Lubricants News and Updates

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Marinas

Marine Engine Lubrication Basics: Tech Tip of the Month

 

Lubrication is essential for any kind of machinery onboard ships. The lubricant’s function in a Marine Engine is reduce friction, cool the internal parts, and assist in removing any debris or impurities.

There are a few main types of lubrication systems used:

  • Hydrodynamic Lubrication: In this type of lubrication, the oil forms a continuous oil film of adequate thickness between the moving surfaces. The film is formed due to the motion of the moving parts and the self-generated pressure. For example, journal bearings of Main Engine have hydrodynamic lubrication. A film is formed between the main bearing and the journal of the crankshaft with the help of a wedge formed by the rotating shaft. Thrust bearings with a tilted pad design also have this type of lubrication as they form a converging wedge to obtain hydrodynamic lubrication.
  • Hydrostatic Lubrication: Where oil film cannot be formed due to the motion of moving parts, the oil pressure has to be supplied externally. Such type of lubrication is known as Hydrostatic lubrication. For slow-moving heavy parts, their relative motion is not enough to provide self-generated pressure for lubrication and hence pressure is provided externally with the help of a pump. For example, many crosshead bearings design requires an additional crosshead lubrication pump to boost the pressure for crosshead bearing lubrication because the pressure cannot be self-generated.
  • Boundary Lubrication: In this type, there is a thin film between two rubbing surfaces, which might have a surface contact. Boundary lubrication is used because of relatively slow speeds, high contact pressure and rough surfaces. For example, boundary lubrication in main engines occur during starting and stopping due to the above-mentioned conditions.
  • Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication: In this type of lubrication, the lubricating film thickness considerably changes with elastic deformation of surfaces. This is seen in-line or at the point of contact between rolling or sliding surfaces, for example, rolling contact bearings and meshing gear teeth. Elastic deformation of metal occurs and there is an effect of high pressure on the lubricant.

 

The ability of an oil to react with an acidic reagent, which indicates the alkalinity, is expressed as TBN. It stands for Total Base Number. It should correspond to the sulphur percentage of fuel oil to neutralise the acidic effect of combustion. When high sulphur fuel oil is used for Main engines, a high TBN grade of cylinder oil needs to be used. When the main engine is a “change-over” to Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) or Low Sulphur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO), low TBN cylinder oil needs to be used.

 

Correct lubrication is essential for efficient engine operation, minimize lubricating oil costs, and optimize maintenance costs. It is essential that the cylinder lubricators are correctly set and that the correct cylinder lubricating oil is used for the fuel being burned.

 

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Why are Environmentally Friendly Lubes Important for Vessels?

There have been a lot of questions regarding Marine vessel lubricants and the VGP regulations on them, so we thought it would be a good idea to lay out some of the fundamentals on the topic. The VGP regulations on vessels requires that vessel operators replace conventional lubricants with environmentally friendly options whenever possible. 

The concern isn't so much spills as normal amounts of lubricants lost in vessel operation, such as from stern tubes. A 2011 study by the European Commission DG Joint Research Centre actually found that routine operational lubricant discharge created more pollution in the Mediterranean Sea than accidental spills did. That's pretty significant!

By using more environmentally friendly products, operators can minimize damage to the environment while still meeting lubrication needs. 

Key issues are if a product is biodegradeable - either readily or inherently, whether its toxic to the aquatic environment, and how much bioaccumulation compounds in the product cause (how much it will build up in living tissue over time). For example, conventional petroleum based lubricants have the potential to bioaccumulate, don't biodegrade well, and can be highly toxic to the aquatic environment. In contrast, PAG, synthetic ester, and vegetable oil based Environmentally friendly lubricants biodegrade readily, have low toxicity to the aquatic environment, and do not bioaccumulate. So in that context, it makes a lot of sense to switch as much vessel lubrication as possible away from conventional lubes. 

In future posts we'll get more in depth on what different products meet VGP requirements, as well as what different parts of the regulation mean to different businesses and vessel types.

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Fall Lubricants Pricing Specials for 2012

Its still August, but we are ready to roll out our Fall Pricing Specials for the Lube Division.

We're pleased to offer Citgo Citgard 700 Synthetic Blend 15w40 Diesel Engine Oil  in 4-1 Gallon Cases.

citgard 700

We're also offering deals on Valvtect, Diesel Fuel Supplement, Two Cycle Oil, SAE 30, SAE 40, and Oil Eater Products.

    Oil Eater product line          Power Service Diesel Additives logo       Valvtect logo

To view our fall pricing specials, click the following link: 

Dont forget - until September rolls on in, you can still save 5% off your entire Bioblend order for first time Bioblend customers!

Various containers of Bioblend with the bioblend logo

As always, feel free to call us with any questions at 617-884-7800, where any of our dedicated Customer Service Reps can answer all your questions. You can also email us anytime at lubeorders@burkeoil.com to ask a question, or place an order.

Enjoy these last days of beautiful New England summer weather!

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Hey Mr Marina - Why the Name Brand?

From talking to many marinas this week I was floored on how much an OEM is charging for 2-cycle outboard engine oil.  Its insane!!! 

What buyers do not understand is that as long as the brand of oil meets that engine's requirements (it is usually a TCW-3), it  should work.  We carry a great 2-cycle oil that meets the requirements of honda, mercury, evinrude and much more.

We also carry BioBlends BioMotive 2C, a readily biodegradeable, environmentally friendly and fully synthetic 2 Cycle Oil. 

Cityscape picture of Boston Marina

Happy boating!

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