnish deposits on engine parts. Usually nonmetallic (ashless), and used in combination with detergents.

CORROSION INHIBITOR
Additive for protecting metal surfaces from chemical attack by water or other contaminants.

ANTI-WEAR ADDITIVE
Additives or their reaction products which form thin, tenacious films on highly loaded parts to prevent metal-to-metal contact.

VISCOSITY IMPROVER
Lubricant additive, usually a high molecular weight polymer, that reduces the tendency of an oil's viscosity to change with temperature.

POUR POINT DEPRESSANT

Additive used to lower the pour point or low temperature fluidity of a petroleum product.

EP ADDITIVE
Lubricant additive that prevents sliding metal surfaces from seizing under conditions of extreme pressure.

API Classifications
CA CB CC CD CD II CE CF CF 2
C - COMPRESSION IGNITION Light Duty From 1949 moderate duty Moderate to severe duty Severe duty turbo / supercharged Detroit Diesel From 1984 - severe duty turbocharged SHPD To replace CD From 1993 - Detroit Diesel - to replace CD II

API Classifications
CF 4 CG 4 High performance diesel engine oil oil consumption control Severe duty diesel engine oil - to meet exhaust emission standards

US Military Specifications
MIL-L-2104A MIL-L-2104B MIL-L-2104C MIL-L-2104D From 1940 From 1958 From 1970, similar to combination of API CD & SD From 1983, similar to combination of API CD & SE

US Military Specifications
MIL-L-2104E MIL-L-2104F From 1990, will meet requirements of API SF From 1994, contains more advanced API specifications

ROLE OF ENGINE OIL

LUBRICATION CLEANING PROTECTION COOLING SEALING

LUBRICATION
OIL FORCES ITSELF BETWEEN MOVING METAL SURFACES AND KEEPS THEM APART

CLEANING
COMBUSTION ENGINE PRODUCE CONTAMINANTS LIKE VARNISH & LACQUERS DETERGENTS CLEAN AWAY HIGH TEMPERATURE DEPOSITS DISPERSENTS KEEP INSOLUBLES SUSPENDED

PROTECTION
PROVIDES A DURABLE FILM PROTECTING METAL PARTS FROM WATER & ACIDS FORMED DURING COMBUSTION PROCESS

COOLING
CIRCULATING OIL CARRIES HEAT AWAY FROM HIGH TEMPERATURE AREAS

SEALING
TO PREVENT BLOW-BY, OIL ACTS AS SECONDARY SEALANT

Viscocity factors

ADVANTAGES OF MULTIGRADE OILS

Seasonal Oil Changes Eliminated Easier Starting Plus Good Anti Wear Performance Pump ability Reduced Oil Consumption Reduced Fuel Consumption Better Bearing Lubrication Engine Cleanliness

Gear Oil Specifications

API GL-1 GL-2 GL-3 GL-4 Type
Straight mineral oil Contains friction modifiers-fatty material Contains mild EP additive

Application
Automotive manual truck tranmissions (needing no EP additives) Automotive worm gear drives, used where GL-1 not sufficient

Moderately severe manual transmissions and spiral bevel axles (FWD)

Contains EP Hypoid gears in manual transmissions and additive transfer cases, high speed low torque and low usually 50% of speed high torque operating conditions GL-5 High EP additive level Hypoid gears in manual transmissions and rear axles - high speed shock loads,high speed low torque and low speed high torque operating conditions.

GL-5