Tribological Performance of Engine Oil Blended with Various Diesel Fuels

Abstract

In this study, petrodiesel (D100) and different concentrations of commercial biodiesels (B100, B50, B5) were blended with a commercial engine oil at a fixed volume ratio of 1:9 to investigate the tribological effect of the biodiesels on the antiwear performance of the engine oil. The antiwear performance of the blended oils was evaluated using a Plint TE77 reciprocating ball-on-flat tribometer at room temperature and 150°C. Results show that the antiwear performance of the engine oil blended with petrodiesel is worse than that of the other blended oils with biodiesels at both temperatures. At room temperature, the physical adsorption and local hydrodynamic effects of the blended oils dominate the tribological behavior; at 150°C, the biodiesel seems to promote the growth of a reaction film with the antiwear additives in engine oil and enhance the growth rate of chemical films. However, an excess concentration of biodiesels causes tribochemical wear, thus reducing antiwear performance.

KEY WORDS:

• Antiwear
• Biodiesel
• Boundary Lubrication
• Wear Mechanism
• Engine Oil

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs (R.O.C.), under contract 102-D0107.