Mini-rotary viscometer

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The mini-rotary viscometer is a device used to measure the pumpability of an engine oil at low temperatures. [1] [2] Engine oils must meet viscometric standards including those determined by the MRV in order to be classifiable within SAE J300 viscosity grades. The requirement was added after the winters of 1980-81 and 1981-82 caused major pumpability field problems in the US and Europe. [3] [4]

Different MRV test procedure exist; for example ASTM D4684, required for SAE J300, involves heating the oil to remove its "memory" then cooling it at a controlled rate over a period of more than 40 hours to the test temperature. [5] [6] [4] ASTM D4684 is done with fresh oil, so the MRV result may not be representative of used oil pumpability. [7] Some motor vehicles manufacturers specify used oil MRV requirements. [7]

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Motor oil Lubricant used for lubrication of internal combustion engines

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Gear oil

Gear oil is a lubricant made specifically for transmissions, transfer cases, and differentials in automobiles, trucks, and other machinery. It is of a high viscosity and usually contains organosulfur compounds. Some modern automatic transaxles do not use a heavy oil at all but lubricate with the lower viscosity hydraulic fluid, which is available at pressure within the automatic transmission. Gear oils account for about 20% of the lubricant market.

The viscosity index (VI) is an arbitrary, unit-less measure of a fluid's change in viscosity relative to temperature change. It is mostly used to characterize the viscosity-temperature behavior of lubricating oils. The lower the VI, the more the viscosity is affected by changes in temperature. The higher the VI, the more stable the viscosity remains over temperature fluctuations. The VI was originally measured on a scale from 0 to 100; however, advancements in lubrication science have led to the development of oils with much higher VIs.

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The cold-cranking simulator (CCS) is a device used to determine the low temperature performance of lubricants, when starting a cold engine. In this condition, the only energy available to turn the engine comes from the starter motor and the battery, and it has been widely assumed that the system acts as a constant power viscometer. The use of this device for this purpose is standardized as ASTM D5293.

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Crankcase dilution is a phenomenon of internal combustion engines in which unburned diesel or gasoline accumulates in the crankcase. Excessively rich fuel mixture or incomplete combustion allows a certain amount of fuel to pass down between the pistons and cylinder walls and dilute the engine oil. It is more common in situations where fuel is injected at a very high pressure, such as in a direct-injected diesel engine.

Emulsified Fuels are emulsions composed of water and a combustible liquid, either oil or a fuel. Emulsions are a particular example of a dispersion comprising a continuous and a dispersed phase. The most commonly used emulsion fuel is water-in-diesel emulsion. In the case of emulsions, both phases are the immiscible liquids, oil and water. Emulsion fuels can be either a microemulsion or an ordinary emulsion. The essential differences between the two are stability and particle size distribution. Microemulsions are isotropic whereas macroemulsions are prone to settling and changes in particle size over time. Both use surfactants and can be either water-in-oil, or oil-in-water or bicontinuous.

Pour point depressants are used to allow the use of petroleum based mineral oils at lower temperatures. The lowest temperature at which a fuel or oil will pour is called a pour point. Wax crystals, which form at lower temperatures, may interfere with lubrication of mechanical equipment. High-quality pour point depressants can lower a pour point of an oil additive by as much as 40°C.

SAE J300 is a standard that defines the viscometric properties of mono- and multigrade engine oils, maintained by SAE International. Key parameters for engine oil viscometrics are the oil's kinematic viscosity, its high temperature-high shear viscosity measured by the tapered bearing simulator, and low temperature properties measured by the cold-cranking simulator and mini-rotary viscometer. This standard is commonly used throughout the world, and standards organizations that do so include API and ILSAC, and ACEA.

HFRR Lubrication measurement

HFRR is a measurement for lubrication of Diesel or heating oil and stands for highfrequencyreciprocatingrig. The value is given in μm, lower is better. The measured value is the diameter of the flattening of the ball after the test.

References

  1. H. Shaub; M. F. Smith; C. K. Murphy. STP621-S4 Predicting Low Temperature Engine Oil Pumpability with the Mini-Rotary Viscometer. ASTM International. doi:10.1520/STP27339S.
  2. admin (2015-08-08). "How to achieve "real-world" fuel economy gains from your viscosity modifier". F&L Asia. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. Stambaugh, R. L. (1984). "Low Temperature Pumpability of Engine Oils". SAE Transactions. 93: 94–101. ISSN   0096-736X. JSTOR   44467123.
  4. 1 2 Selby, Theodore W.; Miiller, Gregory C. (2008-10-06). "Thermal History of the Engine Oil and Its Effects on Low-Temperature Pumpability and Gelation Formation". SAE Technical Paper Series. Vol. 1. Warrendale, PA. doi:10.4271/2008-01-2481.
  5. "YIELD STRESS AND APPARENT VISCOSITY OF USED ENGINE OILS AT LOW TEMPERATURE: ASTM - YONGRUN". www.dgaequipment.com. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. https://www.tannasking.com/documents/17/MRV_TP-1_Brochure_2019-01-08.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  7. 1 2 member, Michael J. Covitch STLE (2007-04-01). "Lubricant Additive Effects on Engine Oil Pumpability at Low Temperatures—Detergents and High Ethylene Olefin Copolymer Viscosity Modifiers". Tribology Transactions. 50 (1): 68–73. doi:10.1080/10402000601105540. ISSN   1040-2004. S2CID   219624685.