3 Engine Lubrication System

3.1 General

Within a turbofan engine the lubrication system serves several functions

essential to the safe and reliable operation of the engine. These functions
are:
• Lubrication of the rotor bearings
• Lubrication of the gears and bearings of the gearboxes
• Cooling of the bearings especially in the turbine area
• Removal of the contaminants from the lubricant
• Support of the sealing of the carbon bearing seals
• Supplying of a squeeze film between the bearing outer races and their
housings for oil dampened bearings. Oil damping dampens the transmis-
sion of dynamic loads of the rotors to the casings. This feature reduces
the vibration levels and the fatigue loads for the casings.
The lubricant reduces friction by replacing solid friction with fluid fric-
tion. Thus it must be able to provide a stable film between metal surfaces
moving relative to each other at high relative velocities under high loads
and high temperatures.

3.1.1 Properties of Engine Oil

Generally low viscosity synthetic lubricants and no mineral oils are used in
turbine engines because synthetic oils retain their lubricating properties
and are more resistant to oxidation at high temperatures. These oils also
have better characteristics concerning thermal stability and the viscosity.
The oils used for turbine engines are required to operate over a wide
range of temperatures. Temperatures from minus 40°C to more than 250°C
for maximum bearing temperatures are possible.
Today oil of the fourth generation of synthetic oils is available. Accord-
ing to the development generation the oils are designated as Type 2, Type
3 or Type 4 oils. Type 2 oils are still available and in use.
The main characteristics of engine oil are:
50 3 Engine Lubrication System

• Viscosity
• Pour point
• Flash point
• Pressure resistance
• Oxidation resistance
• Thermal stability

3.1.1.1 Viscosity
The viscosity is the most important characteristic of engine oil. It is a
measure of the internal resistance of a fluid to deform under shear stress. It
is commonly perceived as “thickness” or resistance to flow. Viscosity de-
scribes a fluid’s internal resistance to flow and may be thought of as a
measure of fluid friction.
The viscosity of the oil depends on the temperature of the oil. It is high
at low temperatures and vice versa. This means that warm oil with a low
viscosity has a low internal resistance. A low internal resistance is an ad-
vantage, but if the viscosity gets too low, the load carrying capability of
the oil decreases and the oil film can no longer separate the moving sur-
faces. Thus the lubrication capability is no longer ensured. The viscosity is
usually measured in centistokes (cS). The viscosity of a typical Type 3 oil
is around 5.3 centistokes at 99° C and higher than 12,000 centistokes at a
temperature of
40° C.

3.1.1.2 Pour Point

The pour point of the oil is reached if it is cooled down to a temperature at
which the oil becomes so thick that it stops flowing. Typical Type 3 oils
for jet engines have a pour point of
62° C (-80°F). Thus, if the tempera-
ture is lower, the oil stops to flow.

3.1.1.3 Flash Point

The flash point of a flammable liquid (here engine oil) is the lowest tem-
perature at which it can form an ignitable mixture with air. It should be as
high as possible to avoid fire in the oil system. Typical Type 3 oils have a
flashpoint higher than 250° C (482°F).

3.1.1.4 Pressure Resistance

The pressure resistance or load carrying capability of the oil is an impor-
tant factor for the formation of an oil film between the moving parts. This