MACHINERY LUBRICATION- INDIA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2019 | Page 6

Jim Fitch | Noria Corporation
AS I SEE IT
UNDERSTANDING
How Engines
CONSUME OIL
H
igh
consumption
of
engine oil is almost always
a
symptom
or
consequence of another
condition of even greater
importance. This article will address
this issue from the standpoint of oil loss
through combustion pathways (versus
leakage). While the focus will be more
on diesel engines used in industrial and
commercial service, much of what will
be discussed applies equally well to
personal automobiles and natural gas
engines.
The causes of high oil consumption are
many and complex. Because this
consumption is symptomatic of other
conditions, there is a need to be aware
of changes in the oil consumption rate.
These changes should be viewed in the
context of other data and factors,
including oil analysis, visual exhaust,
engine service life (from last rebuild),
boost pressures, running temperature,
By itself, oil consumption is a well-
known source of harmful emissions to
the atmosphere (see the sidebar on
page 4). Unburned or partially burned
oil is released through the exhaust path
in the form of hydrocarbons and
particulate
contamination
(soot).
Additionally, motor oil anti-wear
additives are known to poison or at
least impair the performance of
catalytic converters. The more oil
consumed through the combustion
chamber, the greater this poisoning
risk/effect.
This
escalates
the
environmental impact further.
4 | September - October 2019 |
www.machinerylubricationindia.com
load/RACK, blow-by and operating
conditions. Oil analysis will be discussed
in terms of the correlation and meaning
of common trends and how they might
be useful for troubleshooting purposes.
Causes of High Oil
Consumption
Understanding
oil
transport
mechanisms is necessary to prevent oil