Physics

INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

FLUID MECHANICS:

VISCOSITY OF

ENGINE OILS

RITHAM SHETI
11TH A
ROLL NO. - 10
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Index

Introduction

Aim

Apparatus

Theory

Procedure

Observations

Calculations

Conclusion

Bibliography
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Introduction
You are driving your diesel car on the road to shimla and it is very cold
outside. Suddenly your car breaks down and you open the bonnet to see
what is wrong. You notice that grime has accumulated in your engine and
the motor oil is to be replaced for the car to start.You only have the
following oils:

1) MAK Gold 40(for bikes)

2) Servo 4T (for bikes)

3) HP Milcy Turbo (for trucks)

4) Castrol Active (for trucks)

Of the given choices, you must use your

knowledge of viscosity and fluid mechanics to

choose the oil most suited for your car.

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Aim
To compare the viscosity of different engine oils at a given
temperature and thereby determine the most effective one for a
diesel car.

Apparatus

1. Meter high, 5cm broad cylindrical glass tube

2. Meter scale alongside tube

3. High density carbon steel balls

4. Screw gauge

5. Stop watch

6. String

7. Assorted engine oils

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Theory
Why is engine oil used and how does it work?

Engine oil is used for lubricating various internal combustion

engines. The main function is to reduce wear and tear of moving
parts. Thus, the oil creates a layer that helps them move
smoothly. It also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing, and
cools the engine by carrying away the heat from the moving parts.

How is engine oil rated?

Engine oils can be made of single polymers or multiple polymers

and are rated accordingly. These differ in their viscosity and
hence, differ in their uses. The SAE gives a single grade to engine
oils. However, multi grade oils are more popular. Multi grade oils
are rated in the form xWy. ‘W’ is the winter rating which shows
that the oil has been tested for cold conditions. ‘x’ tells us which
single grade polymer the oil behaves like under cold conditions.
The lower the number, the less viscous the oil and better the
performance in low temperatures. ‘y’ tells the single grade
polymer as much as which the oil thins at high temperature. The
rating is primarily based on the viscosity of engine oils. Hence, it
is evident that viscosity is the single most important
characteristic deciding the efficiency of these oils.
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What is viscosity?

It is the property of a fluid by virtue of which an internal resistance

comes into play when the fluid is in motion, it opposes the motion
between its different layers.

Coefficient of viscosity

When liquid flows over a flat surface, the liquid layer in contact
with the fixed surface does not move. Higher layers move forward
with increasing velocity. Thus, a backward dragging force F acts
tangentially to every layer. Thus, the force becomes:

F= ἠA(v/x)

Where,

v=Speed of the layer

A=Area of the layer

x=Seperation between the layer.

In this equation, the constant of proportionality (ἠ) is called the

coefficient of viscosity.
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Stokes Law

It was shown by stokes law that if a small sphere of radius ‘r’ be

moving with a terminal velocity ‘v’ through an infinite homogenous
and incompressible fluid of coefficient of viscosity ‘ἠ’, it
experiences a force F given by:

F=6πἠrv

Terminal velocity is known as the maximum velocity acquired by

the body falling in a viscous medium.

Procedure
1. 850ml of the oil was weighed and the density was found out.

2. The jar was cleaned and filled with the motor oil up to a 97 cm
marker.

3. Two loops of string were tied around the lower part of the glass
tube, 50 cm apart. One at 65cm and the other at 15cm.

4. A high density carbon steel shot was measured and weighed to

determine its density.

5. The carbon steel shot was dropped into the liquid.

6. The timer was started when the shot reached the first string
and was stopped when it reached the second.

7. Three reading were taken for each engine oil and their
observations were noted.
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Observation
Radius of carbon steel ball = 1.905 (r)

Density of carbon steel ball = 549.45 kg/m3 (ρ)

Density of all oils = 0.84 g/m3 = 840 kg/m3 (ρ)

Ambient temperature = 25 (degree Celsius)

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TIME TAKEN IN DIFFERENT OILS

TIME (seconds)
OIL NAME AVERAGE
T1 | T2 | T3 TIME
MAK Gold 40 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.42
Servo 4T 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.03
HP Milcy Turbo 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.74
Castrol Active 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.06

TERMINAL VELOCITY IN DIFFERENT OILS

OIL NAME TERMINAL VELOCITY (m/s)
MAK Gold 40 0.146
Servo 4T 0.165
HP Milcy Turbo 0.182
Castrol Active 0.137
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Calculations
6πἠrv = (4/3) π r³ (ρ-σ) g

