Here Is Information On Aircraft Turbine Oil

By Sharon Davis


The turbine aircraft engine was invented and put to use first in the 1940s. During that time, mineral oils were used for purposes of lubricating the engine, but that would later prove to be problematic. The problem was brought about by the fact that the oils reached their limits of capability within a short period of time. That made it necessary for further research to be conducted so as to unveil better aircraft engine oils. Here are facts regarding Aircraft turbine oil.

When the research was concluded, synthetic oil technology was unveiled. The research in those early days was primarily performed by the military and type I or 3 centistroke jet oils were produced. Type I oils are fully synthetic oils, which are based on esters. In the beginning, these oils worked perfectly because jet engines of those days were not very powerful and did not produce too much heat like modern engines.

In the late 1950s and the first few years of the 1960s, however, there was increased development in as far as engine technology was concerned. This led to development of newer engines that yielded more heat and power. This led to type I oils also reaching their limits of capability faster than before. Formation of heavy oil deposits inside the engine, also called coking became a problem with type I oils. Coking made it necessary for more frequent maintenance and placement of oils on fixed drain intervals.

The shortcomings of the type I oils necessitated more research aimed at coming up with improved technology for engine oils. This gave rise to type II oils, which later on were referred to as second generation engine oils while type I were referred to as first generation. Type II jet oils, just like type I jet oils are made of synthetics based on esters.

Type II jet oils have proven to be quite useful because they are currently adopted by all turbine powered aircraft in the world. They are being used and sold at the moment as the most technically and commercially successful and long-lived oils to ever be developed by the aviation industry. However, in order for them to have the level of efficiency that they have, they must be used together with additives.

Type II oils are also developed from upgraded esters than those in type I. They are able to achieve a 38 degree Celsius increase over type I in hot temperature limits. Unlike the case in type I oils, they are capable of helping to reduce the necessity for more regular oil drains in jet engines.

The truth is that the invention of both types I and II jet oils saved the aviation industry. Without proper lubrication, jet engine would fail within minutes of taking off. Thus, with the oils, friction losses that happen to the engine are kept to a minimum. Friction losses are minimized taking into consideration several factors that include time of year, climate, ambient temperature, engine usage, engine design, and location among others.

Jet oils have several functions that they perform inside the engine. These include corrosion protection, cooling, noise reduction, sealing, lubrication, and maintenance of constant propeller blade operation. Of all these functions, lubrication is the most important. Oils form a layer between parts that reduces friction.




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