Zero wear concept using bionotox and polymerfree engine oils with triboactive materials

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to underline the future need for OEMs to receive lowSAP, polymer and metalfree engine oils with highviscosity indices and to illuminate for other OEMs the technical feasibility for application of alternative engine oils based on esters or blends of hydrocarbons with esters or polyglycols. Designmethodologyapproach The strategic goal depends technically on the use of intrinsic properties of alternative base fluids, thus substituing some additives, like antiwear, extreme pressure and viscosity index improvers. The prone wear resistance of novel triboactivereactive materials enables higher portions of mixedboundary lubrication generated by oils with a lower viscosity. Findings Overall, the different bionotox and lowash prototype engine oils with reduced additive contents displayed isoperformance regarding the tribological behaviour against cast iron and triboreactive materials. APSTin2Cr2O2n1 displayed an overall wear resistance comparable with grey cast iron with highcarbon content and liner wear reduction of one order of magnitude when mated with Mobased rings. Both tests confirmed the potential for substituing molybdenumbased rings by APSTin2Cr2O2n1. The most significant reduction in system wear down to zero wear was demonstrated by mating the APSTin2Cr2O2n1 coated piston rings with smooth machined HVOFTi,MoC,N liner coatings. Research limitationsimplications As lubricants are today not part of the core business of automotive OEMs, the next steps have to be proposed by the petrochemical suppliers. It is recalled here that some OEMs in their history developed and produced lubricants. Practical implications The customer will appreciate any increase in longevity resulting in reduced maintenance. The OEM now owns, under increased solicitations, now a futureoriented tool box in order to respond to environmental and CAF demands with reasonable cost management. Originalityvalue This OEM report displays the complete methodology in order to adopt alternative engine oils in existing engine architectures.