LUBRICATION SYSTEM

I.C engine is made of many moving parts. Due to continuous movement of two metallic
surfaces over each other, there is wearing moving parts, generation of heat and loss of
power in the engine lubrication of moving parts is essential to prevent all these
harmful effects.
PURPOSE OF LUBRICATION
Lubrication produces the following effects: (a) Reducing friction effect (b) Cooling effect
(c) Sealing effect and (d) Cleaning effect.
(a) Reducing frictional effect: The primary purpose of the lubrication is to reduce
friction and wear between two rubbing surfaces. Two rubbing surfaces always produce
friction. The continuous friction produce heat which causes wearing of parts and loss
of power. In order to avoid friction, the contact of two sliding surfaces must be reduced

movement of two metal surfaces over each other.

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as far as possible. This can be done by proper lubrication only. Lubrication forms an oil
film between two moving surfaces. Lubrication also reduces noise produced by the

(b) Cooling effect: The heat, generated by piston, cylinder, and bearings is removed by

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lubrication to a great extent. Lubrication creates cooling effect on the engine parts.
(c) Sealing effect: The lubricant enters into the gap between the cylinder liner, piston
and piston rings. Thus, it prevents leakage of gases from the engine cylinder.
(d) Cleaning effect: Lubrication keeps the engine clean by removing dirt or carbon from

TYPES OF LUBRICANTS G
inside of the engine along with the oil.

Lubricants are obtained from animal fat, vegetables and minerals Lubricants made of
animal fat, does not stand much heat. It becomes waxy and gummy which is not very
suitable for machines.
Vegetable lubricants are obtained from seeds, fruits and plants. Cottonseed oil, olive oil,
linseed oil and castor oil are used as lubricant in small Simple machines.
Mineral lubricants are most popular for engines and machines. It is obtained from
crude petroleum found in nature. Petroleum lubricants are less expensive and suitable
for internal combustion engines. A good lubricant should have the following qualities:
1. It should have sufficient viscosity to keep the rubbing surfaces apart
2. It should remain stable under changing temperatures.
3. It should keep lubricated pans clean.
4. It should not corrode metallic surfaces
.
ENGINE LUBRICATING SYSTEM
The lubricating system of an engine is an arrangement of mechanism and devices
which maintains supply of lubricating oil to the rubbing surface of an engine at correct
pressure and temperature.
The parts which require lubrication are:
(i) cylinder walls and piston
(ii) piston pin
(iii) crankshaft and connecting rod bearings
(iv) camshaft bearings
(v) valves and valve operating mechanism
(vi) cooling fan
(vii) water pump and
(viii) ignition mechanism.

(i) Splash system

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(iii) Combination of splash and forced feed system.
SPLASH SYSTEM
In this system, there is an oil trough, provided below the connecting rod. Oil is
maintained at a uniform level in the oil trough. This is obtained by maintaining a

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continuous flow of oil from the oil sump or reservoir into a splash pan, which has a
depression or a trough like arrangement under each connecting rod. This pan receives
its oil supply from the oil sump either by means of a gear pump or by gravity. A dipper
is provided at the lower end of the connecting rod. This dipper dips into to oil trough
and splashes oil out of the pan. The splashing action of oil maintains a fog or mist of oil
that drenches the inner parts of the engine such as bearings, cylinder walls, pistons,
piston pins, timing gears etc. This system is usually used on single cylinder engine with
closes crankcase .For effective functioning of the engine, proper level of oil maintained
in the oil pan.
Lubrication depends largely upon the size of oil holes and clearances. This system is
very effective if the oil is clean and undiluted. Its disadvantages are that lubrication is
not very uniform and when the rings are worn, the oil passes the piston into
combustion chamber, causing carbon deposition, blue smoke and spoiling the plugs.
There is every possibility that oil may become very thin through crankcase dilution. The
worn metal, dust and carbon may be collected in the oil chamber and be carried to
different parts of the engine, causing wear and tear.

FORCED FEED SYSTEM

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In this system, the oil is pumped directly to the crankshaft, connecting rod, piston pin,
timing gears and camshaft of the engine through suitable paths of oil. Usually the oil
first enters the main gallery, which may be a pipe or a channel in the crankcase casting.

