Impact of Fuel Contents on Tribological Performance of PAO Base Oil and ZDDP

Journal Article · 07 September 2018 · Lubricants

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants6030079 · OSTI ID:2372758

Zhou, Yan; Li, Weimin; Stump, Benjamin C.; Connatser, Raynella M. ; Lazarevic, Sladjan ; Qu, Jun

Fuel and water contents are inevitable in automotive engine oils. This study intends to investigate the impact of the addition of gasoline (3–20%) and water (1%) on the lubricating performance of synthetic base oil (PAO), with or without an anti-wear additive (ZDDP), for a steel-cast iron contact. Fuel-added PAO showed an increase in the load carrying capacity. Oil electrical conductivity and total acid number (TAN) measurements showed slightly increased conductivity and marginally increased acidity at a higher fuel concentration. In contrast, an increased wear rate, proportional to the fuel concentration, was observed in a prolonged test with constant-loading. Results suggested that the fuel addition is a double-edged sword: reducing the scuffing risk by providing stronger surface adsorption and increasing the sliding wear rate by bringing down the oil viscosity. The PAO-water blend formed an emulsion and resulted in a significantly increased load-carrying capacity, again likely due to the higher polarity and possibly acidity. For the ZDDP-containing PAO, the addition of 1% water and 3% fuel generated 24% and 52% higher wear. The phosphate polymerization level was reduced on the worn surfaces by the introduction of water but the thickness of ZDDP tribofilm was not significantly affected.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 2372758
• Journal Information: Lubricants, Journal Name: Lubricants Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 6; ISSN 2075-4442; ISSN LUBRCF
• Publisher: MDPI AGCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Switzerland
• Language: English