Lubrication refers to the reduction of mechanical losses while making movement more harmonious by reducing frictional resistance through the supply of an appropriate substance (liquid or solid) between the frictional surfaces of 2 moving objects. Lubrication prevents damages to surfaces by separating the moving objects relative to each other by means of a membrane; the substance used in such situations is referred to as a lubricant.

Every moving machinery requires lubrication.

• Internal combustion engines

  In automobile, motorcycle, ship, train, etc. Transmissions and axles

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• Industrial machinery

  Hydraulic system, compressors, gears and turbines, etc.

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Lubricant is composed of base oil and additives, and the composition ratio varies depending on the type and viscosity of Lubricant.

Viscosity Modifier Additives 20%

It supplements any deficiencies in the properties of base oil

Base oil 80%

It takes up most of the lubricants. It determines the basic physical properties of lubricants

Configuring Viscosity Modifier Additives

• Viscosity Modifier
• Dispersant
• Detergent
• Anti-oxidant
• Anti-Wear Agent
• Other additives (pour point depressant, anti-foamer, friction modifier)

• Reduce friction / wear

  Lubricants reduce wear and friction on surfaces of metals by forming an oil film.

• Cooling

  Lubricants discharge the heat generated by friction and the lubrication system absorbs the heat.

• Cleaning

  Lubricants prevent the entry of impurities such as metal fragments, dust of carbonized substances from incomplete combustion.

• Anti-rust(chemical protection)

  Lubricants protect the lubrication surface from rusting due to corrosive gas, moisture, or oxygen in the air.

• Enclosure

  Lubricants seal the contacting section of the machine by preventing the leakage of gas injected into the cylinder or the entry of water or dust into the cylinder.

• Dispersion of forces

  Lubricants uniformly disperse forces locally applied to frictional surfaces.

• Viscosity specifications
  1. 12 Grades of SAE viscosity specifications are determined by Low-Temperature Viscosity(CCS, MRV) & High-Temperature Viscosity(Kinematic viscosity at 100°C, HTHS).
  2. 2Complying with SAE(Society of Automotive Engineers) J300 standard.
• Mono grade engine oil
  1. 1This oil has only one kind of features which works well in low temperature or in high temperature like SAE 10W, SAE 20, SAE 30 etc.
  2. 2This oil is used in place where there is not much temperature change.
• Multi grade engine oil
  1. 1For example of SAE 15W-40 product, it has two features of SAE 15W(working well in low temperature) and SAE 40(working well in high temperature).
  2. 2Oil is stiff in low temperature and watery in high temperature. Diverse class viscosity engine oil is a bit stiff in low temperature and is not too watery in high temperature.
  3. 3It is most popularly used product in the world.

• Viscosity specifications
  1. 12 grades of SAE Viscosity specification : Low-temperature viscosity(Brookfield) and High-temperature viscosity(Kinematic Viscosity at 100°C).
  2. 2Complying with SAE J306 standard.

• Viscosity specifications
  1. 1Classified on the basis of kinematic viscosity at 40°C.
  2. 2Complying with ISO (International Standards Organization) regulations.

3In case of industrial gear oil, the AGMA (American Gear Manufactures Association) divides this into AGMA 0-11 as follows in accordance with ISO VG (Viscosity Grade).

• Association specifications
  1. 1API (American Petroleum Institute)

     Engine oil specifications made by API and divided into gasoline and diesel. The newer the specification, the more the reinforced oxidation stability, fuel efficiency, and durability, etc.

     The newer specification exceeds the former in aspect of fucntion.

     - Gasoline
     (SJ<SL<SM<SN(SN+)<SP)
     Begins with S as an abbreviation of ‘Service,’ and followed by SA-SP.

     - Diesel
     (CH-4<CI-4<CJ-4<CK-4(FA-4))
     Begins with C as an abbreviation of ‘Commercial,’ and is followed by CA-CK-4.
     After having used CA. CB, CC. CD, CE. CF designations, CG-4, CH-4, CI-4, CJ-4, CK-4 have been enacted.

  2. 2ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee)

     Engine oil specifications made by ILSAC composed of North American/Japanese automakers; includes GF-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Fundamentally, they are specifications with fortified fuel efficiency performance added to API performance.

