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Glossary

TERMS AND ACRONYMS RELATING TO THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY & TO LUBRICANTS.

A

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AAMA

The American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is a trade association that represents car manufacturers headquartered in the United States.
After the purchase of Chrysler by German Daimler-Benz the organization has been dissolved on December 31, 1998.

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absolute viscosity

the ratio of shear stress to shear rate.
It is a fluid’s internal resistance to flow.  

The common unit of absolute viscosity is the poise (see viscosity).

Absolute  viscosity  divided  by the fluid’s density equals kinematic viscosity.

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absorber oil

oil used to selectively absorb heavier hydrocarbon components from a gas mixture. Also called wash oil or scrubber oil.

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absorption

process by, which one substance draws into itself another substance;

the assimilation of one material into another;

in petroleum refining, the use of an absorptive liquid to selectively remove components from a process stream.

Examples: a sponge picking up water; an oil recovering gasoline from wet natural gas.

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ACEA

Association des Constructeurs Europeens Automobiles
(Association of the European Automobile Manufacturers) is the new association of the European automobile manufacturers, formed in February 1991. ACEA is engaged in a broad range of activities including safety and environmental concerns and any regulations which have a direct impact on the European automobile industry. ACEA members are all the European motor vehicle manufacturers including Ford Europe, GM Europe, Scania, and Volvo. At present, only Peugeot is not a member of ACEA but cooperates with ACEA in the field of lubricating oils and fuels.

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acid

A member of an important and fundamental category of chemical substances characterized by having an available reactive hydrogen and requiring an alkali to neutralize them. Acid solutions usually have a sour, biting, and tart taste, like vinegar. pH is less than 7.

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acid sludge

The residue left after treating petroleum oil with sulfuric acid for the removal of impurities. It is a black, viscous substance containing the spent acid and impurities.

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acid treating

A refining process in which unfinished petroleum products, such as gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oil stocks, are contacted with sulfuric acid to improve their color, odor, and other properties.

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acidity

The amount of free acid in any substance.

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additive

An agent or chemical substance added to a product and used for imparting new, or for improving existing characteristics of lubricating oils or greases.

Common petroleum product additives are:

bulletanti-foam agent
bulletanti-icing additive
bulletanti-oxidant
bulletanti-wear additive
bulletcorrosion inhibitor
bulletdemulsifier
bulletdetergent
bulletdispersant
bulletemulsifier
bulletEP additive
bulletfluidizer
bulletoiliness agent
bulletoxidation inhibitor
bulletpour point depressant
bulletrust inhibitor
bullettackiness agent
bulletviscosity index (V.I.) improver

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additive level

The total percentage of all additives in an oil. (Expressed in % of mass [weight] or % of volume)

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adhesion

The force or forces causing two materials such as a lubricating grease and a metal, to stick together.

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adsorption

adhesion of the molecules of gases, liquids, or dissolved substances to a solid surface, resulting in relatively high concentration of the molecules at the place of contact; e.g., the plating out of an anti-wear-additive on metal surfaces.

Also, any refining process in which a gas or a liquid is contacted with a solid, causing some compounds of the gas or liquid to adhere to the solid; e.g., contacting of lube oils with activated clay to improve color.

See clay filtration

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aerosol

a highly dispersed suspension (Colloidal System) of fine solid or liquid particles in a gas.

Petroleum solvents are commonly used either as carriers or as vapor pressure depressants in packaged aerosol specialty products. Petroleum products are also applied in aerosol form in agricultural oil applications and oil mist lubrication.

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AFV

Alternate Fuel Vehicle

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AGMA

American Gear Manufacturers Association

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AIAM

Alliance of International Auto Manufacturers (AIAM)

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air entrainment

The incorporation of air in the form of bubbles as a dispersed phase in the bulk liquid. Air may be entrained in a liquid through mechanical means and/or by release of dissolved air due to a sudden change in environment. The presence of entrained air is usually readily apparent from the appearance of the liquid (i.e., bubbly, opaque, etc.) while dissolved air can only be determined by analysts.

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aliphatic hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon in which the carbon atoms are joined in open chains, rather than rings.

See normal paraffin.

