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Topic : Lubricating oils

Manufacture of Lubricating Oil

Lubricating oil base stocks are obtained by fractional distillation of
crude oil in a vacuum distillation plant. The reader should refer to
General Engg. Knowledge page 49,by Jackson 4 th edition,
1995, and to Video VC682 part 1 for details.

Crude oils are roughly classified into Paraffin base, which has a high
lubricating oil content with a high pour point and high viscosity
index and Asphalt base, which has a low lubricating oil content with
a low pour point and low viscosity index.

Lubricating oils refined from these bases are referred to as plain

mineral oils. Additives are added to these oils to improve their
properties, and they are blended to produce a wide range of
lubricating oils.

Approximate closed cup flashpoint of lubricating oil is 230oC

Contamination of oil in service

Contamination of oil is a result of normal engine operation. Three major
contamination headings are listed below.
Combustion by-products
• Wear particles
• Dust & dirt
Decomposition/oxidation of oil itself.
• in presence of heat and air , rust acts as a catalyst.
Dilution of lube oil
• Fuel dilution
• Coolant, Fresh
water, Sea water
Contamination
Scavenge
of Lube oil Air
Abrasives/Dirt

Combustion
products
Carbon, Water, Acids
Unburnt fuel,Varnish

Metal & Wear

particles
Lube oil Oxidation of
oil
Oil+Heat+Air

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Singapore Maritime Academy
Singapore Polytechnic
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Topic : Lubricating oils

Fuel dilution
Crankcase oil dilution is the percentage of fuel oil contamination of
lubricating oil occurring in I.C.engines.

Severe corrosion of crankshafts has been caused by sulphur

products from fuel oil mixing with any water in lubricating oil to
form sulphuric acids which are carried round the lubricating oil
system.

If the viscosity is reduced this could be due to dilution by

distillate fuel. Excessive idle running or stop and go operation
results in unburnt fuel contaminating the diesel oil in trunk piston
engine.

Heavy contamination due to carbon and oxidation would cause the

viscosity to increase, as would contamination by heavy fuel oil. If
variations in Viscosity of 30% from initial Viscosity are encountered
the oil should he renewed.

Use of Additives in Lubricating Oil

These are chemical compounds which are added for various
reasons, mainly they would be added to give improved protection
to the machinery and increased life to the oil.
Additives are of two type:
1. Physical Modifiers
Physical modifier additives aid in the oil’s performance and
lubricating ability.
• Viscosity Improvers
• Antifoam Agents
• Friction Modifiers
• Extreme Pressure Agents
• Pour Point Depressant

2. Chemical Modifiers
Chemical modifier additives extend the usable life of oil and
provide protection from engine deposits by controlling
contaminants.
• Detergents
• Dispersants
• Inhibitors for Oxidation,Corrosion & Rust Formation

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Singapore Maritime Academy
Singapore Polytechnic
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Topic : Lubricating oils

Among the additives used are:

1. Viscosity Index Improver

This is added to help maintain the viscosity of the oil as near
constant with temperature variation as possible.

Blended oil with Viscosity Index With stable

Improver viscosity,
Viscosity marginal
variation in film
thickness
Plain mineral oil
Thin oil film
Because mineral
-18 oC Temperature 99 oC oil viscosity
reduces with
temperature.

2. Antifoaming Additive
When air is entrained into the oil, this could be due to low supply
head or return lines not running full, etc., foaming could result
which can lead to break down of the load carrying oil film in
bearings.

Air Trapped in Air released with

lube oil Antifoam additives
An antifoam additives are silicone polymers. They attach
themselves to small air bubbles, forming a weak spot in the bubble.
The small bubbles then join into larger bubbles which rise to the
surface and release their air.

3. Oiliness and Extreme Pressure Additives

These additives reduce friction and wear. They may form
chemically, with the metal reaching welding temperature, a film
which has a lower shear strength than the base metal, hence
welding and tearing of the metal is prevented. These additives
would be important during the running in and at starting and
stopping of engine.
Other additives could include emulsifying and demulsifying agents,
tackiness agents and metal deactivators.
Bearing shell

Journal
Protective film on metal Load
surface to aid the oil in
preventing metal to oil film
metal contact
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Singapore Maritime Academy
Singapore Polytechnic
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Topic : Lubricating oils

4. Pour Point Depressant

Added to keep oil fluid at low temperatures. The additive coats wax
crystals as they form when temperature is reduced preventing the
formation of larger crystals.

5. Detergents
These keep metal surfaces clean by solubilising oil degradation
products and coating metal surfaces, due to their polar nature,
hindering the formation of deposits. They also neutralise acids.

If the level of insolubles

Lube oil is too high, the detergent
Detergents and and dispersant will
Dispersants attach become overloaded.
Additive
to insoluble and Excessive sludge will
failure
hold them in drop out. It will plug the
suspension filters.
preventing sludge
deposits

6. Dispersants
These are high molecular weight organic molecules which stick to
possible deposit making products and keep them in fine suspension
by preventing small particles forming larger ones. At low
temperatures they are more effective than detergents.

7 . Antioxidant
When oil comes in contact with hot engine components it tends to
oxidise. Oxidised molecules of oil set up a chain reaction promoting
more oxidation.

Oxidation rate doubles for approximately every 7°C rise in

temperature and at temperatures above 80°C approximately
oxidation rapidly reduces the life of the oil.

Viscosity Usually increases due to oxidation products and some of

the products can help to stabilise foam, thereby preventing the
formation of a good hydrodynamic layer of lubricant between the
surfaces in a bearing and reducing the load carrying capacity.

Oxidation products cause lacquering on hot metal surfaces, they

form sludge and possibly organic acids which can corrode bearings.

Anti-oxidants stop the chain reaction and stabilize the oil.

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Singapore Maritime Academy
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Topic : Lubricating oils

8. Corrosion Inhibitor
An alkaline additive is used to neutralise acidity formed in the oil
and in the case of cylinder lubricants for diesel engines to
neutralise sulphuric acids formed from fuel combustion.

The additive will increase the Total Base Number (TBN), prevent
rusting of steel and corrosion of bearings.

9 Anti rust additives

Water is introduced in to the oil through combustion process and condensation.
During shut down period water can cause rust formation on bearing journals and
cylinder liner etc. Rust inhibitors act to form insulating film on components in
contact with water.
Additives used in modern diesel engines have less ability to tolerate water. Thus a
small amount of water in lube oil can cause additive depletion (“drop out”).

R.B, 22.12.04
L1.DOC
Singapore Maritime Academy
Singapore Polytechnic