Reduction of lubricant life in lubrication systems for internal combustion engines due to high lubricant supply rates

[Display omitted] •Mass balance of tribofilm formation predicts lubricant life.•High lubricant supply rates reduces lubricant life.•Tribofilm avoids engine wear and high friction. The lubrication systems of internal combustion engines are not designed to avoid excessive oil consumption; therefore, the oil supply rate to the interior of the engine falls between two critical limits: ensuring the formation of a tribofilm that prevents engine wear and lowers high friction. However, it disregards the excessive depletion of the lubricating precursors that make up this protective tribofilm. In this work, the life of oil in lubrication systems for internal combustion engines is analyzed by means of simulations of the mass balances of the protective tribofilm formed inside the engine; results indicate that high lubricant supply rates cause early depletion of lubricant precursors, shortening the life of each batch of oil.