Everything you wanted to know about automotive lubricants
A lubricant is Normally a fluidic substance with the primary function to reduce friction between surfaces which is in contact. Lubricant Reduces energy loss generated from friction, it can also be much useful to clean, cool, and prevent metal from corrosion & rust and many such challenges a machine faces during its working operation.
For Example, Engine oil is a particular kind of lubricant created specifically for use in engines. A good quality engine oil is much essential for the efficient working of a machine; this helps to increase the engine efficiency, prevents damage and Aids in extending the life of the engine.
Composition of a Lubricant:
A lubricant is composed of two materials:
- Base Oils, and
- Additives
A lubricant’s base oils, which make up the majority of its volume, can either be produced from mineral oil or synthetic oil. The mineral base oil can be made from a distilling process while refining crude oil and Synthetic base oils are made by further refining of mineral base oil through laboratory treatments, and few synthetic base oils are produced. The base oil can be split into four groups, usually depending on the clarity level of that oil. Group-I and Group-II are Mineral Base Oils, Group-III is known as Synthetic Base Oil, and other base oils fall undermost the Group-IV category.
Additives, which vary between 10–30% of the lubricant’s liquidation, are added to enhance or improve desired properties to the base oil, such as Lower friction, improving viscosity index, managing deposits and slug through detergents-dispersants Extra, etc.
Lubricants are formulated with specific additives & base oils based on their application and expected benefits of them.
Uses of Lubricants:
Lubricants are used for a type of applications, for example:
- Engine oils are applicable inside the engine. Good engine oil will keep the engine clean, and rust-free, would improve fuel efficiency and performance, maximize engine life and reduce carbon emissions from vehicles.
- Gear oils are used capitally in automobiles gearboxes: Manual, Automatic, etc. Developed normally with high viscosity base oil and selective additives, it makes sure superior protection of gear from high mechanical stress and friction.
- In hydraulic machinery, the hydrostatic power is transferred by hydraulic oil.