Engine Lubricants

and
Lubricating Systems
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Functions of Engine Oils

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Reduce wear
Reduce friction
Seal Compression
Reduce noise
Cool engine parts
Reduce rust
Keep parts clean

Organizations Providing
Uniform Standards for Oil

S.A.E.

A.P.I.

Society of Automotive Engineers

American Petroleum Institute

A.S.T.M.

American Society of Testing & Materials

American Automobile Manufacturers

Association
Engine Manufacturers Association
I.S.O.

International Standards Organizations

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity

Index (VI)
Flash Point
Pour Point
Per cent sulfated ash
Per cent zinc.

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity

Index (VI)
Flash Point
Pour Point
Per cent sulfated ash
Per cent zinc.

Viscosity

Measure of the "flowability

Property

Resistance to flow
Shearing stress

High viscosity - thick oils

Kinematic
Dynamic

Too high viscosity may not reach all parts

Low viscosity thin oil

Too low viscosity may not provide enough strength to keep

parts from wearing

Dynamic & Kinematic

Viscosity

Kinematic Viscosity Measurement

Saybolt Viscometer

Glass capillary viscometers

Dynamic Viscosity Measurement

Typical Brookfield Viscometer

Weight of oils
Common term identifying viscosity for oils
Numbers assigned by the S.A.E.

correspond to "real" viscosity, as measured by

accepted techniques.
These measurements are taken at specific
temperatures.
Oils that fall into a certain range are designated 5,
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 by the S.A.E.
The W means the oil meets specifications for
viscosity at 0 F and is therefore suitable for Winter
use.

_______________________________________________________________
|

SAE Gear Viscosity Number

________________________________________________________

|75W |80W

|____|_____|___|______________|________________________|

|85W|

90

140

|
|

SAE Crank Case Viscosity Number

____________________________

|10| 20

|__|_____|____|_____|______|

| 30 | 40

50

______________________________________________________________
2

10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
viscosity cSt @ 100 degrees C

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity

Index (VI)
Flash Point
Pour Point
Per cent sulfated ash
Per cent zinc.

Viscosity index

The measure of an oil's ability to resist

changes in viscosity when subjected to
changes in temperature.

As temperature increases
viscosity decreases.
Low temperatures
High viscosity
High temperature
Low viscosity

Multi-viscosity/Multi-grade Oil
Oil meeting SAE requirements for
both low-temperature
requirements of light oil and hightemperature requirements. Also
know as multiweight oil.
Oil that meets certain lowtemperature and hightemperature requirements
simultaneously
(e.g., SAE l0W-40).

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity Index (VI)

Flash Point

Minimum sample temperature at which vapor is

produced at a sufficient rate to yield a combustible
mixture.

Pour Point

The lowest temperature at which oil will pour.

Per cent sulfated ash

Per cent zinc.

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity Index (VI)
Flash Point
Pour Point

Percent sulfated ash

how much solid material is left when the oil burns.

A high ash content will tend to form more sludge
and deposits in the engine.
Low ash content also seems to promote long valve
life. Look for oils with a low ash content.

Per cent zinc.

Properties of Motor Oils

Viscosity
Viscosity Index (VI)
Flash Point
Pour Point
Per cent sulfated ash

Percent zinc

the amount of zinc used as an extreme pressure,

anti-wear additive.
The zinc is only used when there is actual metal to
metal contact in the engine. Hopefully the oil will
do its job and this will rarely occur, but if it does,
the zinc compounds react with the metal to prevent
scuffing and wear.
A level of 0.11% is enough to protect an
automobile engine for the extended oil drain
interval, under normal use.

Common motor oil additives

Viscosity

index improvers

used

to enhance the base qualities of the

oil, and to keep the oil from thinning too
much as heat increases.

Pour-point
prevent

depressants

crystals from forming in extreme

cold conditions, and consequently lower
the oil's pour point (temperature at which it
pours).

Common motor oil additives

Oxidation

inhibitors

help

prevent the oil from oxidizing (in other

words, burning). When oil oxidizes, it loses
its ability to protect the engine. It also
produces sludge deposits and traps
corrosive acids.

Rust-corrosion
help

inhibitors

prevent and neutralize water and

oxygen from acid-etching the metals in the
engine and forming rust particles. If this
corrosion were to happen, some complex
acids would form and other sludge problems
would occur.

Common motor oil additives

Dispersants

help the oil to absorb and retain contaminants

such as dirt or tiny metal particles (from
engine wear) until the oil passes through the
oil filter, where the contaminants are trapped.

Detergents
help

to remove contaminants from the engine

components and hold them in the oil until it
reaches a filter, or until it is changed the next
time. They don't only clean up a dirty engine.

Common motor oil additives

Friction

modifiers/wear inhibitors

"stick" to engine surfaces better, reducing

friction and improving fuel economy. Oils with
the "energy conserving" labels contain friction
modifiers.

Foam

inhibitors (Antifoamants)

prevent

the oil from being whipped into many

tiny air bubbles. Air bubbles don't lubricate.
This also helps prevent sludge formation when
the emulsion process is a possible threat in an
engine.

Types of Motor Oils

Petroleum Based

Refined from crude oil

Supplemented with additives

Synthetic

Lubricants chemically engineered from pure chemicals

rather than refined from crude oil.
Can provide significant advantages over refined oils.

Longer oil change intervals

Longer engine life
Increase gas mileage

More expensive

What the h___ is he talking about?

Items that tell us about selecting an oil!

What the h___ is he talking about?

How

to select an oil for different

purposes.

What

to look for on an oil container.

What Oil
Should
You Use

API Donut

Gasoline
Service
Classification

Diesel
Engine
Classification

Lubrication Systems
Splash
Dipper
Slinger

Force

Feed & Splash

Full Force Feed

Splash Lubrication

Force Feed and Splash

Full Force Feed

Oil Pump

Oil pump intake screen

Engine Oil Degradation and

Contamination

Oil thickening

Fuel

Hydrocarbon compounds

Combustion Products

Oxidation
Vaporization of lighter
components

Carbon
Water
Sulphur Oxides
Fuel chemical additives

Dust and Dirt

Metal from wear of
components

Oil Filtration Systems

By-Pass
Full

Flow
Shunt

Engine
Lubrication
System with
both by-pass
and full-flow
filtration

Two filters provide ability to filter

smaller particles

Filter elements

Surface

Pleated paper
Metal screen

Depth

Cotton waste

Changing oil and filters renews

engine protection
Dirty oil reduces life of an engine.
Reduce maintenance and increase engine life
by changing engine oil and filters on a
regularly scheduled basis.
Interval between changes depends on
operating conditions.
Oil analysis provides management of oil
change intervals

Recommend for fleet operations.

Oil Pressure Important Sensor

Low pressure light indicator

Lubrication Links on the Web

Motor oils and more

Motor Oil Functions & Properties
Selecting motor oils

Motor Oil Additives

Lubrication Systems
Filtration Systems

API Starburst and Donut

Sources of oil contaminants

Filters & filter media

Synthetic oil base stocks

Synthetic oil history
Oil Analysis

Example 1
Example 2