Experiment 02

Experiment No.
2 Lubrication System of an Engine
Objective
To understand the working of different lubrication system components and lubrication cycle.
Introduction
In an IC engine moving parts rub against each other causing frictional force. Due to heat and
friction the engine parts wear easily. So, to reduce the power loss and wear, a lubricant is
introduced between rubbing surfaces.
Purpose of Lubrication
The engine lubrication system:
 Minimizes power loss by reducing the friction between the moving parts.
 Reduces the wear and tear of the moving parts.
 Provides cooling effect to the hot engine parts.
 Provides cushioning effect against vibrations caused by the engine.
 Carries out the internal cleaning of the engine.
 Helps piston rings to seal against high-pressure gases in the cylinder.
 Reduces the noise created by moving parts.
Lubrication Components
Usually any lubrication system consists of following components:
 Oil gallery
 Oil pump
 Oil filter
 Oil sump
 Pickup tube
 Pressure relief valve
 Spurt holes
Oil Sump
An Oil Pan / Sump is just a bowl-shaped reservoir. It stores the engine oil and then circulates
it within the engine. Oil sump sits below the crankcase and stores the engine oil when the
engine is not running. It is located at the bottom of the engine in order to collect and store
the engine oil. The oil returns to the sump by pressure/gravity when the engine is not in use.
Oil Pump
Oil pump serves the purpose of sucking the fuel from sump and pressuring it so that oil can go
against gravity and can lubricate all engine parts. The three main types of engine oil pump:
 Crescent pump
 Rotary pump
 Gear pump
Oil Gallery
This is the place, where filtered oil is supplied and all engine parts are lubricated from oil
gallery. Oil galleries consist of big and small passages drilled inside the cylinder block. The
bigger passages connect to the smaller passages and supply the engine oil up to the cylinder
head and overhead camshafts. The oil galleries also supply the oil to the crankshaft, crankshaft
bearings and camshaft bearings thru holes drilled in them as well as to valve lifters/tappets.
Pickup Tube
When the engine is switched on, it needs oil immediately. Oil gets sucked up by the pickup
tube and serves his purpose of lubrication immediately.
Pressure Relief Valve
If the pressure in a lubrication rises due to some reason, then pressure relief valve releases
some oil back into the oil sump thus reducing the pressure. There can be many reasons for
increase in oil pressure. For example:
 If recommended oil is not used such as a 10W/60 instead of 10W/40. Oil having more
viscosity will cause more pressure in the system.
 At lower engine speeds, when oil demand is lower but oil supply is greater from the
pump.
By-Pass Valve
By-pass valve is present in the filter passage. If the oil filter gets dirty and cannot maintain the
required supply of oil, then a by-pass valve will open. And the filter will be skipped from the
oil circuit and unfiltered oil will start lubricating the engine parts.
Oil Filter
Bypass Valve
Spurt Holes
Spurt holes are the little holes in the crankshaft and other parts of engine. They allow to
lubricate the main bearings and cylinders of the engine.
Oil Filter
An oil filter is a filter designed to remove containments from engine oil. The oil enters the oil
filter through non-returning valve and then get filtered and supplied to engine parts. Main types
of oil filters are:
Cartridge and Spin-on: Early engine oil filters were of cartridge construction, in which a
permanent housing contains a replaceable filter element or cartridge. The housing is
connected to the engine oil supply. Engine oil enters the housing and stays between the
space of housing and cartridge, the more in the middle of cartridge gets filtered and more
goes out of the filter.
Magnetic: Magnetic filter use a permanent magnet or an electromagnet to capture

ferro-magnetic particle.
Sedimentation: A sedimentation filter allows containments heavier than oil to settle to the
bottom of a container under the influence of gravity.
Centrifugal: A centrifugal filter is a rotary sedimentation device using centrifugal force to

separate heavier particles from the oil. Pressurized oil enters the center of housing and
passes into a drum rotor free to spin on a bearing and seal. The rotor has two jet nozzles
arranged to direct a stream of oil at inner housing to rotate the drum.
Engine Lubrication Systems

The main lubrication systems are:
1. Mist lubrication system
2. Wet sump lubrication system
Mist Lubrication System

This system is used in small cars and motor bikes. About 3-6% of oil is added with petrol in the
petrol tank. When the petrol evaporated, the engine oil takes the form of a mist and lubricates the
cylinders, pistons, connecting rod etc.
 If added oil is less, proper lubrication will not take place.

 If added oil is greater, carbon deposits will form.
Wet Sump Lubrication System

In this system, oil is filtered in the sump of the engine and circulates in the whole engine and
finally returns back to sump. It is further divided into two system:
Pressurized System
In this system, oil is forced by oil pump through lines and drilled holes in the crankshaft,
connecting rod etc. The oil passing through the passage ways and spurt holes lubricate the
crankshaft, main bearing, connecting rod bearings, piston lines, cam shaft bearings and
rocker arms.
The Splash System
This system is only used in small four stroke engines. As the engine is operating, dippers
on the end of connecting rod enter the wet sump, pick up sufficient oil and splash oil to the
upper part of the engine.
The oil is splashed as droplets or fine spray, which lubricates the cylinder walls, piston,
and valve mechanism.
Schematic of Engine Oil Circuit
Sump Pickup Oil Pump Oil Filter
Pressure Relief Valve By-Pass Valve
Piston & Crankshaft Oil

Cylinder Spurt
Oil Cylinder Valve Mechanism,

Cooler Head Rocker, Cams
Oil Cooling System

In heavy vehicles and bigger engines, engine oil is cooled by two means.
Oil to Coolant
Oil heat is dissipated in coolant in some sort of heat exchanging equipment
Oil to Air
Oil heat is dissipated in air by increasing the surface area by installing fins.
Lab Tasks:
Attach extra pages if required.
Lab Task 3:
Figure of the Lubrication system of the engine (and location of major components; label
with arrowheads):
Lab Task 4:
Major Components of the Lubrication system (Individual Description):

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Experiment No.

2 Lubrication System of an Engine

Pressure Relief Valve

Magnetic: Magnetic filter use a permanent magnet or an electromagnet to capture

Centrifugal: A centrifugal filter is a rotary sedimentation device using centrifugal force to

Engine Lubrication Systems

Mist Lubrication System

 If added oil is less, proper lubrication will not take place.

Wet Sump Lubrication System

The Splash System

Sump Pickup Oil Pump Oil Filter

Pressure Relief Valve By-Pass Valve

Piston & Crankshaft Oil

Oil Cylinder Valve Mechanism,

Oil Cooling System

Oil heat is dissipated in coolant in some sort of heat exchanging equipment

Attach extra pages if required.

Major Components of the Lubrication system (Individual Description):

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