     • 1990 - 1992: GF1
     • 1992 - 1996: GF2
     • 1996 - 2000: GF3
     • 2000 - 2004: GF4
     • 2004 - 2010: GF5
     • 2010 - 2020: GF-6A, GF-6B

     
  3. 3ACEA (Association des Constructeurs Europeans d'Automobiles)

     Engine oil specifications made by ACEA with emphasis on the characteristic durability and extension of the replacement interval of European vehicles compared to API or ILSAC. Generally, the specifications are amended on a 2-year interval.
     Classified largely into 3 types depending on vehicle type with each type sub-classified according to performance and fuel efficiency (HTHSI/SAPS level).

     - Passenger Car(Gasoline/Diesel)
     A3/B3, A3/B4, A5/B5

     Improvement of fuel efficiency

     • A3/B4: Higher Performance High HTHS
     • A5/B5: Higher Performance Low HTHS
     • A3/B3: Mainline Performance High HTHS

     Mainline/higher performance division is largely defined by suitability for modem direct-injection diesel engines

     

     - Heavy Duty Diesel
     E4, E6, E7, E9

     Increase of Drain Interval

     • E4: UHPD (Ultra high performance diesel High SAPS (<2% SA) SCR/EGR Euro V
     • E6: UHPD (Ultra high performance diesel) Low/Mid SAPS (<1% SA) DPF Euro V/ VI
     • E7: SHPD (Super high performance diesel) High SAPS (<2% SA) SCR/EGR Euro V
     • E9: SHPD (Super high performance diesel) Low/Mid SAPS (<1% SA) DPF Euro V/ VI

     EGR Exhaust Gas Rocrculation / SCR Selective catalytic Reduction / DPF Diesel Particulate Fillter

     

     - For vehicle with Aftertreatment device
     C1. C2, C3. C4, C5

     Improvement of fuel efficiency

     Outstanding protection of post-processing devices

     • C1: Low SAPS Low HTHS
     • C2: Mid SAPS Low HTHS
     • C3: Mid SAPS High HTHS
     • C4: Low SAPS High HTHS
     • C5: Mid SAPS Ultra-Low HTHS

     same engine tests/Similiar limits to ACEA A/B sequences

     
• OEM specifications

  Apart from associations (API, ILSAC, ACEA), each automaker has its own in-house oil specifications with different specifications required for each OEM. Names of the specifications of the representative OEM are as follows.

  1. 1Passenger vehicles
     • - Mercedes-Benz: MB 229.1, 229.3, 229.31, 229.5, 229.51, 229.52 etc
     • - Volkswagen: WW 50200, 504 00,505 00,505 01, 507 00
     • - General Motor: Dexos 1, Dexos 2
     • - Renault : RN 0700, 0710, 0720
  2. 2Heavy duty diesel
     • - Mercedes-Benz: MB 228.1.228.3, 228.31.228.5.228.51, etc
     • - MAN : M 3275, 3277,3477, etc
     • - Volvo VDS-3, 4, 4.5, etc
     • - Cummins : Cummins 20078, 20081, 20086etc

Since there are many OEMs with long replacement intervals and recognized as a concept of component, there are no unified specifications per automaker as in the case of engine oil.

1. 1General Motor: Dexron III, VI, etc.
2. 2Ford : Mercon V, Mercon LV, Mercon SP, etc.
3. 3Hyundai : SP III, IV, IV-RR, etc.
4. 4ZE: TEEML 03D, 04D, 05L, 09, 11B, 16L, 170, 14A, etc.
5. 5Chrysler : MS-1872, 5931, 9602, 10838, etc.

Apart from performance specifications of Automotive transmission oil, 2 specifications are popular in the field of Auto-gear oil

1. 1API specifications : GL-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, MT-1
2. 2US Military specifications : MIL-L-2105A, 2105B, 2105C, 2105D, MIL-PRF-2105E

Oil types that belong to industrial oil are highly diversified and, as such, there are highly diversified performance specifications according to each oil type.
Representative performance specifications of hydraulic oil, gear oil, and turbine oil are as follows:

1. 1Hydraulic oil
   • - Denison : HF-0, 1, 2
   • - DIN 51524 : Part I, Part II, Part III
   • - ISO 11158 : HH, HL, HM, HV
   • - Cincinnati Machine(CM) : P-68, 69, 70
   • - Vickers : 104C, 35VQ25, 1-286-S, M-2950-S
   • - Vickers : 104C, 35VQ25, 1-286-S, M-2950-S
2. 2Gear oil
   • - AGMA 9005 : E02, F17
   • - DIN 51517 : Part I, Part II, Part III
   • - ISO 12925-1 : CKB, CKC, CKD, CKE, CKS
   • - US Steel : 224
3. 3Turbine oil
   • - DIN 51515 : Part I, Part II
   • - General Electric : GEK-32568, GEK-107395