Engine lubrication

Contents

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Lubricant
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Lubricating system
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Oil filter
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Bibliography
In an internal combustion engine, the system for providing a continuous supply of oil
between moving surfaces during engine operation. This viscous film, known as the
lubricant, lubricates and cools the power transmission components while removing
impurities, neutralizing chemically active products of combustion, transmitting forces,
and damping vibrations.

Pressurized lubricating system for an automobile engine. Arrows show the flow of
oil through the engine.

Lubricant

Automotive and other four-stroke Otto-cycle engines are generally lubricated with
petroleum-base base oils that contain chemical additives to improve their natural
properties. Synthetic oils are used in gas turbines and may be used in other engines.
Probably the most important property of oil is the absolute viscosity, which is a measure
of the force required to move one layer of the oil film over the other. If the viscosity is
too low, a protecting oil film is not formed between the parts. With high viscosity too
much power is required to shear the oil film, and the flow of oil through the engine is
retarded. Viscosity tends to decrease as temperature increases. Viscosity index (VI) is a
number that indicates the resistance of an oil to changes in viscosity with temperature.
The smaller the change in viscosity with temperature, the higher the viscosity index of
the oil.
Lubricating system

Small two-stroke cycle engines may require a premix of the lubricating oil with the fuel
going into the engine, or the oil may be injected into the ingoing air–fuel mixture. This is
known as a total-loss lubricating system because the oil is consumed during engine
operation.
Most automotive engines have a pressurized or force-feed lubricating system in
combination with splash and oil mist lubrication . The lubricating system supplies clean
oil cooled to the proper viscosity to the critical points in the engine, where the motion of
the parts produces hydrodynamic oil films to separate and support the various rubbing
surfaces. The oil is pumped under pressure to the bearing points, while sliding parts are
lubricated by splash and oil mist. After flowing through the engine, the oil collects in the
oil pan or sump, which cools the oil and acts as a reservoir while the foam settles out.
Some engines have an oil cooler to remove additional heat from the oil.
Oil filter

This filter removes impurities from the oil passing through it and helps maintain the
lubricating ability of the oil during the maintenance intervals. The impurities removed
include solid particles such as combustion residue, metal particles, and dust.
Two types of filters have been used on internal combustion engines, full-flow and
bypass. The full-flow filter protects the engine by filtering the entire oil-pump output and
traps any particles during the first pass of the oil. However, a bypass valve is required to
ensure continued supply of oil to the engine should the filter become clogged. Most
automotive engines have pleated-paper filters of this type. Bypass filters remove about
10% or less of the oil passing through the lubricating system, and return this oil to the
sump after cleaning. Some engines have both full-flow and bypass filters for the
lubricating oil.