Study of automotive gear lubrication at low temperatures

Matti Kytö

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    Abstract

    Properties of various gear lubricants were studied in the temperature range of +20 - -40 °C. The tests were carried out in the cold research facilities of the Laboratory of Fuel and Process Technology of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) using the gearbox of a rear wheel drive delivery van as the test equipment. The tests focused solely on the gear and its lubrication. The output shaft of the gearbox was connected directly to the engine dynamometer and the input shaft was rotated by a hydraulic motor.

    The aim of the tests was to study the properties of different lubricants in the gearbox at cold-start and start. The most significant reading monitored was the power loss in the gearbox as a function of time. This affects the fuel consumption of the vehicle. The warming-up of the lubricant was also measured, as well as possible changes in the viscosity over the test.

    The efficiency of the gearbox increased in five minutes close to the final value of the 40 min test. The power loss (efficiency) at the start-up can be affected by the choice of the lubricant, although lubricants cannot be classified solely by the viscosity class under the coldest conditions. In these tests, in which the load was equal to that of drive at a constant speed of about 80 km/h, the power demand was increased by a poorly flowing lubricant not more than by 5 - 6 % during the first five minutes.

    The test temperature had a fairly great effect on the stabilized power loss in the gearbox. For example, the difference between the power losses at the temperatures of -26 °C and +20 °C was on average 0.8 kW, about 5 %.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2nd Subzero Engineering Conditions Conference
    Place of PublicationWarrendale
    PublisherSociety of Automotive Engineers
    Pages199-206
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1992
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    Event2nd Subzero Engineering Conditions Conference - Helsinki, Finland
    Duration: 3 Feb 19926 Feb 1992

    Publication series

    SeriesSAE Technical Paper Series
    Number920021
    ISSN0148-7191

    Conference

    Conference2nd Subzero Engineering Conditions Conference
    Country/TerritoryFinland
    CityHelsinki
    Period3/02/926/02/92

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Study of automotive gear lubrication at low temperatures'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this