So, Below are some essential qualities of a good Lubrication
Viscosity
When any lubricant offered resistance to the deforming forces, it is called the viscosity of the lubricant.
Good quality lubrication oil must maintain sufficient viscosity at higher temperatures and it should not be too viscous at lower temperatures.
For high speeds, low viscosity lubricants are suggested while for large clearance and high loads; high viscosity lubricants are recommended.
The viscosity of oil increases, if the temperature of mating surfaces decreases.
Flash Point & Fire Point
The Flashpoint of oil is the minimum temperature at which it gives off enough vapor to form a momentary flash when the naked flame is brought near its surface, while the fire point is the lowest temperature of the lubrication oil, where it burns continuously.
To avoid the possibility of fire, the flashpoint of oil must be higher than the temperatures likely to be developed on the rubbing surfaces.
The fire point is generally higher than the flashpoint and the difference between the flash point and fire point must be 18-degree centigrade on the higher side.
Oiliness
It is the property of lubrication oil to spread and attach itself firmly to the lubricating surfaces.
When mating surfaces are subjected to high intensity of pressure, it is recommended to particularly high oiliness; so that the metal is protected by a layer of oil and the wear is reduced.
Volatility
Lubrication oil losses a certain weight due to evaporation when it is subjected to high temperatures for long hours. This loss is known as “loss by evaporation”.
The consumption of oil is considerably increased with high volatility at normal working temperatures which is why low volatility is always suggested for lubricants.
Stability & Insoluble Residue
The stability of the oil is to resist oxidation that would yield acids and sludge. Good lubrication oil must have high stability.
Free carbon or hydrocarbons decomposing into carbon at high temperatures is called the insoluble residue.
Good quality lubrication oil should not have any insoluble residue.
I hope the information above will help you to select the proper lubricants for your machines.
To get the more details about the topic, I further recommend reading
- Internal Combustion Engines
- Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals
- Engineering Fundamentals of the Internal
- A Textbook of Internal Combustion Engines
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