An investigation of the effects of some motor oil additives on the friction and wear behaviour of oil-soluble organomolybdenum compounds

The compatibility of oil-soluble organomolybdenum compounds with some motor oil additives (detergent, dispersant, rust inhibitor and ZDDP) has been investigated on a four-ball machine and a SRV tester. Preliminary results indicated that a combination of two agents might have either synergistic or antagonistic effects on the friction and wear performance of the organomolybdenum compounds, although many combinations were shown to be synergistic. The interactions between two agents were primarily determined by the additive types, additive concentrations and test temperatures. It was also found that the presence of calcium sulphonate detergent was particularly beneficial to molybdenum dithiophos-phate and molybdenum dithiocarbamate in terms of friction reduction and wear reduction at temperatures in a certain range. The induction period of the organomolybdenum compounds was also reduced. Surface analysis results suggested that the synergistic effects were closely related to the formation of thick films, which were rich in molybdenum and sulphur, on rubbing surfaces.     

Changes in the mechanical properties of oil used in a gasoline engine

This study is concerned with the changes in and deterioration of the mechanical properties of oil used in a gasoline engine. The properties analysed were friction and antiwear performance, wear debris, load-carrying ability and the formation of surface films. It was found that the oil run in an engine deteriorated so as to increase the wear and friction and decrease the load-carrying ability as the running distance of oil was increased. The main cause of deterioration was related to the ability to form a protective film in the contact zone. When the film was produced by additives (sulphur), this could properly protect the surface in the contact zone undepleted from wear and friction. But as the oil deteriorated, it could not form such a film and so its protective ability on sliding surfaces diminished.     

Effects of refined palm oil (RPO) fuel on wear of diesel engine components

In this particular research work, the effects of refined palm oil (RPO), as alternative fuel, on wear of diesel engine components are assessed. Fleet testing is carried for the qualifying candidates diesel fuel replacement, i.e. 100% RPO fuel or 50% RPO and 50% conventional diesel fuel mixture. The base line of the fleet testing is using pure conventional petroleum diesel fuel as an energy source in one of the tested vehicles in the fleet. Analysis of used engine lubrication oil, taken when the oil was changed on the vehicles, was compared to the analysis of used oil samples pulled from 100% diesel fuel engines. The finding suggested that the pure RPO and RPO blended fueled engines were wearing at a normal rate.     

Friction and wear characteristics of lead and its compounds filled polytetrafluoroethylene composites under oil lubricated conditions

The friction and wear properties of Pb, PbO, Pb₃O₄, or PbS filled polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites sliding against GCr15 bearing steel under both dry and liquid paraffin lubricated conditions were studied by using an MHK-500 ring-block wear tester. The worn surfaces and the transfer films of these PTFE composites formed on the surface of GCr15 bearing steel were then investigated by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope, respectively. Experimental results show that filling Pb, PbO, Pb₃O₄ or PbS to PTFE can greatly reduce the wear of the PTFE composites, but the wear reducing action of Pb₃O₄ is the most effective. Meanwhile, PbS increases the friction coefficient of the PTFE composite, but Pb and Pb₃O₄ reduce the friction coefficients of the PTFE composites. However, the friction and wear properties of lead or its compounds filled PTFE composites can be greatly improved by lubrication with liquid paraffin, and the friction coefficients of the PTFE composites can be decreased by one order of magnitude. Optical microscope investigation of transfer films shows that Pb, PbO, Pb₃O₄ and PbS enhance the adhesion of the transfer films to the surface of GCr15 bearing steel, so they greatly reduce the wear of the PTFE composites. However, the transfer of the PTFE composites onto the surface of GCr15 bearing steel can be greatly reduced by lubrication with liquid paraffin, but the transfer still takes place. SEM examination of worn surfaces shows that the interaction between liquid paraffin and the PTFE composites creates some cracks on the worn surfaces of the PTFE composites; the creation and development of the cracks reduces the load-carrying capacity of the PTFE composites, and this leads to deterioration of the friction and wear properties of the PTFE composites filled with lead or its compounds under higher loads in liquid paraffin lubrication.     

