TOPIC: ENGINES

SUBTOPIC: LUBRICATION SYSTEM

Objectives

By the end of the subtopic, learners should be able to:

 Explain the importance of lubrication

 Describe properties of lubricants
 Describe lubrication systems
Lubrication system

 A lubricant is a fluid that reduces friction between moving parts.

 Lubrication can be achieved by water, oil or other compounds.
Importance of lubrication

 It reduces wear by separating moving surfaces.

 Lubrication reduces friction between the rotating and stationary components.
 It absorbs shock.
 Dampens engine noise.
 Carrying heat generated by friction within the bearing.
 It is responsible for removing heat transmitted down the shaft from the process end of
the machine.
 Minimizing corrosion.
 Keeping contaminates away from the bearing components.
 Flushing contaminants away from bearings.
 Acting as a sealing medium in the combustion chamber.

Classification of lubricants

 Lubricants can be classified in a number of ways.

 The first classification is based on their mineral matter.
 They can be classified as fluids, semi-fluids or solids lubricants.

a) Fluids lubricants

 Mineral fluid lubricants are based on mineral oils.

 They are products of crude oil refining.
 Three major types of fluids lubricants are paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic.

b) Semi-fluids lubricants (greases)

 These are produced by emulsification of fats or oils with metallic soap and water at 204-
316°C.
 One good example of grease lubricant is petroleum jelly.
 Semi-fluid lubricants are used in variety applications where fluid oil is not applicable. It is
also more applied where thick lubrication film is required.
 Examples of areas where semi-liquid lubrication is required include roller bearings in
railway car wheels, tractor bearings and steam turbines.

c) Solid lubricants

 Solid lubricants prevent direct contact between the sliding surfaces even at high loads.
 Examples of solid lubricants include graphite, molybdenum disulphide and boron nitrite.
 Solid lubricants are mainly used as additives to oils and greases.

d) Classification of lubrication by application.

 Lubricants can be classified according to the following:
o Engine oil
o Hydraulic oil
o Gear oil
o Cutting fluids or coolants
o Way lubricants
o Compressor oils
o Rust protection oils

e) Classification of lubricants according to additive.

 Lubricants can be classified as following:

o Extreme pressure
o Anti-wear
o Friction modifiers
o Corrosive inhibitors
o Anti-oxidants
o Dispersants
o Detergents

f) Classification of lubricants as synthetic or non-synthetic

 Synthetic lubricant are petroleum-based lubricants produced through abnormal

conditions like extremely high temperature and chemically reactive atmosphere.
 Synthetic lubricants can meet the most drastic and severe conditions such as those
existing in aircraft engines.
 Such a lubricant should possess low freezing point, high viscosity-index and also should
be non-inflammable.
 Modern synthetic lubricants possess, in general, the following distinguishing
characteristics:

o non-inflammable,
o high flash points,
o high thermal stability at high operating temperatures,
o high viscosity-index,
o Chemical stability.

Proprieties of lubricants

Viscosity

 Viscosity is defined as the tendency to flow.

 It is used to measure how thick and sticky the fluid is under certain conditions.
 Viscosity is one of the most important factors to be considered when selecting
lubricants.
 A lubricant of high viscosity flows very slowly.
 Heavy oil becomes too thick or sluggish in cold weather, and light oil becomes too thin in
hot weather.
 The higher the temperature of an oil, the lower its viscosity becomes.
 Viscosity can be increased through lowering the temperature.
 The viscosity must always be high enough to keep a good oil film between the moving
parts.
 Lubrication oils are graded by their viscosities at a certain temperature.
 Grading is done by determining time taken by a given quantity (60 ml) of the oil at the
given temperature to flow through a standard orifice.
 Viscosity index is the ability of the oil to maintain the original viscosity as the
temperature changes
 The higher the index the thicker the oil.
 Engine oil is usually SAE 40, 50/60.
 Gear oil ranges SAE 70,75, 90

Pour point

 It is the lowest temperature at which the lubricant will hardly flow from a container.
 Oil coagulates or solidifies at temperature below the pour point.
 An oil of high viscosity will have a higher pour point than an oil of low viscosity.

Flash point
 Flash point is the temperature at which enough vapour is given off to flash when a flame
or spark is present.

Fire point

 The fire point of lubricants is the temperature at which the oil will continue to burn
when it is ignited.

Auto ignition point

 Auto ignition is the temperature at which the flammable vapours given off from the oil
will burn.
 This kind of burning will occur without the application of a spark or flame.

Demulsibility

 Demulsibility is also referred to as emulsion characteristic.

 It is the ability of a lubricant to separate cleanly from any water particles present.

Neutralisation number

 The neutralization number indicates the acid content of a lubricant.

 It is defined as the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide (KOH) required to
neutralize 1 gram of the oil.

Properties of a good lubricant

 Possess a high boiling point and low freezing point in order to stay liquid within a wide
range of temperature.
 A high viscosity index
 It should have a thermal stability
 Possess hydraulic stability
 Demulsibility
 Corrosion prevention
 A high resistance to oxidation

The lubrication system

 Lubrication can be applied in a variety of ways depending on the equipment design,

speed, and operating conditions.
 However there are two main type of lubricating systems.

o Circulation splash system,

 o Internal force feed system and

Circulation splash system

 This type of lubrication consists of a reservoir of oil and some part of the rotating shaft.
 The rotating shaft touches the oil causing it to splash.
 The flash thus lubricate the engine parts in the crankcase.
 For this method to be effective, the oil should be kept at correct level to ensure a
successful splashing.

Fig 2.5. 1 Circulation splash system

Internal force feed system

 This is the most system used in modern tractors.

 It is similar to circulating system, but the difference is that it operates at a high
lubrication supply pressure.
 Oil is forced by the pump to reach the parts which need to be lubricated.
 The most common parts of this lubrication system are: filters, oil pressure gauge, sump
or oil reservoir oil pressure gauge.
 Fig 2.5. 2 Force feed system

Activity 1.
a) Check the engine oil level of a tractor.
b) Check the oil colour.
c) Check the viscosity of the oil.
d) Make recommendation from the results you observed.