ἠ = [2 r² (ρ-σ) g]/9v

MAK Gold 40

ἠ = [2*(1.9x10-³)² * (549.45-0.84) * 9.8] / (9*0.146)

ἠ = 0.029541 kg/ms

Servo 4T

ἠ = [2*(1.9x10-³)² * (549.45-0.84) * 9.8] / (9*0.165)

ἠ = 0.02614 kg/ms

HP Milcy Turbo

ἠ = [2*(1.9x10-³)² * (549.45-0.84) * 9.8] / (9*0.182)

ἠ = 0.023698 kg/ms

Castrol Active

ἠ = [2*(1.9x10-³)² * (549.45-0.84) * 9.8] / (9*0.137)

ἠ = 0.031482 kg/ms
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These are a wide range of factors that must be taken into

consideration to choose the right engine oil. Engine oil ratings are
based on the viscosity of the oil, but these ratings aren’t exactly
accurate. Each of these oils falls under a SAE 40 rating, but they
have different viscosities. The rating of engine oils therefore is
based on a factor known as kinematic viscosity. Kinematic
viscosity in turn is the ratio between dynamic viscosity and the
density of the liquid. These values are then divided into ranges
and then SAE ratings.The kinematic viscosity however will not be
constant at a given temperature. The density of liquids decrease
with increase in temperature. Therefore, we must also look at the
coefficient of thermal expansion of engine oils in order to
calculate the new density and in turn, the kinematic viscosity.

Volumetric Expansion

∆V = α∆T

V = Volume

α = Coefficient of thermal expansion

T = temperature

Change in density

ρ1=ρ0 / [1+ α(t1-t0)]

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Kinematic Viscosity

v=µ/ρ

v=kinematic viscosity

µ=absolute/dynamic viscosity

ρ=density

Viscosity Index

VI=(L-U) / (L-H) * 10

U=Kinematic viscosity

L and H=kinematic viscosity of the reference

oils.

Volume Flowrate

F = P1-P2/R

= π (Pressure difference)*(radius)⁴ / 8(viscosity)(length)

Resistance to flow = R = 8ἠL/πr4

The coefficient of Thermal expansion of light diesel oil is 0.00085.

Assuming this value to be equal to the coefficient of thermal

expansion of our engine oils, we have postulated that we can
calculate the kinematic viscosity at any given temperature.
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Assuming the exponential model for calculation of absolute

viscosity to hold true under our conditions

µ(T)= µ0exp(-bT)

In order to calculate the the kinematic viscosity ratio, we can use

this formula and then divide by the respective densities.

Dynamic viscosity is the coefficient of viscosity of a liquid which

we have calculated.

OIL NAME COEFFICIENT OF DENSITY KINEMATIC

VISCOSITY VISCOSITY
(m²/s)
MAK 0.029541 820 0.000359
GOLD 40
SERVO 4T 0.02614 840 0.000311
HP MILCY 0.023698 820 0.000289
TURBO
CASTROL 0.031482 840 0.000374
ACTIVE
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Calculating the kinematic viscosity at 1000C:

µ(T)= µ0 * e–bt

µ0= µ(T) / e-bt

µ(100)=( µ(T) / e-bt ) * e-b(373)

( Used to calculate ‘b’ in the equation )

e-b(373) / e-bt=K

V(T) / V(100) = [µ0 * e-bt / ρ(t)] / [ { µ0*e-b(373) }/

{ρ(t)/1+α(100-T)}]

Thus,

V(100) / V(T)=[ e-b(373) / e-bt ] * [1+ α(100-T)]

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CONCLUSION
V(100) / V(T)=[ e-b(373) / e-bt ] * [1+ α(100-T)]

This Equation puts all the values of kinematic viscosity of the oils
in the SAE 40 range. In order to compensate for the grime buildup
and the face that the engine may have to start in colder weather,
the least viscous oil should be used.With a dynamic viscosity of
0.023698 kg/m³ and a kinematic viscosity of 289 cSt, HP Milcy
Turbo is the ideal engine oil.
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Bibliography

● www.machinerylubrication.com
● www.kittiwake.com
● www.carbibles.com
● www.racq.com.au
● www.redlineoil.com
● www.upmpg.com
● www.oilwinlube.com
● www.kewengineering.co.uk
● www.howstuffworks.com
● www.synlube.com/viscosity.html
● www.engineeringtoolbox.com
● www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil

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