TE 4225

Lubrication

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 Lubrication
Lubrication may be defined as:- “The reduction
of friction and wear between two relatively
moving surface, by the interposition of some
other substances between the surface & the
substance introduced is known as lubricant”.

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 Functions of Lubrication

• Reduces friction and wear between moving parts

• Transfers heat away from engine parts
• Cleans the inside of the engine
• Cuts power loss and increases fuel economy
• Absorbs shock between moving parts
• Improves efficiency
• Reduces wear
• Decreases running cost
• Removes wear particles
• Prevents corrosion

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 Properties of Lubricants
• Viscosity
• Viscosity Index (VI)
• Flash Point
• Pour Point
• Per cent sulfated ash
• Per cent zinc.

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 Properties of Lubricants
Viscosity:
• Measure of the "flow ability“
• Property –
– Resistance to flow
– Shearing stress
• High viscosity - thick oils
– 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

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 Properties of Lubricants
• 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

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 Properties of Lubricants
• Flash point:
Temperature at which an oil vaporizes sufficiently to
sustain momentary ignition when exposed to a flame
under atmospheric conditions
• Fire point:
Temperature at which an oil will sustain ignition
continually when exposed to a flame under
atmospheric conditions

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 Properties of Lubricants
• Pour point:
Lowest temperature at which an oil will flow when
tested under certain specified conditions
• 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.

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 Properties of Lubricants
• 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.

Zinc is used in engines to protect metal parts when they

touch. Normally, oil prevents this, but if contact happens, zinc
helps stop damage. A 0.11% zinc level is enough to protect
the engine during regular oil change intervals

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 Types of Lubrication
1. Boundary Lubrication: When two surface
slide relative to each other with only a partial
thin lubrication film between them,
boundary lubrication is said to be exist.
2. Hydrodynamic Lubrication: It means that the
load carrying surfaces of the bearings are
separated by relatively thick film of lubricant
so as to prevent metal to metal contact.

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 Types of Lubrication
3. Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication: It is prevalent
in situations involving high contact stresses which
are in rolling contact such as mating gears, cams
etc.
4. Solid film Lubrication: When bearings are
operated at extreme temperature, a solid film of
lubricant is used.
5. Mixed film Lubrications: When fluid film
thickness drops below critical level due to low
speed or very high temperature or under high
loads, mixed film lubrication is preferable.

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 Methods of lubrication
1. Fresh lubrication
2. Circulating lubrication

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 Fresh Lubrication
a) Manual Lubrication: Applying oils by oil can or
greasing in bearings by grease gun through grease
nipples etc.
b) Cotton wick Lubrication: Uses the capillary effect of a
cotton wick to keep the oil topped up.
c) Drip Lubrication: A drip supply of oil to point is used
so that the quantity remains visible and adjustable.
d) Mechanical Lubrication: Lubrication is applied by a
pump.
e) Mixed Lubrication: Used in certain two stroke engines
where the crank case with bearings serves as a pump.
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 Circulating Lubrication
In this method, lubricant flows abundantly from a
reservoir and then returns to the reservoir.
a) Bath Lubrication: Lubrication surfaces are to be
placed in an oil bath filled with lubricants.
b) Splash Lubrication: Splash discs rotate in the oil bath
and oil is splashed upwards so that bearings are
lubricated.
c) Ring Lubrication: A ring rotates in the oil and carries it
up to the surfaces to be lubricated.
d) Forced feed circulating Lubrication: Lubricating oil is
conveyed to the points by a pump. In this mechanism
cooling and cleaning are also included.

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 Required Features of Lubricants
• Lubricants must resist oxidation
• Lubricants must resist carbon formation
• Lubricants must resist rust formation on iron
• Lubricants must possess good viscosity
• Lubricants must resist corrosion
• Lubricants must act as cleaning agent
• Lubricants must resist foaming
• Lubricants must resist extreme pressure

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 Additives used with lubricants
• Additive+ Base oil = Lubricants
– Viscosity index improver
– Foam inhibitors
– Pour-point dispersants
– Antifriction modifiers
– Resistance creation to carbon formation
– Oxidation inhibitors
– Extreme pressure agent

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 Lubricating Schedule
• The following symbols may be used to indicate
lubricating schedule-
Lubricating Schedule Symbol

Daily D

Weekly ⃝

Monthly topping up

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 Grading of Lubricants
• The grades of some lubricants may be as
below which are represented by color codes-

Grades of lubricants Color code

DTE light/ Spindle oil Yellow

DTE Heavy/ Medium Brown

DTE Heavy/ Extra Heavy Red (Post office red)

Grease Orange

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 Routine check of lubricants
• Quantity wise: Oil tank should be checked and if
necessary, should be filled up.
• Quality wise: The followings are to be checked
time to time-
– pH
– Viscosity
– Water contamination
– Presence of foreign materials
– Aging
– Foaming

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 Storing of Lubricants
• Outdoor storage
• Indoor storage

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 Outdoor storage
• Barrels should be stored on oil resistance base.
• Barrels should be stored to keep seals airtight.
• FIFO policy should be adopted.
• Store should not be situated is a dusty or
corrosive atmosphere.

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 Indoor Storage
• Easy access for trolley and forklift.
• FIFO policy should be adopted.
• Good ventilation.
• Store should be built of fireproof materials.
• Smooth, level and oil resistant floor.
• Heating is useful to keep viscous oils fluid.

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 Lubricating oil purification method
1. By Filtering: There might be some solid
contaminants in lubricants. So continuous
filtering is necessary to remove any solid
particles. Filters should be regularly checked,
cleaned and replaced if necessary.
2. By centrifuging: Dirty oil is rotated rapidly in
the centrifuge so that dirt are separated from
the oil.

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