Engine Oil Quality Deterioration Estimation Using Integrated Sensory System

Abstract

Engine oil deterioration level affects working and performance of internal combustion engine. Hence, it is necessary to compare the deterioration level of engine oils, with focus on kinematic viscosity, oxidation, nitration etc. which are important oil testing parameters. If without quantifying the remaining useful life of the engine oil, it is changed too early, results in insufficient use of already depleting resources and also unwanted impact on environment while disposing. Changing the engine oil too late with deteriorated quality, will hamper the performance of engine. To determine optimum point for changing engine oil, in present study oil testing is carried out for vehicle which is due for servicing. The oil samples collected randomly from vehicles which came to an authorized service station for servicing covering a large range from the first servicing to the fifth servicing were tested. Oil samples were first tested by a viscometer and FTIR spectroscopy in a laboratory as per standard. The samples were then tested on a setup of sensors designed and developed by the authors. The results provided a fairly strong positive relationship between important engine oil deterioration parameters such as kinematic viscosity, oxidation and nitration with the determination coefficient R2 = 0.97.Out of total collected samples about 8% samples were within usable limit. The study uncovers different oil deterioration sensor methods which provide low cost, on-site handy solutions for oil condition monitoring and the forecasting of the remaining useful life of the engine oil.