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alkali

In chemistry, any substance having basic properties. The term is applied to hydroxides of ammonium, lithium, potassium, and sodium. They are soluble in water; have the power to neutralize acids and form salts. They turn red litmus blue. In a more general sense, the term is also applied to the hydroxides of the so-called alkaline earth metals: barium, calcium, and strontium.

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alkyl

any of a series of monovalent radicals having the general formula CnH2n+1, derived from aliphatic hydrocarbons by the removal of a hydrogen atom; for example, CH3- (methyl radical, from methane).

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alkylate

product of an alkylation process.

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alkylated aromatic

benzene-derived synthetic lubricant base with good hydrolytic stability (resistance to chemical reaction with water) and good compatibility with mineral oils.

Used in turbines, compressors, jet engines, and hydraulic power steering.

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alkylation

in refining, the chemical reaction of a low-molecular-weight olefin with an isoparaffin to form a liquid product, alkylate, that has a high octane number and is used to improve the antiknock properties of gasoline. The reaction takes place in the presence of a strong acid catalyst, and at controlled temperature and pressure. Alkylation less commonly describes certain other reactions, such as that of an olefin with an aromatic hydrocarbon.

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Almen EP lubricant tester

A Journal bearing machine used for determining the load-carrying capacity or Extreme Pressure properties (EP) of gear lubricants.

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ambient temperature

Temperature of the area or atmosphere around a process, (not the operating temperature of the process itself).

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anhydrous

Free of water, especially of crystallization.

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aniline point

The minimum temperature for complete miscibility of equal volumes of aniline and the sample under test ASTM Method D 611. A product of high aniline point will be low in aromatics and naphthenes and, therefore, high in paraffins. Aniline point is often specified for spray oils, cleaning solvents, and thinners, where effectiveness depends upon aromatic content.

In conjunction with API gravity, the aniline point may be used to calculate the net heat of combustion for aviation fuels.

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anti-foam agent

An additive used to control foam.

two types of additives are used to reduce foaming in petroleum products:

bulletsilicone oil to break up large surface bubbles
bulletpolymers of various kinds that decrease the amount of small bubbles entrained in the oils

See foaming

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antifreeze solution

A fluid, such as ethylene or propylene glycol, which is added to or used to replace the water in the cooling system of engines in order to prevent freezing.

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anti-friction bearing(s)

A type of bearing using rollers, cones or balls. They are also known as rolling element bearings.

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anti-icing additive

substance added to gasoline to prevent ice formation on the throttle plate of a carburetor. Anti-icing additives are of two types:

  1. those that lower the freezing point of water
  2. those that alter the growth of ice crystals so that they remain small enough to be carried away in the air stream.

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antiknock

Resistance to detonation or pinging in spark-ignition engines.

Resistance of a gasoline to detonation in a combustion chamber.

See antiknock indexoctane number.

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antiknock compounds

substances which raise the antiknock quality of a gasoline, as expressed by octane number. Historically, tetraethyl lead (lead alkyl) has been the most common antiknock compound, but its use is being phased out under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Coming into increasing use as octane boosters are toluene and oxygenated organic type substances such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME).

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antiknock index

the average of the Research Octane Number and Motor Octane Number; a measure of the octane quality of a gasoline.

According to EPA and FTC regulations the antiknock index of any gasoline sold in the USA must be displayed on any pump dispensing the gasoline for use in motor vehicles.

See octane number.

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antioxidant

chemical added to lubricating oils to resist oxidation.

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anti-seize compound

grease-like substance containing graphite, moly or metallic solids (Copper, Zinc, Silver or Lead), which is applied to threaded joints, particularly those subjected to high temperatures, to facilitate separation when required.

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anti-wear additive

additive in a lubricant that reduces friction and excessive wear.

See boundary lubrication.

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API

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is a trade association that promotes U.S. petroleum interests, encourages development of petroleum technology, cooperates with the government in matters of national concern, and provides information on the petroleum industry to the government and the public.

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API Engine Service Classification System

Classifications and designations for lubricating oils for automotive engines developed by API in conjunction with SAE and ASTM. An recently also with ILSAC.

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API Gear Lubricant Service Designation

Classifications and designations for lubricating oils for automotive transmissions developed by API in conjunction with SAE and ASTM.