Evaluation of metallic elements in oil for an engine fault‐diagnosis system

One of the main problems in using oil analysis for predictive maintenance is the processing of the results. The oil analysis technique allows one to obtain relevant information about the state of the lubricant, the engine, and other auxiliary elements. However, it is necessary to process this information and to define the references with which the numerical results must be compared. The evaluation of metallic elements, wear particles, or contamination particles is more difficult, because factors such as engine metallurgy, engine use, and age must be considered. Therefore, the effect of various factors on the value measured, such as refills, different periods of sample taking, or types of oils, must be eliminated. A system to evaluate metallic elements in oil for an engine fault‐diagnosis system is presented in this paper.     

Effect of palm oil methyl ester and its emulsions on lubricant degradation and engine component wear

This paper presents the results of experimental work carried out to evaluate the effect of palm oil methyl ester also known as palm oil diesel (POD) and its emulsions, as alternative fuels, on unmodified indirect‐injection diesel engine wear and lubricant oil deterioration compared with ordinary diesel (OD). A constant 2500 rpm engine setting at half throttle was maintained throughout the wear debris and lubricant oil analysis period for 20 h for each fuel system. Samples of lubricant oil were collected through a one‐way valve connected to the crankcase sump at intervals of 4 h. The first sample was collected immediately after the engine had warmed up. The same lubricating oil, a conventional SAE 30, was used for all experiments. A multi‐element oil analyser was used to measure metal wear debris and lubricating oil additive depletion for the used lubricating oil. An ISL automatic houillon viscometer (ASTM D 445) and potentiometric titration (ASTM D 2896) were used to measure the viscosity and total base number, respectively. The lubricant oil analysis results for POD, OD, and their emulsions containing 10% water by volume were compared. Very promising results were obtained. The accumulation of metal wear debris in crankcase oil samples was lower with POD and its emulsion compared with the OD fuel. The addition of 10% water (by volume) to POD showed a promising tendency for wear resistance.     

Laboratory evaluation of the dispersancy power of a gasoline engine oil and its relationship with sequence VE test results

The evaluation of the dispersancy power of a gasoline engine oil is included among such international specifications as those of the Committee of Common Market Automobile Constructors (CCMC) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). Such an evaluation is carried out by means of long, severe, and expensive engine bench tests, the engines used being Mercedes M102E (CCMC G4 and G5 levels) or the Ford Pinto 2.3 (API SG and SH levels). The cost of these tests necessitates pre-selection of oils by laboratory tests and these need to be a reliable indicator of bench test performance. The present study proposes two new laboratory methods, the OXYDISP and the POTDISP tests, which associate artificial ageing of the lubricants with modified blotter spots tests. These tests showed excellent correlation with Sequence VE engine test results. They were also capable of distinguishing oils of different API standards. They therefore provide an effective tool for preselection of lubricants, without pretending to be a replacement of or substitute for Sequence VE or other engine bench tests.     

Antifriction plastic greases based on intermediate products of oil refining and liquid crystalline compounds

The rheological and triboengineering properties are presented of hydrated calcium plastic greases based on intermediate products of oil refining (hydrofined vacuum gas oil and vacuum distillate). It is shown that application of liquid crystalline cholesterol compounds as an additional component of the dispersion medium of plastic greases permits significant reduction of the wear and losses for friction and boosts the load—bearing capacity of tribocouples.     

Tribocarbonisation of a synthetic engine oil in lubricated piston ring/cylinder bore sliding contact and its relation to friction and wear

Tribocarbonisation of a fully formulated synthetic engine oil, an API SJ/SAE 5W‐30 containing an organic molybdenum friction modifier, was investigated in an Optimal SRV® tribotester, with a Mo‐coated piston ring and a cast iron cylinder bore tribopair in lubricated sliding contact and under stepwise heating conditions. The friction characteristics were determined by the friction coefficient curve which showed that two local minimum values occurred as the temperature increased stepwise. The local minimum friction coefficient at the lower temperature of 290°C was the result of the formation of MoS₂ and MoO₃, tribochemically generated by MoDTC and ZDTP. For the other local minimum friction coefficient at the higher temperature of 400°C, FT‐IR and Raman spectroscopic examinations of the worn tracks on the cylinder bore samples indicated that tribopyrolysis of the oil components and simultaneous polycondensation into carbonaceous species had occurred. Detailed Raman analyses showed that the carbonaceous species included a disordered phase and an ordered phase characterised, respectively, by the D‐line (1370 cm⁻¹) and G‐line (1580 cm⁻¹). The peak positions and sizes of the graphite crystallites involved varied according to temperature, and were related to the specific points on the friction coefficient versus temperature curve. Tribochemistry could enhance pyrolysis of the oil and facilitate the production of the carbonaceous species and growth of the graphite crystallites.     

