ILMA Compoundings January 2017 - 30

In Infineum's
view, more education
is needed to explain
the benefits of marine
oils to powerboat
owners..."
current phosphorus limits will continue to
serve the interim needs of the industry.
Infineum regards gear pitting as an
important performance parameter. The
development of a well-defined gear
pitting test will enable clear differentiation between a properly formulated
motorcycle oil designed to protect the
gears, clutch and engine, and a passenger
car motor oil designed only to protect
the engine. When a test is included, there
may no longer be a need for the current
phosphorus requirement of between 800
ppm and 1,200 ppm. But, until then, the
current limits will continue to serve the
needs of the industry.
In Infineum's view, as fuel economy
becomes more of an interest to motorcycle
OEMs, the inclusion of a gear pitting test
that is relevant to the wear conditions
experienced in a motorcycle is increasingly
important. Currently, most motorcycle
oils are SAE 10W-40, but we are already
seeing a growing interest in lower-viscosity
grades. This trend makes wear control even
more of a challenge, and the gear pitting
test is needed to ensure adequate hardware
protection is delivered by these low-viscosity oils.
The next JASO T 903 four-stroke specification update is expected in 2021, following
the usual five-year cycle. Infineum expects
the development of a reliable gear pitting
test to be the top priority for the next
revision. Although there is still a long way
to go to finalize the test, Infineum hopes
that if an appropriate test can be developed
in the next year or two, JASO might not

JANUARY 2017

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

wait the full five years to bring it into the
specification.

LEISURE MARINE
In the leisure marine market, although
there has been a continued recovery in recent years, sales of pre owned boats exceed
those of new models.
With the steady transition of the global
powerboat engine population to 4-stroke
engines, which now compete head-to-head
with the 2-stroke engines that once defined
the market, the number of National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
certified FC-W® marine oils has increased
as oil marketers recognize the opportunity
for growth.
Most marketers expect the demand for
4T marine engine oils to be lower than
the 2T market of the past, by nature of
less oil consumption. However, the 4T
oil market could be further constrained
by owners who choose to use passenger
car motor oils in their powerboat engines
without understanding the advantages
marine oils provide.
Marine engine parts are subjected to
much more stress than those of a passenger
car and require more viscous oils to withstand the extreme shearing forces.
In Infineum's view, more education is
needed to explain the benefits of marine
oils to powerboat owners in order to
help them select NMMA certified FCW® oil, which will provide the extra level
of performance and protection their
engine needs. This education, coupled
with lube marketers increasing the availability of FC-W® oils at big box and auto
part stores, could help the 4T marine oil
market reach its full potential.

GAS ENGINES
Large stationary reciprocating engines
are increasingly being used to generate
electricity. As gas engine customers look to
maximize their return on investment, the
demand for engines with greater specific
power outputs is increasing. This desire

for improved efficiency, combined with
the need to reduce emissions, has spurred
gas engine manufacturers to introduce a
number of design changes to modern gas
engines. The latest high-efficiency engines
generally have tighter tolerances and
reduced clearances for engine components,
higher compression ratios, increased turbocharger pressures and improved combustion and valve timing.
However, despite these more challenging conditions, the latest gas engines
demand more protection from less lubricant. Not only is exceptional hardware
protection over longer oil drain intervals
required, but this also must be achieved
with reduced oil consumption, which
means that since there will be less top-up
with fresh lubricant, the oil needs to work
harder for longer.
These demands spark questions around
the ability of current additive technologies
to provide the same level of engine protection that is achieved in today's hardware
over the expected oil drain duration.
This uncertainty may result in shorter oil
drain intervals. This is a very undesirable
outcome for end users who are looking to
improve the return on their investment by
maximizing uptime, maximizing generating efficiency and reducing running costs.
To keep these latest engines reliably
in service longer, the formulation of the
lubricant additive system needs to be enhanced so that it provides better protection
in the increasingly challenging environment. Higher-quality lubricants can help
to maximize the performance of modern
gas engines and allow them to be operated
at higher temperatures and pressures for
longer periods without increasing the risk
of engine damage.
Next generation gas engine oils contain
a complex mixture of chemicals that
must be carefully balanced to protect the
engine over the required drain interval. To
support the additive package, the choice
of base oil is also crucial in defining robust
lubricating oils for future engine demands.

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ILMA Compoundings January 2017

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