Principles of Aircraft-Engine Lubrication

Lubrication, of any engine, is vital to its effective functioning and longevity. Without proper engine lubrication, you risk engine malfunctions and extreme wear and tear. This holds especially true for aircraft engines. Other functions of lubricants include cleaning, cooling, sealing, and fighting corrosion and rust that could plague the engine if left unused or untreated for prolonged periods of time. Lubricants' amazing ability to keep engines clean is a major benefit. While the lubricant keeps the engine clean, it also maximizes efficiency of the engine to make sure you're getting the maximum output your engine is capable of.

Lubricants also keep the engine cool. As the many parts of an engine are constantly moving and touching, they generate friction and therefore heat, which can raise the temperature of the engine to dangerous levels. The lubricant limits friction between the moving parts to keep the engine running cool and efficiently. This being said, engine lubricant is vital to the operations and moving parts of an engine. Without it, the engine becomes dangerous and not fit to fly.

Engine lubricant also acts as a seal in the space between the rings and the cylinder walls. The lubricant used in an engine can be used on and around seals in parts such as the crankshaft, protecting and retaining the seal. This being said, it's important to know the properties of the lubricant that you need. If it's not thick enough, it can put too much pressure on the seal and render the engine useless. If the formula is wrong, the seal could be corroded instead of protected. Properties include mixed film, dynamic, hydrodynamic, and electrohydrodynamic. Be sure to have the correct properties to avoid a potential malfunction.