A review of biofuel generated contamination, engine oil degradation and engine wear

ABSTRACT

Engine oil contamination, degradation and wear of engine components occurs mainly due to fuel dilution, oxidation and blow-by. This contamination accelerates the wear of engine components and also decreases the useful service life and performance of engine oil. Failure of engine oil can cause engine component failure. The three major contaminants which initiate engine oil degradation and engine component wear are soot, water and particles. Soot contamination in lubricating oil is responsible for oil thickening and engine wear. Water emulsifies the oil and the wear debris generated further enhance the wear rate as three body abrasive process. This paper reveals the role of biofuels in engine oil degradation in terms of contamination, fuel dilution, oxidation and blow-by and wear. This paper provides a platform to understand the tribological relationship between lubricating oil and engine components.

KEYWORDS:

• Engine oil degradation
• metal contamination
• biofuels
• wear
• soot

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank to Uttarakhand Science & Technology for the grant provided (No. UCS&T/R&D/PHY SC.-05/11-12/4336/1) to carry out this work. Authors thank Dr S. J. Chopra (Chancellor UPES) for encouragement and blessings.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology [grant number UCS&T/R&D/PHY SC.-05/11-12/4336/1].