Drop of knowledge #16

Ecol Laboratory – what happened in April?

1. 1. Technical basics of engine oil selection →
2. 2. Information about laboratory work (May 2) →
3. 3. Upcoming conferences we are attending: →
4. 4. Element of the month →

1. Technical basics of engine oil selection

Selecting the right engine oil is not only a matter of viscosity, but also compliance with technical specifications imposed by SAE, API and ACEA standards.

In this article we present the current quality and viscosity grades of engine oils, along with their practical application in spark-ignition and compression-ignition units.

Clear summaries and technical commentary will help you accurately identify a lubricant for specific operating conditions.

2. Information about laboratory work (May 2)

🌻 On May 2, our laboratory will be closed. 🌷

All orders and inquiries will be processed from May 5 (Monday).

Thank you for your understanding and we wish you a happy May – lots of sun, rest and time to do what you like most!

4. Element of the month

Lead (Pb, Latin: Plumbum) – a metal with high density, good flowability and low coefficient of friction. It is the main element of bearing alloys (Babbit).

→ It is self-lubricating, which is particularly useful in emergency situations where the lubricating film is interrupted. Even a slight increase in its content in the oil can indicate the occurrence of wear in the mating parts of the system.

→ The presence of lead in oils of piston aircraft engines can come from aviation fuel (avgas). It is used as an additive to reduce detrimental knocking due to the octane-raising properties.

→ In aviation, fully synthetic PAO (poly-alpha-olefin) engine oils have limited ability of compounds formed by the combustion of lead-added mixtures, which leads to the formation of difficult-to-solubilise deposits on engine components.