Please describe the role base oils play in the hardware design of drive train components.
TLT Sounding Board July 2017
© Can Stock Photo / willie13
Nearly two-thirds of TLT readers say base oils have a large magnitude of effect on performance properties. “Superior base oils enable advanced design,” one comments. Most readers note the role base oils play in extreme temperature conditions, how they reduce friction and extend the life of the equipment. But agreement is not across the board. “I don’t believe base oils play a major role for OEMs when they are deciding on their hardware designs,” says one reader, “most performance properties driven by base oil selection can be attributed to low-temperature performance, thermal oxidative stability characteristics and cost of the base oil.” Eighty percent of TLT readers say they make their selection of base oils based on both cost and technical properties of the product.
Hot and cold conditions as well as extended warranties.
It’s used in the lubricating component of the formulation. The selection is based on temperature and pressure of the actual usage.
Compatibility and mix-ability.
To reduce friction and improve life of equipment.
Base oil viscosity index and flash point are major role players. Solubility of base oil.
Viscosity requirements, oxidation life.
Volatility, oxidation stability, compatibility with additives.
To reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact and reduce the heat generated when the surfaces move. Also has the function of transmitting forces, transporting foreign particles or heating or cooling the surfaces.
I’m a user, not a designer, but I want better component protection in tough mining environment, longer ODI and up-to-date drive trains.
Low-temperature properties, solvency, oxidation stability, additive response.
Long-term use of the oil, oxidation stability.
Base oil is a major constituent in lubricant formulation, and quality of base oil plays a vital role in performance.
Base oils play a crucial role in hardware design of drive train. The lubricant film thickness, hence the lubrication regime, hence the fatigue life depends on viscosity-pressure viscosity coefficient. The scuffing safety factor is determined by the load-carrying capability. The lubrication factor depends on the type of base oil.
Better quality base oil (e.g., Group II) provides better oxidation and thermal stability.
We use the manufacturers range, but I’m unsure whether they design to the oil or select oil specs to fit the design.
Viscosity and VI and PPT of base oil is important.
The base oil decides the thermal balance temperature of the transmission gearbox.
Film-forming capacity of base oil and long-life capacity of grease are very important for operating reliably of rolling bearings.
Longer oil drain intervals and fuel-economy benefits.
Lubricants blending and production.
Circle life and lubrication properties.
Reliability is the target.
Volatility, oxidation resistance, sludge formation.
It’s of paramount importance since it accounts for the main component in the finished lubricant formulation, especially with fuel economy in mind.
Oxidation stability and wear properties are both affected by base oil selection.
Traction coefficient, volatility, oxidative stability and viscosity index parameters drive the selection of synthetic base stocks for high performance drive train lubricants.
For machines that run 24/7, the quality of base oil plays an important role during the design stage of its drive train components.
VI, suitability for both cold/warm weather operation, expected lubricant life.
Performance lubrication.
Oil selection may impact the degree of surface engineering required for components susceptible to wear.
Does your organization make decisions on base oil quality based on:
Cost
8%
Technical aspects of the oil
24%
Both
80%
Based on responses sent to 13,000 TLT readers. Total exceeds 100% because some readers chose more than one answer.
Important in particular relative to quality.
Base oil plays a basic role in lubricant design; the features must be repeatable and enough for temperature and pressure ranges. Also, such oil must be clean enough.
It’s usually the other way around where the drive train is designed to the current lubricant capabilities.
Plays a significant role in mixed and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, kinematic viscosities.
Many OEMs for drive trains only think of lubricants as a secondary part of the design. We want the base to have long life and protect.
Depends on the drive train fluid (what specs end-user needs to meet based on equipment performance and equipment life) and OEM performance specifications for the fluid in their machinery.
Low temperature, elastomeric compatibility, solvency.
(1.) Since demand of low viscosity oil for drive chain, role of base oil is very important. (2.) The properties of base oil is important as much as the low viscosity.
Base oil sets the fundamental tribological performance.
Base oil provides some lubrication in non-boundary conditions, transfers heat.
Low temperature/pour point.
We clearly differentiate whether we need mineral or synthetic oil for a particular application.
Quality and viscosity.
We have to be cautious to ensure selection matches component requirement.
Impacts bearing design.
None, we use base oils for development of lubricants outside of drive train components.
Wear reduction, reduced heat generation, warranty performance.
Extended service protection. Durability. Reducing part costs.
Today a major role and current base oils optimized around BOV for the ATF.
I believe that hardware design drives base oil selection!
They are the final limit of lubrication in the system.
Hardware design: lubricity and heat-removal capacity. Performance properties: lubricity, ability to dissolve and keep dissolved, detergent/dispersants, antiwear and corrosion-inhibitor additives.
Wear protection and fuel economy.
Huge. Basic viscometrics are set by base oil choice. Basic oxidation, film thickness, additive solubility, seal swelling and viscometrics. High and low temperature are heavily influenced by base oils.
The quality of the base stock determines the levels of antioxidant in the additive package. In addition, volatility of base stocks in engine oils is a major parameter related to emissions.
Be either compatible or incompatible with some elements like seals; surface coatings influence energy efficiency, heat generation.
Understanding the interaction of base oils with additive products.
Base oil types affect materials of construction due to compatibility issues. VI, operating range and drain intervals are three top criteria for selecting base oil type.
The base oil viscosity is critical to the proper function of drive train components. Other properties, such as solvency, affect the solubility of the additives as well as the compatibility of the product with elastomeric seals. Other characteristics of the base oil can affect the types and concentrations of additives needed to provide the overall product performance profile.
Volatility and oxidation resistance of 3 and 4 cSt oils to formulate today’s SAE 0W-X and SAE 5W-X viscosity grades.
Base oils are selected based on their ability to contribute to a product that performs over the useful life of the fluid.
Narrow molecular weight distribution, high VI, high solvency.
Lube film thickness at temperature and bearing fatigue life, component cooling and corrosion protection.
What’s the magnitude of the effect(s) lubricant base oils have on performance properties?
Large effect
63%
Significant effect
34%
Little effect
3%
Based on responses sent to 13,000 TLT readers.
Editor’s Note: Sounding Board is based on an email survey of 13,000 TLT readers. Views expressed are those of the respondents and do not reflect the opinions of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. STLE does not vouch for the technical accuracy of opinions expressed in Sounding Board, nor does inclusion of a comment represent an endorsement of the technology by STLE.