Lubricant Degradation Studies Using a Single Cylinder Research Engine

With increasing pressure on engine oil manufacturers to extend oil drain intervals and reduce fuel consumption, whilst changing the composition of fully formulated oils to meet new CEC, ILSAC and OEM specifications, there is ever increasing need to understand the effect of oil degradation on the operating conditions and tribological performance of engines. This poster presents mechanical changes made to a single cylinder research engine to enable the study of lubricant degradation, its transport and how this links to piston assembly tribology. A summary of the research undertaken using these changes and a sample of results obtained to date are also presented.