An experimental study on fuel energy saving in gasoline engines using GNP as a lubricant additive

Abstract

This study concentrates on enhancing the performance of the gasoline engine through nano-lubrication. The effect of Graphene nano-platelets (GNP) as lubricant additives in SAE 15W40 oil on the fuel energy consumption and piston ring wear is investigated. GNP-filled lubricating oil boosted the brake strength, engine torque, and mechanical efficiency, whereas the gasoline engine’s brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreased by 5.3%–6.5% due to a 1.7%–3.46% improvement in engine mechanical efficiency. Further, emission results showed that the GNP-filled lubricating oil reduced the emissions of the engine by approximately 3%–6% as compared to the virgin lubricating oil. Furthermore, the piston ring wear was found to reduce by using GNP-filled nano-lubricant. The characterization of the worn piston ring surfaces showed that the tribo-film formed on wear tracks resulted in the improved performance of the engine thereby reducing abrasive wear and surface roughness. From these studies, an attempt has been made to co-relate engine performance characteristics with tribological perception to contribute in the direction of energy savings and fuel economy.