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From this pipe, it goes to each of the main bearings through holes. From main bearings,
it goes to big end bearings of connecting rod through drilled holes in the crankshaft.
From there, it goes to lubricate the walls, pistons and rings. There is separate oil gallery
to lubricate timing gears. Lubricating oil pump is a positive displacement pump, usually

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gear type or vane' type. The oil also goes to valve stem and rocker arm shaft under
pressure through an oil gallery. The excess oil comes back from the cylinder head to the
crankcase. The pump discharges oil into oil pipes, oil galleries or ducts, leading different
parts of the engine. This system is commonly used on high speed multi-cylinder engine
in tractors, trucks and automobiles
COMBINATION OF SPLASH AND FORCED FEED SYSTEM
In this system, the engine component, which are subjected to very heavy load
are lubricated under forced pressure, such as main bearing connecting rod
bearing and camshaft bearing. The rest of the parts like cylinder liners, cams, tappets
etc are lubricated by splashed oil.
Oil pump
Oil pump is usually a gear type pump, used to force oil into the oil pipe. The pump is
driven by the camshaft of t engine. The lower end of the pump extends down into the
crankcase which is covered with a screen to check foreign particles. An oil pressure
gauge fitted in the line, indicates the oil pressure in the lubricating system. Lubricating
oil pump is a positive displacement pump.
OIL FILTER
Lubricating oil in an engine becomes contaminated with various materials such as dirt,

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metal particles and carbon. Oil filler removes the dirty elements of the oil in an
effective way. It is a type of strainer using cloth, paper, felt, wire screen or similar
elements. Some oil filter can be cleaned by washing, but in general old filters are
replaced by new filters at specified interval of time prescribed by manufacturers.

filter and (ii) By-pass filler.

(i) Full flow filter: In this filter the entire quantity of oil is forced to circulate through it

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before it enters the engine. A spring loaded valve is usually fitted in the filter as a
protection device against oil starvation in case of filter getting clogged. Filter element
consists of felt, cloth, paper and plastic. All these elements are replaceable and should
be changed after the recommended period.
(ii) By pass filter: In this type of filter, the supply lines are from the pump and are
connected to permit only a part of the oil. Through the filter the balance oil reaches
directly to the engine parts. Over a period of operation, all the oil in the crankcase
passes through the filter.
Oil pressure gauge:
Oil pressure gauge is used to indicate the oil pressure in the oil lines. It serves to warn
the operator of any irregularity in the system.
Crankcase breather:
The engine crankcase is always fitted with some kind of breather, connecting the space
above the oil level with the outside atmosphere. The purpose of the breather is to
prevent building up pressure in the crankcase.
Relief valve:
Relief valve is provided to control the quantity of oil circulation and to maintain
correct pressure in the lubricating system.
TROUBLES IN LUBRICATION SYSTEM
There are a few common troubles in lubrication system such as:
(1) Excessive oil consumption
(2) Low oil pressure and
(3) Excessive oil pressure-
Excessive oil consumption: When there is excessive oil consumption in the engine, the
reasons arc: (a) more oil goes to combustion chamber and gets burnt (b) some leakage
occurs in some part of oil line and (c) loss of oil in form of vapor through ventilating
system. Oil can enter the combustion chamber through rings and cylinder walls, worn
piston rings and worn bearings.

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Low oil pressure: Low oil pressure can result due to: (i) weak relief valve spring (ii)
worn oil pump (iii)cracked oil line (iv) obstruction in the oil lines (v) very thin oil and (vi)
worn out bearings. Care should be taken to remove these defects as far as possible to
increase the oil pressure in the lubricating system. Sometimes defective oil pressure

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indicator shows low oil pressure. This should be checked.
Excessive oil pressure: Excessive oil pressure may result due to : (i) stuck relief valve (ii)
strong valve spring (iii) clogged oil line and (iv) very heavy oil.
These defects should be removed to reduce the excessive oil pressure in the lubricating

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system. Sometimes defective oil pressure indicator records high oil pressure. Care
should be taken to check this defect.