UnderstandingBasicLubricationRegimes

Alubricantsprimaryfunctionistoprovideadurablefilm
thatcontrolsfrictionandwearbetweensurfaces
however,thelevelofprotectionitprovidesisdictatedby
theconditionorregimeitworksunder.Lubricants
operateunderthreecommonlubricatingregimes:
01. Hydrodynamic(fullfilm)
02. ElastoHydrodynamic
03. Boundary

HydrodynamicLubrication
Ahydrodynamic,orfullfilm,lubricationregimeexists
whentwosurfacesarecompletelyseparatedbyan
unbrokenlubricantfilm.Thelubricantsviscosityassumesresponsibilityforthemajorityofwearprotectionadditivesplay
alimitedrole.Althoughfullfilmlubricationdoesnotgenerallyallowmetaltometalcontact,abrasivewearorscratching
canstilloccurifdirtparticlespenetratethelubricatingfilm.
Enginecomponentsoperatingunderafullfilmlubricationregimeincludethecrankshaft,camshaftandconnectingrod
bearings,andpistonpinbushings.Undernormalloads,transmissionandrearaxlebearingsalsooperateunderafull
filmregime.

ElastoHydrodynamicLubrication
Anelastohydrodynamiclubricationregimeexistswhenasudden
reductionoftheoilfilmcausesatemporaryincreaseinviscosity.When
viscosityincreases,thefilmcanbecomerigid,creatingatemporary
elasticdeformationofthesurfaces.Thelubricantsviscosityand
additivesworktogethertoprotectsurfacesinanelastohydrodynamic
regime.
Antiwearadditivesareoftenreliedupontoprotectenginebearingsin
highloadconditions,whilebothantiwearandextremepressure
additivesworktoprotectgearsinhighloadconditions.

BoundaryLubrication
Aboundarylubricationregimeexistswhenoccasionalmetaltometal
contacttakesplacebetweensurfaces,andthesurfacesarealmost
entirelydependentonthelubricantsadditivestoprovideprotection.
Antiwearadditivesprotectthecamlobes,cylinderwallsandpiston
ringsinenginehighloadconditions,whileantiwearandextreme
pressureadditivesprotectringandpiniongearsinrearaxles.
AMSOILsyntheticlubricantsarecarefullyformulatedwiththeoptimum
blendoftopqualitybasestocksandadditives,ensuringcomponents
receiveoutstandingprotection.