Tribological evaluation of coconut oil as an environment-friendly lubricant

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 350 - 354
• Main Authors: Jayadas, N.H., Prabhakaran Nair, K, G, Ajithkumar
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Coconut oil; Exact sciences and technology; Four-ball tester; Friction, wear, lubrication; Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Wear test; Coconut oil; Wear test; Four-ball tester; Lubricating oil; Motor car; Coconut; EP additive; Mineral oil; Vegetable oil; Experimental study; Lubricant; Two stroke engine; Antiwear additive; Lubricant additive; Wear; Automobile industry; Four ball machine; Environmental effect; Internal combustion engine; Tribology
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2005.09.021

Increased concerns about environmental damage caused by mineral oil based lubricants, has created a growing worldwide trend of promoting vegetable oil as base oil for automobile lubricants. Coconut oil, which is abundantly available in southern states of India, is reportedly being widely used as two-stroke engine lubricant (2T oil) by autorikshaw 1 1 A tri-wheeled three seated vehicle powered by two stroke air cooled engine used as a taxi in India. drivers. A survey among the users of coconut oil as 2T oil brought forth complaints of increased engine wear. This paper presents tribological properties of coconut oil evaluated using a four-ball tester and a test rig to test the wear on two stroke engines. The influence of an antiwear/extreme pressure (AW/EP) additive on the tribological performance of coconut oil was also evaluated experimentally. The addition of the AW/EP additive has brought about considerable reduction in wear with coconut oil as 2T oil.