Tribometer investigation of the frictional response of piston rings with lubricant contaminated with the gasoline engine biofuel ethanol and water

Abstract

Ethanol is considered a potential long-term replacement for gasoline but information on the impact of ethanol on engine lubricant performance is scarce. Therefore, it is of prime importance to investigate the effect of ethanol on lubricants and engines that currently operate on gasoline. A bench-top test programme was undertaken on a modified Plint TE77 reciprocating tribometer to simulate the piston ring and cylinder wall interface. The Taguchi statistical experimental design method was used to quantify the effect of ethanol and the associated water contamination on friction with a commercially available fully formulated lubricant. Control factors and potential interactions were selected based on the TE77 capability and typical gasoline engine operating conditions. The statistical results show that while independently ethanol does not significantly contribute to friction reduction, the independent contribution from water is moderate when compared with the combined effect of ethanol and water. The water–temperature and load–speed interactions provide a small contribution to friction reduction while the ethanol–load and temperature–load interactions contribute moderately to the same.

Keywords

biofuel ethanol water lubricant gasoline engine piston rings cylinder liners friction tribometer Taguchi method

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