LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR

AN IC ENGINE

SWAPNA
SANTHOSH
MANGAPATHI
AKHIL NARAYANAN
 What is lubrication?
 Lubrication is an art of admitting a lubricant
(oil,grease,etc.) between two surfaces that are
in contact and in relative motion.
 Q:Why is a lubrication system essential for an
IC engine?
 Internal combustion engines require lubrication in
operation that moving parts slide smoothly over each
other. Insufficient lubrication subjects the parts of the
engine to metal-to-metal contact, friction, heat build-
up, rapid wear often culminating in parts becoming 
friction welded together . For example, pistons in
their cylinders. Big end bearings seizing up will
sometimes lead to a connecting rod breaking and
poking out through the crankcase.
 What are the functions of a lubricating system?
 The main function of lubrication is to reduce friction and wear
between the moving parts and thereby the energy loss and to
increase the life of the engine.
 To provide sealing action e.g. the lubricating oil helps the
piston rings to maintain an effective seal against the high
pressure gases in the cylinder from leaking out in to the crank
case.
 To cool the surfaces by carrying away the heat generated in
engine components.
 To clean the surfaces by washing away carbon and metal
particles caused by wear.
 Mechanism of lubrication system
 For instance , let us consider two surfaces with an oil
film present between them . If one surface is moving
and is inclined to the other, the viscous drag of the oil
tends to draw the lubricant into the space between the
surfaces and builds up a wedge . This develops an oil
film pressure that can sustain load.
 Friction coefficient is defined as a ratio of the
frictional resistance in the line of motion to the
supported load normal to the direction of motion.
 Lubrication of engine components
The principal friction surfaces requiring
lubrication in an internal combustion engine
are:
i)Piston and cylinders.
ii)Crankshaft and their bearings.
iii)Crankpin and their bearings.
iv)Valve gear.
 Properties of lubricants
 Suitable viscosity
 High strength to prevent the metal to metal contact and seizure
under heavy load
 Should not react with lubricating surfaces
 A low pour point to allow flow of the lubricant at low
temperatures to the oil pump
 Cleaning ability
 Low cost
 Non toxic and non inflammable
 Non foaming characteristics
 No tendency to form deposits by reacting with air,water,fuel or
the products of combustion
 GRADES OF LUBRICATING OIL
 The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code
system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. SAE
viscosity gradings include the following, from low to high viscosity: 0, 5, 10, 15,
20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60. The numbers 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 are suffixed with the
letter W, designating their "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower
temperature. The number 20 comes with or without a W, depending on whether it
is being used to denote a cold or hot viscosity grade. The document SAE J300
defines the viscometrics related to these grades.
 Kinematic viscosity is graded by measuring the time it takes for a standard
amount of oil to flow through a standard orifice, at standard temperatures. The
longer it takes, the higher the viscosity and thus higher SAE code.
 Note that the SAE has a separate viscosity rating system for gear, axle, and
manual transmission oils, SAE J306, which should not be confused with engine
oil viscosity. The higher numbers of a gear oil (eg 75W-140) do not mean that it
has higher viscosity than an engine oil.
 TYPES OF OIL FILMS
 If the sliding surfaces are completely separated by
the film of oil , it is termed as thick film lubrication
. Frictional resistance here is primarily due to
sharing of the lubricant . The friction coefficient for
a thick film ranges from 0.002 to 0.012.
 When the film becomes so thin that surface
irregularities come into contact , we get a thin film
lubrication . The friction coefficient here ranges
from 0.012 to 0.01.
 TYPES OF LUBRICATING SYSTEMS
 There are two types of lubricating systems.
1.Wet sump system
2.Dry sump system
 The wet sump system is used in automobile
engines while the dry sump is used in larger
machinery.
 Basic components of a wet sump lubricating
system
 The basic components are
1. Pump
2. Strainer
3. Pressure regulator
4. Filter
5. Breather
 Mechanism of basic components of wet
sump system
 Oil is drawn from the sump through a strainer by a
gear or a rotor type of oil pump.
 Most of the oil from the pump goes directly to the
engine and a portion of the oil passes through a
cartridge filter which removes the solid particles
from the oil thereby reducing the amount of
contamination from carbon dust and other impurities
present in the oil.
 Over a period of operation all the oil will eventually
pass through the filter.
WET SUMP SYSTEM
 In the wet sump system , the bottom of the crank
case contains an oil pan that serves as the oil
supply and the recollection point after lubrication.
 The types of wet sump system used in general
are:
1)The splash and circulating pump system.
2)The splash and pressure system.
3)The force-feed system.
4)Full force –feed system.
 SPLASH AND CIRCULATING PUMP
SYSTEM
 In the splash and circulating pump method of lubricating an
engine , the oil supply is carried in an engine crank case at a
predetermined level. A circulating pump delivers oil to the
troughs located under the ends of the connecting rods. some of
the oil collects in cups or pockets of the main and crank shaft
bearings feeding them. The crank pin bearings receive oil from
the dippers from the slots cut in the connecting rods. Part of the
oil is splashed onto the cylinder walls and lubricates the piston
skirt and piston rings.
 The oil after lubricating the engine parts collects in the sump
tank where it is cooled by the air flowing around the outside of
the sump. The cooled air is then recirculated.
Splash and circulating
pump system
 Splash and pressure lubricating system
 In this lubricating system the oil pump supplies
oil under pressure to the main and crank shaft
bearings and also to pipes which direct a stream
of oil against the dippers on the connecting rod
bearing cups. The crank pin bearings receive oil
from the dipper through slots cut in the lower
ends of the connecting rods. The other parts of
the engine are lubricated by the splash of oil
thrown up by the dipper.
 Force feed lubricating system
 In this system the oil pump forces oil under
pressure to the main, connecting rod, crank
shaft bearings and to the timing gears. Drilled
passages in the crank shaft carry oil from the
main bearings to the connecting rod bearings.
The cylinder walls, piston and piston pins rely
on the oil spray thrown off from the connecting
rods and crank shaft for lubrication.
Force-Feed System
 Full force feed system
 In this system oil under pressure from the
pump is forced through drilled passages to all
the bearings. The drilled holes in the
connecting rods permit oil to flow to the piston
pins. The cylinder walls, piston and piston
rings are lubricated by oil spray from around
the piston pins and main and connecting rod
bearings.
 Additives for lubricants
The lubricants are seasoned by the addition of certain oil
soluble organic compounds containing inorganic elements
such as phosphorus,sulphur,amine derivatives
Additives are added to impart the following characteristics:
i)anti-oxidant and anti corrosive agents
ii)Detergent-dispersant
iii)Extreme pressure additives
iv)Pour point depressors
v)Viscosity index improvers
vi)Antifoam agent
vii)Oilness and film strength agents
Full force feed system
 Dry sump lubricating system
 In this system the supply of oil is carried in an
external tank. Oil dripping from the cylinders and
bearings is removed by scavenging pump, passed
through a filter and is returned to the supply tank.
Oil is prevented from accumulating in the base of
the engine by choosing a scavenging pump of
capacity greater than the oil pump. The oil pump
draws oil from the supply tank and circulates it
under pressure to the engine bearings.
 CONCLUSION
 Thus, lubrication
1. Reduces friction
2. Cools various engine parts
3. Seals the combustion chamber
4. Cleans the engine
5. Aids in preventing corrosion
6. Serves as a cushion between impacting parts