INFORMATION SHEET
LO 1. IDENTIFY TYPES OF LUBRICANTS/COOLANTS
Title: IMPORTANCE OF LUBRICANTS/COOLANTS
Importance of Lubricants/ Coolants
The lubrication system is extremely important to engine service life because it forces oil to high
friction points in the engine. Without a lubrication system, friction between parts would destroy an
engine very quickly. Many of the engine parts would rapidly overheat and score from this friction.
Engine bearings, piston rings, cylinder walls and other components could be ruined.
1. Reduces friction and wear between moving parts.
2. Helps transfer heat and cool engine parts
3. Cleans the inside of the engine by removing contaminants (metal, dirt, plastic, rubber, and other
particles).
4. Cuts power loss and increases fuel economy.
5. Absorbs shocks between moving parts to quite engine operative and increase engine life.
LO 1. IDENTIFY TYPES OF LUBRICANTS/COOLANTS
Types of Lubricants
ENGINE OIL
Engine oil, also called motor oil, is used to produce a lubricating film on the moving
parts in an engine. It is commonly refined from crude oil or petroleum which is
extracted from deep within the earth. Synthetic oils (manufactured oils) are also
available. They can be made from substances other than crude oil. An oil film (thin
layer of oil) separates engine parts to prevent metal-on-metal contact.
When selecting oil for an engine it is important that the one chosen is suitable for the engine itself and
the conditions under which it will be used.
Two important factors determining the choice of oils are:
a. That the oil meets the quality requirements
b. That the oil has the right “thickness” or what we call the right VISCOSITY.
This learning element explains what is meant by viscosity and how the oils are graded according to their
viscosity.
The term viscosity refers to the relative thickness of a liquid. It’s a thin, free-flowing liquid has a low
viscosity and a thick, slow-slow-flowing liquid has a high viscosity.
The viscosity of a liquid changes when the temperature changes. At high temperature the liquid (oil in
this case) becomes thinner (lower viscosity) and at low temperature the liquid becomes thicker (higher
viscosity)
The correct oil viscosity is essential for the efficient operation of the engine because:
- When the oil is too thick (high viscosity) it causes resistance and much more power is needed to turn
the engine, making it difficult to start when cold.
Thick oil does not circulate freely enough during the starting period, causing
insufficient lubrication of the bearings and, consequently, increased wear
Oil which is too thin, combined with a high engine temperature and a heavy load presents the risk of
oil being pressed out from between the working surfaces of the bearings or other engine parts.
And this would cause the oil film which is essential to the proper lubrication of the engine to break
down. Furthermore between the piston rings and the cylinder.
This is most significant characteristic of lubricating with its viscosity. This can be measured in different
ways. One way, for instance, is to check the quantity of oil which passes through a tube of standard
size during a certain length of time and at a given temperature.
POWER TRAIN AND RUNNING GEARS OIL
Most gear oil is a mineral oil refined from crude oil. Some gear oil is manufactured or synthetic oil.
Chemical additives are mixed with gear oil to improve its load carrying capacity. This makes an
extreme of heat on oil viscosity and foaming, rust, corrosion, and oil-seal damage.
The gear oil used in many cars and trucks is relatively thick and has a viscosity ranging from SAE 75W
to SAE 140. Multi-grade gear oils such as SAE 75W-90, are also used. However, some manufacturers
specify synchromesh transmission fluid (STP) for manual transmissions and transaxles.
GREASE
This is a fluid suck as mineral oil (made from petroleum) thickened with an agent that makes it a semi-
solid. The thickening agent that is a metallic soap or non-soap substance such as clay. Soaps
commonly used are lithium, calcium, sodium, aluminum and barium. Each of these alone or in
combination gives the grease characteristics. Aluminum gives the grease good adhesion. Sodium gives
the grease a thick, fibrous appearance.
A good grease must have consistency, stability, oxidation, resistance, ability to protect against friction,
wear and corrosion, and feed ability. This is ability to flow through dispensing equipment such as
wheel bearing, universal joint, ball joint, and chassis fittings.
SELF-CHECK
DIRECTION: Complete the following:
1. _________ the inside of the engine by removing contaminants.
2. _________ shocks between moving parts to quite engine operative and increase engine life.
3. _________ transfer heat and cool engine parts.
4. _________ power loss and increases fuel economy.
5. _________ friction and wear between moving parts.