航空发动机滑油磨粒在线监测

航空发动机轴承部件磨损是导致发动机失效,引起飞机重大事故的主要因素之一。分析了航空发动机突发性剧烈磨损的疲劳磨损失效机理,陈述了磨粒尺寸和数量表征磨损程度的关系,系统介绍了各种航空发动机滑油磨粒在线监测技术,讨论了各技术方法的原理、技术特点、典型参数、典型应用、最新研究成果及技术适应性。滑油磨粒在线监测技术,能有效发现航空发动机突发性剧烈磨损,及时预警失效,避免出现重大事故,具有重大工程应用价值。     

铁谱技术在判断发动机磨损状态中的应用研究

发动机中各摩擦副的工作环境恶劣,磨拟状态复杂,很难精确描述。而发动机所处的磨损状态是判断其是否正常工作的重要标准,因此建立发动机磨损状态监测具有重大的经济和社会效益。笔者利用铁谱技术作为一种监测手段,通过磨粒分析来判断发动机的磨损状态。     

Influence of oil-soluble copper salts on catalytic oxidation of lubricating oil in laboratory conditions and in a single-cylinder engine

During oxidation of an engine oil under laboratory conditions, and testing in a single-cylinder gasoline engine, it has been found that oil ageing depends on the copper content, in particular the oil-soluble copper salt content. The latter considerably intensifies engine oil oxidation, loss in bearing weight, and piston deposit formation. Several regularities in the oil ageing process were found. It was noted that interaction of copper naphthenate with zinc dithiophosphate essentially influences this process.     

不同氧化条件下柴油机油的氧化降解研究

为探讨氧化温度、时间以及金属催化氧化等因素对柴油机油性能的影响,采用高温烘箱以及氧化测试仪模拟不用的氧化条件,研究柴油机油氧化前后部分理化性能、摩擦学性能的变化,分析不同氧化条件对柴油机油的氧化过程及性能的影响规律.结果表明:高温烘箱试验后发动机油的理化性能、抗氧化性能以及摩擦学性能会有一定程度的劣化,但变化幅度不大,...     

Analysis of engine oil and phosphorus volatility

An apparatus has been designed that allows the measurement of phosphorus volatility, which is important in, among other things, controlling the degradation of exhaust catalysers in automobiles. Following on from the original Noack volatility test, the Selby—Noack apparatus can measure up to 99.9% of volatiles. The apparatus has been used in the present work to assess the relationship between engine oil volatility and engine oil phosphorus volatility (from additives), some reflections on which are presented.     

Embeddability behaviour of some Pb-free engine bearing materials in the presence of abrasive particles in engine oil

One of the tribological requirements on engine bearing material is its ability to safely embed contaminant particles onto its surface and minimise damage to both the bearing and crankshaft surfaces. In this work, a journal bearing test rig that operates under constant load has been employed to investigate the embeddability behaviour of selected multi-layered Pb-free engine bearing materials at three different rotational speeds using engine oil contaminated with SiC particles. Experimental results have shown that third-body abrasive wear is influenced by the lubricant film thickness. There was also difference in embeddability of the different materials. Bismuth-based overlay and MoS₂ containing polyamide-imide-based overlay-coated materials show higher wear compared to tin-based overlay and a polyamide-imide-based composite overlay-coated material. Steel counter surfaces sliding against bismuth-based overlay and MoS₂ containing polyamide-imide-based overlay exhibited higher wear than those sliding against tin-based overlay and polyamide-imide-based composite overlay.     

