Harsh Parihar

0818ME181009
Practical No. 1

Aim: Study of Lubricating System in CI Engines.

Theory:
Lubrication is the action of applying a substance such as oil or
grease to an engine or component so as to minimize friction
and allow smooth movement. Lubrication System Lubricating
system is a mechanical system of lubricating internal
combustion engines in which a pump forces oil into the engine
bearings.

Lubricant Functions:
• Provide a film of lubricant between the moving parts of the
engine to prevent metal-to-metal contact.
• Create an oil film between the piston rings and cylinder wall
to ensure a gas tight seal.
• Remove and dissipate heat developed by the engine internals.
• Help keep the internal surfaces of the engine clean.

Properties of Lubricants:

• Viscosity - The ability of a lubricant (such as oil) to maintain a

fluid film between two surfaces when acted upon by load or
force. Viscosity is a measure of the oil’s resistance to flow. The
thicker the oil, the higher its viscosity.
• Viscosity Index - The viscosity of an oil is affected by
temperature. As the oil temperature increases, the viscosity
decreases. Viscosity index (VI) is a measure of the ability of the
oil to resist the effects of temperature.
• Pour Point - Refers to the temperature at which the oil is
considered to be too thick to flow. Since nuclear class diesels
are housed in a controlled environment and in most cases
provided with supplemental heat, pour point is a minor
concern.
• Oxidation Resistance - When oil is subjected to extremely
high temperatures such as those of the pistons, rings and
cylinder walls, the hydrocarbons in the oil combine with the
oxygen in the air to produce highly corrosive acids which tend
to form gum or lacquer type deposits on the engine’s internal
components.

Lubrication Systems:

The function of the lubrication system in a diesel engine is

twofold.
• First, it reduces wear and heat generation by placing a film of
lubricating oil between the parts of the engine.
• Second, it removes a portion of the heat generated as a
normal part of engine operation. This heat is then transferred
out of the lubricating oil system through the lube oil heat
exchanger.

Major Components of Lube Oil System of

Diesel Engine

The lube oil system of the diesel engines lubricates the rotating
and moving parts and gears of the engine to minimize the
effects of metal to metal contact that causes both sliding and
rolling types of friction, and to absorb great amount generated
heat to achieve smooth performance and lengthening the life of
the internal parts of the engine.

Oil is accumulated and stored in the engine’s oil sump where

one or more oil pumps take a suction and pump the oil through
one or more oil filters.

The main parts of the lube oil system are listed below:

1. Oil Pumps
2. Oil Filters

3. Oil Cooler

4. Oil manifold

5. Oil Sump

 Oil Pumps details

The engine driven oil pump: usually positive displacement gear-

driven pump. It pulls oil from the lube oil pan (sump) and
supplies it to the engine when the engine is running.

Pre-lube oil pump: In the larger engines the pre-lube pump is

generally a close coupled, self-priming, positive displacement
pump of the rotary lobe or gear type.

 Oil Filters

The function of the filters is to clean the oil and remove any
metal that the oil has picked up due to wear, and depending on
its temperature it may pass through the oil coolers or not
before it goes to the engine bearing inside the engine through
the oil main gallery inside the cylinder block.

 Oil Cooler

The lube oil cooler assembly generally uses shell and tube heat
exchanger. Depending on the lube oil flow rate, a single heat
exchanger may be used or two or more units may be used.

 Oil Manifold

The oil galleries distribute the oil to all the bearings surfaces in
the engine.

 Oil Sump

The oil sump is where the oil is accumulated and stored in the
engine.

Lubrication features of a large diesel

engine:
• In some engines such as long and superlong stroke
engines, the piston is not directly connected to the crank
pin via a connecting rod.
• The piston has a piston rod extending from the bottom of
the piston.
• The piston rod is then connected to the connecting rod at
the crosshead bearing.
• The crosshead bearing has a to and fro motion and
therefore a continuous hydrodynamic film cannot form.
• Therefore oil has to be pumped to the crosshead bearing
at a predetermined pressure in order to take the loads of
compression and combustion.
• The crosshead is connected to the crank pin via a
connecting rod.
 Ref:
Piston
http://www.marinediesels.in
fo/2_stroke_engine_parts/cr
osshead.htm Piston rings
Piston skirt

Platform separating cylinder Piston rod

from crank case
Stuffing box

Crosshead, crosshead
bearing (reciprocating)
Oil pumped at
a certain
pressure Connecting rod

Crank pin, bottom end

bearing (rotatory
motion) Journal, journal bearing
(rotatory motion)
Web 2