The use of oil-soluble organo-molybdenum compounds in engine oils can help in fuel conservation by reducing engine friction and increase durability by improving wear characteristics. The tribological behaviour of molybdenum dialkyldithiophosphate (MoDDP) was studied with a SRV Optimol tester under reciprocating sliding conditions. The studies were conducted under nonconformal contact conditions on En-31 steel and conformal contact conditions on piston ring and liner materials. The results indicated that the frictional behaviour of these additives is shear sensitive. Shear sensitivity is influenced by materials, operating conditions and the interaction of MoDDP with additives present in the oil. MoDDP when used in base oil was found to increase the scuff resistance of ring and liner materials. The use of the additive reduced friction and wear (running in as well as normal) under nonconformal contact conditions, while under conformal contact conditions its effect was selective and limited. piston rings and valve train. Figure 2 9 shows the proportional contribution of the components' friction to the total frictional losses of a gasoline engine, and possible reductions. The top 30% of the stroke of the uppermost piston ring during the power stroke is under boundary-or mixed-lubrication regime conditions and 60% of the total frictional losses of piston rings are attributed to boundary regime. 9 In a mixed-film lubrication regime up to 50% reduction in friction is possible if friction modifiers are added to engine oils. But in actual practice much lower reductions are achieved, because of the dependence of the effectiveness of additives on operating conditions. 13 The present study was carried out on tribological behaviour of two different soluble molybdenum additives in base and engine oils under reciprocating sliding conditions on a SRV Optimol tester. The studies were conducted in non-conformal and conformal contacts. In nonconformal contact conditions tests were conducted with En-31 steel in point and line contact to study:• frictional behaviour • the influence of sliding velocity on friction (shear dependence), and • the wear behaviour of MoDDP additives. Figure 3. Friction force trace under different lubrication conditions.
Conformal Contact: Ring and Liner MaterialThe requirements of the SRV tester are such that it accommodates the stationary part in the form of an 8 mm thick, 24 mm diameter disc, while the reciprocating part can be mounted on attachments for ball, roller or annular rings of specific dimensions. For present purposes, discs were cut from cylinder liner using a special tool, on a vertical drilling machine. A number of discs were obtained by shifting and rotating the liner. The curvature on the inner side was retained while the outer surface was accurately flattened by polishing it by mounting the discs on a specially designed plate.The piston-ring piece was to be mounted on the upper reciprocating part of the SRV so as to simulate contact. Since the liner discs were thinner, a roller of 17 mm dia...