Modification of working conditions for a friction pair with an additive added to engine oil during operation

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the results of research into using an additive to SAE 15W/40 engine oil during operation and its influence on lubricating properties (normalised tests) on weld point Pz, non-seizure load Pn, load wear index Ih and on seizure load Pt. The friction pair consisted of a group of four balls and the tested lubricant. Moreover, the author tested the influence of an additive to engine oil (non-normalised tests) on tribological properties, including friction force, wear and the temperature of friction area for the C45 steel/210Cr12 steel friction joint. She also determined the influence of an additive to engine oil on the formation of the operating surface layer. The research results helped to build the model of the boundary layer that was formed as a result of adding an additive to engine oil. Design/methodology/approach - The lubricant properties of engine oil and engine oil to which an additive was added during operation were determined according to PN-76/C-04147. The following are the indexes of lubricant properties: weld point Pz, load wear index Ih, non-seizure load Pn, seizure load and average scar diameter. The Pz, Pn and Ih indexes were determined at abruptly increasing load to the moment of welding of the friction pair. The Pt index was determined at the increasing load of the friction pair from 0 to 800 daN at the speed of 408.8 N/s. The tests of tribological properties (friction force, wear and the temperature of friction area) were conducted for the C45/210 Cr12 friction pair in the presence of a lubricant and a lubricant with an additive. Findings - The modification of SAE 15W/40 engine oil with the additive added during operation resulted in improved indexes of lubricant properties Pz, Pn, Ih and Pt and average scar diameter. The boundary layer for the modified oil breaks after a longer time and at lesser friction force. The modification of the engine oil reduced the wear of the friction pair. After the friction process, element composition in the surface layer of the wear trace and its distribution were determined in relation to applied lubricants. A significant amount of sulphur, phosphorus and oxygen, as well as an insignificant amount of copper, was observed in the wear trace after the friction process in the presence of the lubricant medium. The distribution of elements in the wear trace when the engine oil with the additive was used is steady in the wear trace and outside it. Some sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine were found in the wear trace. Originality/value - The results of tests on tribological properties (non-normalised tests) confirmed the positive affect of the additive to engine oil on lubricant properties (normalised tests). The modification of the engine oil caused reduced friction force and the reduced wear of the friction pair. The reduction of friction force and wear was the result of the formation of the surface of a greater amplitude density of unevenness tops in the friction process. Moreover, the operating surface layer, created in the friction process when the additive was added to the engine oil, had greater load participation at 50 per cent C. This operational surface layer improved tribological properties, i.e. it reduced value of friction force and wear. The test results were used to build a model of the boundary layer created as a result of the additive added to engine oil.