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API gravity

A nonscientific and arbitrary scale expressing the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API. It may be calculated in terms of the following formula:

 

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apparent viscosity

The ratio of shear stress to rate of shear of a non-Newtonian fluid such as lubricating grease, or a multi-grade oil, calculated from Poiseuille’s equation and measured in poises. The apparent viscosity changes with changing rates of shear and temperature and must, therefore, be reported as the value at a given shear rate and temperature (ASTM Method D 1092).

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aromatic

Derived from, or characterized by, the presence of the benzene ring.

unsaturated hydrocarbon identified by one or more benzene rings or by chemical behavior similar to benzene. The benzene ring is characterized by three double bonds alternating with single bonds between carbon atoms (compare with olefins). Because of these multiple bonds, aromatics are usually more reactive and have higher solvency than paraffins and naphthenes. Aromatics readily undergo electrophylic substitution; that is, they react to add other active molecular groups, such as nitrates, sulfonates, etc.

Aromatics are used extensively as petrochemical building blocks in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, dyes, plastics, and many other chemicals.

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ASEAN

Association of South-East Asian Nations

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ash content

The percent by weight of residue left after combustion of an oil or fuel sample.
(ASTM Method D 482 or D 874 [sulfated ash]).

Lubricating oil detergent additives contain metallic derivatives, such as barium, calcium, and magnesium sulfonates, that are common sources of ash.
Ash deposits can impair engine efficiency and power.

See detergent

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ASLE

American Society of Lubrication Engineers This society is still in existence but is now known as the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). The ASLE had published standards for machine tool lubricants.

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asperities

microscopic projections on metal surfaces resulting from normal surface-finishing processes. Interference between opposing asperities in sliding or rolling applications is a source of friction, and can lead to metal welding and scoring. Ideally, the lubricating film between two moving surfaces should be thicker than the combined height of the opposing asperities.

See boundary lubrication, EP additive

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asphalt

Black to dark-brown solid or semisolid cemetitious material which gradually liquefies when heated and in which the predominating constituents are bitumen’s. These occur in the solid or semisolid form in nature; are obtained by refining petroleum; or are combinations with one another or with petroleum or derivatives thereof.

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asphaltic

Essentially composed of, or similar to, asphalt; frequently used to describe lubricating oils derived from crude oils which contain asphalt.

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ASTM

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a professional society that is responsible for the publication of test methods and the development of test evaluation techniques.

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ATC

Technical Committee of the Petroleum Additive Manufacturers

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(ATF) Automatic Transmission Fluid

fluid for automatic transmissions in motor vehicles. Automatic transmission fluids must have a suitable coefficient of friction, good low-temperature viscosity, and anti-wear properties. Other necessary properties are: high oxidation stability, anti-corrosion, anti-foaming, and compatibility with synthetic rubber seals.

See corrosion, foaming.

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ATIEL

Association Technique de L’lndustrie Europeene des Lubrifiants

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auto-ignition

  1. In realtion to Fuels & Combustion in Internal Combustion Engines it is the spontaneous ignition, and the resulting very rapid reaction, of a portion or all of the fuel-air mixture in an engine. The flame speed is many times greater than that which follows normal spark ignition. The noise associated with it is called knock.

  2. In realtion to Lubricants it is the Temperature at which the lubricant will self ignite when exposed to air and continue to burn.

B

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bactericide

additive included in the formulations of water-mixed cutting fluids or coolants,
to inhibit the growth of bacteria promoted by the presence of water,
thus preventing the unpleasant odors that can result from bacterial action.

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barrel

Standard unit of liquid measurement in the petroleum industry.

Used to measure quantities of crude oil, gasoline and fuel oils.

Equivalent of 42 U.S. Gallons.

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base

any of a broad class of compounds, including alkalis, that react with acids to form salts, plus water. Also known as hydroxides. Hydroxides ionize in solution to form hydroxyl ions (OH-); the higher the concentration of these ions, the stronger the base. Bases are used extensively in petroleum refining in caustic washing of process streams to remove acidic impurities, and are components in certain additives that neutralize weak acids formed during oxidation.

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Base Oil

A base oil is a base stock or blend of base stocks used in an API-licensed engine oil.

