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Lubricants How-To's
Intro to Lubrication
Dan Watson, of Marine Technician Today Magazine, discusses the importance of lubrication for your boat. ... read more By Dan Watson with Marine Technician Today Magazine; Spring 2014
Simply stated, there is a direct connection between lubrication and the health and life of your engines and outdrives. Manufacturers have done their part by manufacturing these marvelous machines; each owner is solely responsible for their maintenance. As a Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS), certified by the Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), I cringe at the misleading advertising, misinformation and lack of lubrication education for both consumers and service professionals. In this continuing series, I seek to provide factual information on lubrication to allow readers to rise above all the advertising hype and half-truths in order to make informed decisions when selecting lubricants – engine oils, two cycle oils, and gear lubes – for their marine applications. With this goal in mind, I intend to educate, not indoctrinate. In fact, the information in these columns will equip you to see through the attempts at indoctrination that surround us.
I want to begin with some fundamentals of lubrication and, in subsequent editions of Marine Technician Today, progress through lubricant formulation and applications.
So come along for the ride and be sure to jot down questions as you read. You will always find my email address at the end of the article, and I will be glad to answer your questions.
There are several factors that affect the level of friction between the moving surfaces. I list these in no specific order or level of magnitude. • Surface finish: relative smoothness or roughness • Type of motion: rolling versus sliding • Load: amount of pressure pushing the surfaces together • Speed: rate of relative motion • Lubricant: base fluid, viscosity and additives • Temperature (affects the condition of the surfaces and the viscosity of the lubricating film)
Simply stated, there is a direct connection between lubrication and the health and life of your engines and outdrives. Manufacturers have done their part by manufacturing these marvelous machines; each owner is solely responsible for their maintenance. As a Certified Lubrication Specialist (CLS), certified by the Society of Tribologist and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), I cringe at the misleading advertising, misinformation and lack of lubrication education for both consumers and service professionals. In this continuing series, I seek to provide factual information on lubrication to allow readers to rise above all the advertising hype and half-truths in order to make informed decisions when selecting lubricants – engine oils, two cycle oils, and gear lubes – for their marine applications. With this goal in mind, I intend to educate, not indoctrinate. In fact, the information in these columns will equip you to see through the attempts at indoctrination that surround us.
I want to begin with some fundamentals of lubrication and, in subsequent editions of Marine Technician Today, progress through lubricant formulation and applications.
So come along for the ride and be sure to jot down questions as you read. You will always find my email address at the end of the article, and I will be glad to answer your questions.
Fundamentals of Lubrication
Why Lubricate? Millions, no billions of dollars are spent annually lubricating every moving part in virtually every machine in operation worldwide. The short answer is that lubrication overcomes friction. Friction is not a complicated phenomenon, but it is important to correctly grasp this simple concept. When two surfaces slide or roll in contact with each other, friction is the force that resists that motion. It is important to remember that motion is required in order for friction to occur.There are several factors that affect the level of friction between the moving surfaces. I list these in no specific order or level of magnitude. • Surface finish: relative smoothness or roughness • Type of motion: rolling versus sliding • Load: amount of pressure pushing the surfaces together • Speed: rate of relative motion • Lubricant: base fluid, viscosity and additives • Temperature (affects the condition of the surfaces and the viscosity of the lubricating film)
Surface Furnish: Asperities
Viewing the surface of metal with amicroscope reveals extremely small jagged peaks called asperities (Figure Two). There are continuous peaks and valleys of metal almost like microscopic mountain ranges. It is impossible to machine the metal surface fine enough to remove these asperities. Obviously, separating these asperities is paramount to reducing friction and resulting wear. Reviewing the factors listed that affect friction, it is apparent that lubrication is the factor most useful for limiting friction. The motion is set by application and the load and speed will be related to the work application. Temperature is usually a range determined again by the application. Now since lubrication is our vehicle for limiting friction and wear, it is important to identify the types, or regimes as they are called, of lubrication that are available and in which applications each regime comes into play.
Boat Motor Oil Formulation
Formulation of motor oil as explained by Dan Watson of Marine Technician Today Magazine. ... read more By Dan Watson of Marine Technician Today Magazine, Summer 2014
Understanding how to prevent friction is the first step in engineering a lubricant to deal with friction. Friction maybe the primary detriment that the lubricant is designed to combat but it is only one of many the oil will have to provide a solution for. The formulation of motor oils and why we put all those additives in lubricating oil is a basic question we have to address to understand lubricating oil. Before we get into the formulations, we better take a look at the functions of motor oil. If we understand what oil is doing, then we can better understand why we choose certain base stocks and additives.
Motor oil must perform the following functions:
Motor oils are complex lubricating fluids carefully formulated to perform all of these functions. Motor oil is composed of base stocks and additives. The base stocks are either petroleum or synthetic and the additives are chemicals designed to satisfy the functions listed above, depending on engine type and duty.
After a base stock is chosen, then additives (chemicals) are selected to provide:
Understanding how to prevent friction is the first step in engineering a lubricant to deal with friction. Friction maybe the primary detriment that the lubricant is designed to combat but it is only one of many the oil will have to provide a solution for. The formulation of motor oils and why we put all those additives in lubricating oil is a basic question we have to address to understand lubricating oil. Before we get into the formulations, we better take a look at the functions of motor oil. If we understand what oil is doing, then we can better understand why we choose certain base stocks and additives.
Motor oil must perform the following functions:
- Lubricate engine parts in order to prevent wear
- Reduce friction and improve fuel economy
- Maintain clean engine components
- Prevent rust and corrosion
- Minimize engine deposits
- Provide engine cooling
- Aid in engine starting
- Provide ring seal for better combustion pressure
Motor oils are complex lubricating fluids carefully formulated to perform all of these functions. Motor oil is composed of base stocks and additives. The base stocks are either petroleum or synthetic and the additives are chemicals designed to satisfy the functions listed above, depending on engine type and duty.
Base Stocks
Base stocks are derived from two sources: petroleum (crude oil) and synthetics. Within these sources there are several levels of quality. The old saying “Oil is Oil” is simply not true and potentially misleading. All oils are classified into groups with the lowest quality oils forming Group I and the highest quality forming Group VI (Group VI oil is not used in internal combustion engines). The amount of refining (purification) and the Viscosity Index determines where the oil falls on the scale. Presently almost all petroleum oils are being made from Group II oils. This is a significant change since, not so very long ago, most petro’s were Group I. Some petroleum oils are made from partially hydrocracked Group II oils. Synthetic motor oils come from Group III, IV and V oils. In a later issue, I will go into greater detail on the specific differences between the various groups of base oils. For now, I just want you to know that there are levels of quality in base stocks.After a base stock is chosen, then additives (chemicals) are selected to provide:
- Anti-wear
- Anti-foam
- Anti-oxidation
- Detergency and dispersancy
- Neutralize acid
- Prevent corrosion and
- Maintain viscosity
