Lubrication is an important function that sustains the life of an engine. Lubricants help in reducing friction and wear of the parts of the engine. Lack of lubrication can lead to corrosion and formation of rust on the engine of an airplane. All engines require lubrication regardless of the frequency of their use. Airplanes that are frequently used can have issues of rust formation and corrosion (EAI, 2015). The idle airplanes have a higher risk of rust formation and corrosion compared to the airplanes that are frequently used. It is easier to lubricate and maintain airplanes that are on frequent use because the pilot can notice if the plane has reduced its performance. Another reason is that the airplanes carry many people, and engine failure while on flight can lead to the death of many people.
The lubricating system of an airplane involves lubrication, cooling, sealing, cleaning and suspending (Kollin, 2015). The lubricant used on a plane cleans the ring belt area as well as providing a better control of the heating process. The ease of movement of the rings increase the efficiency of the engine; improves the sealing process of the rings; enable the plane to consumer less oil; and makes the engine to produce less blow-by (Kollin, 2015). On the other hand, a dirty ring makes it hard for the rings to move within the grooves. This makes it hard for the rings to seal properly. Lack of proper sealing creates pressure between the cylinder wall and the face of the ring. Consequently there is wear, scuffing, or scarring.
Aviation lubricants are known for cooling the airplane engine. The airplane engines rely more on oil to cool their engines rather than water (Tucker, 1998). The oil used in airplanes carry the greater percentage of the heat emitted by the airplane engine. Oil is used as a medium for transferring heat across the air coolers and the crankcase. The oil is also used to dissipate heat from the movable parts of the engine. The piston rings and engine bearings are constantly cooled due to this constant flow of oil. The cooling oil film left on the cylinder wall of the engine gives the rings a good path for transferring heat. Lack of an oil lubricant on the walls of the cylinder can lead to problems such as scarring, galling, and melting (Tucker, 1998). The oil is also used to cool the valve springs as well as the entire valve train.
The oil in the airplane engine also helps in sealing various parts of the airplane engines (Kollin, 2015). The oil provides seals the rings from the cylinder walls. It also helps in sealing the synthetic or rubber seals of the crankshaft and the gasketed areas. The oil does this by washing around these areas of the airplane engine and helps in retaining the seal. It is important for the aviation oil to have a blend that is compatible with the materials used for the seals so as to enhance the lifespan of the seals.
The lubricating properties are considered the most important elements of the aviation oil. The airplane engines require proper lubrication so as to reduce friction and wear. A proper process of lubrication will require an oil film that is thick and strong enough to prevent the problems of rusting, corrosion, scarring, melting, and scuffing (Tucker, 1998). The movable parts of the engine will require strong lubrication because they are constantly rubbing against each other. Lubrication does not eliminate the problem of friction and wear, but it helps in reducing these problems.
The oil properties include dynamic form; elastohdrodynamic form; hydrodynamic form; and mixed or boundary film (Tucker, 1998). The mixed or boundary film lubrication is usually applied on the upper cylinder area that is found on the outer boundary of an airplane engine. That position is very remote, and most of the time the oil rings end up scrapping out the oil film on the cylinder walls before the oil can reach the upper cylinder. This problem is solved by placing a residual quantity of the lubricant in the upper cylinder so as to protect the engine when it is being started.
The dynamic lubrication is created when pressure is generated by the oil pump. The pressure enables the oil to flow adequately through the lubrication system of the airplane engine. Hydrodynamic lubrication creates a smooth surface where the moving parts of the engine can ride so as to prevent the moving parts of the engine from having direct contact with each other. This characteristic of hydrodynamic lubrication is compared to water skiing (Tucker, 1998). The lubrication involves the provision of full films of oil. The supply of oil has to be constant so as to ensure that the moving parts do not come into contact with each other. The constant lubricating oil films between the moving parts may cause them to rub against each other. This may lead to slight wears that will take many years before they wear out that part of the airplane engine.
The airplane engines wear out if the surfaces do not have oil (EAI, 2015). The chance of that happening is when an airplane stays idle for a long time. A hydrodynamic lubrication cannot be provided unless the engine is warmed up. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication occurs when the oil functions like a solid (Tucker, 1998). This can occur where a lot of force is required instantly. Oil functions like a solid when the parts of the engine hit it very fast. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication is able to protect the engine for that instant when it is needed.
Works Cited
Tucker, Harold. Principles of Aircraft Engine Lubrication. 1 Jul. 1998. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. http://www.aviationpros.com/article/10389102/principles-of-aircraft-engine-lubrication
EAI. Engine Lubrication. 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. http://www.experimentalaircraft.info/articles/engine-lubrication.php
Kollin, Edward. Aircraft Engine Lubrication. 2015. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. http://paft-nj.org/POWERPOINTS/PDF_FILES/AIRCRAFT_ENGINE_LUBRICATION.pdf