The effect of ZDDP and MoDTC additives in engine oil on the friction properties of DLC‐coated and steel cam followers

Friction tests simulating cam follower sliding conditions were conducted using a pin‐on‐disc test rig. In the case of SAE 5W‐30 class engine oil, the friction coefficient of the combination of steel pins sliding on a steel disc increased from 0.11 to 0.12, while that of steel pins sliding on a diamond‐like carbon (DLC)‐coated disc decreased from 0.12 to 0.10. For 5W‐20 oil containing the friction modifier MoDTC (molybdenum dithio‐carbamates), the friction coefficient of steel pins sliding on a steel disc decreased markedly from 0.12 to 0.04. In contrast, that of steel pins sliding on a DLC‐coated disc decreased more moderately, from 0.11 to 0.08. In both cases, Zn, P, S, and Mo elements derived from ZDDP (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate) and MoDTC additives were not detected on the DLC‐coated disc, while these elements were detected on the steel disc and pins using electron probe microanalysis and X‐ray photo‐electron spectroscopy surface analysis. It appears that a tribochemical reaction film did not form on the DLC material due to its inactive chemical properties. Therefore, an increase in friction due to the formation of the film derived from ZDDP and a decrease in friction due to the formation of the film derived from MoDTC were clearly suppressed in the case of the steel pins sliding on the DLC‐coated disc. It is thought that the tribo‐chemical reaction film was instrumental in reducing friction substantially. The lateral force of the film formed on the steel disc was then measured using an atomic force microscopy lateral force microscopy test. The lateral force of the film resulting from the 5W‐30 oil was much higher than that of the film formed from the 5W‐20 oil with MoDTC. This result coincided well with the results of the friction tests. Judging from these results, it is thought that the high friction coefficient observed for the steel pins on the steel disc for the 5W‐30 oil was caused by the higher shear strength of the film formed from ZDDP. On the other hand, the very low friction coefficient observed for the steel pin‐steel disc combination for the 5W‐20 oil was presumably caused by the formation of a solid MoS₂ lubricant from the MoDTC additive.     

Friction modifiers in engine and gear oils

Reducing friction is an important target for any lubricant oil formulator. There are several ways, such as utilisation of multi‐grade oils with low viscosity at low temperature, or use of friction modifiers, to reduce friction in automotive engines and transmissions and thus save fuel. A good means to obtain an energy‐saving lubricant is by the addition of a friction‐reducing additive in a high‐range multigrade oil. This paper presents some considerations on the action mechanism of friction modifiers and the results obtained in engine and gear oils with two new nitrogen‐, sulphur‐, and boron‐containing additives.     

Contemporary challenges of soot build-up in IC engine and their tribological implications

Confronted with the contemporary challenges of maximising energy efficiency with minimal impact on the environment, the automotive industry has developed various technologies to tackle them. Most of these technologies, however, have wider implications on the tribological performance of the automotive engines due to resultant soot build-up. This paper reviews the effects that attempts by stakeholders to satisfy requirements for reduced fuel consumption, reduced emissions and extended service intervals have had on increasing soot levels to an extent that can lead to engine component failure. Three areas have been identified that have either not been explored or not widely explored in the study of automotive soot namely: numerical simulation and modelling of soot wear, soot effects on wear of actual engine components and the wear and friction performance of non-metallic materials used in internal combustion engines. A paper-grading system is also utilised to present an overview of how sooty oil-related research covers various areas.     

The influence of lubricating oil on deposits formation in a diesel engine under the operation condition of high power density

The requirements of higher power density and stricter regulations on emissions of internal combustion engines lead to lubricating oil's role shifting from simply lubricating to adapting higher power density and to achieving lower emissions. An important factor influencing an engine's power and emissions is the deposits in the engine. Lubricating oil is a chief contributor to deposits formation. The objective of this paper is to investigate the influence of lubricating oil on deposits formation when the engine is operated under high power density. Metal elements content in lubricating oil and changes to power and emissions were measured to verify deposits changes. Different power densities can be achieved by adjusting the fuel supply system in the engine. Three kinds of synthesised lubricating oils were used in the investigation. The temperature of the oil pan and cooling water was strictly controlled. The experimental results demonstrated well the influence of the quality of different kinds of oil on deposits formation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.