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Base oil interchangeability

refers to an API approved system, that reduces testing costs by permitting the interchangeable use of certain base oils, without requiring a full engine test program for each of the base oils.

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Base Stock

A base stock is a mineral hydrocarbon or synthetic lubricant component that is produced by a single manufacturer (independent of crude source or manufacturing location), that meets the same manufacturer’s specification, and that is identified by a unique formula, product identification number, or both.

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batch

Any quantity of material handled or considered as a "unit" in processing.
I.e., any sample taken from the same "batch" will have the same properties and/or qualities.

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bearing

basic machine component designed to reduce friction between moving parts and to support moving loads.

There are two main types of bearings:

  1. rolling contact bearings (also called anti-friction bearings) commonly ball or roller
  2. sliding (plain) bearings, either plain journal (a metal jacket fully or partially enclosing a rotating inner shaft) or pad-type bearings, for linear motion.

Rolling-contact bearings are more effective in reducing friction. With few exceptions, bearings require lubrication to reduce wear and extend bearing life.

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Bench Test

A bench test is a laboratory test that measures various specific performance parameters of an engine oil. Specialized test equipment is used for bench testing.

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bentonite

The mineral montmorillonite, a magnesium-aluminum silicate. Used as a treating agent, also, as a component of drilling mud, and in greases.

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benzene

Colorless liquid hydrocarbon, C6H6, with one ring of carbon atoms. Made from coal tar and by catalytic reforming of naphthenes, it is used in the manufacture of phenol, styrene, nylon, detergents, aniline, phthalic anhydride, biphenyl, nitrobenzene, chlorbenzene; as a solvent; and as a component of high-octane gasoline.

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benzene insoluble

That portion of the normal pentane insoluble in used lubricating oils which is not soluble in benzene, and which may include the insoluble contaminants from external sources, some matter produced by oxidation and thermal decomposition of the oil, the oil additives, or the fuel.

(It is tested by ASTM Method D 893).

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blending

The process of mixing lubricants or components for the purpose of obtaining the desired physical and/or chemical properties (see compounding).

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bloom

Fluorescence; the color of an oil by reflected light which could differ from its color by transmitted light.

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blow-by

in an internal combustion engine, seepage of fuel and gases past the piston rings and cylinder wall into the crankcase, resulting in crankcase oil dilution and deposit formation.

See positive crankcase ventilation, .

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boiling point

The temperature at which a substance boils, or is converted into vapor by bubbles forming within the liquid; it varies with pressure.

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bottoms

The liquid which collects in the bottom of a vessel (tower bottoms, tank bottoms), either during a fractionating process or while in storage.

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boundary lubrication

The state of lubrication when conditions exist that do not permit the formation of a lubricant film capable of completely separating the moving parts. As a result the asperities of the moving parts come in contact and a high wear rate results.

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Brookfield viscosity

apparent viscosity of an oil, as determined under test method ASTM D 2983. Since the apparent viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid holds only for the shear rate (as well as temperature) at which it is determined, the Brookfield viscometer provides a known rate of shear by means of a spindle of specified configuration that rotates at a known constant speed in the fluid. The torque imposed by fluid friction can be converted to absolute viscosity units (centipoises) by a multiplication factor. See viscosity, shear stress. The viscosities of certain petroleum waxes and wax-polymer blends in the molten state can also be determined by the Brookfield test method ASTM D 2669.

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bright stock

Refined, high viscosity base oils usually made from residual stocks by suitable treatment, such as a combination of solvent extraction, propane asphating or catalytic dewaxing.

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British Thermal Unit (BTU)

The quantity of heat required to raise, by 1°F, the temperature of one pound of water at its maximum density (39.2°F).

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BS&W

The material which collects at the bottom of storage tanks, usually composed of oil, water and foreign matter. Also called Bottoms or Bottom Settling & Watter.

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BTC

British Technical Council

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butane

A gas that is composed of either or both of two isomeric, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbons, C4H10, of the paraffin series: n-butane or isobutane.

Also called, along with propane, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

C

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CAFE

Corporate Average Fuel Economy

Minimum Fuel Economy for Cars and Light Trucks established by U.S. Congress.

It is currently 27.5 MPG for Cars and 20.7 MPG for Light Trucks

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calorie

  1. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1ºC, at or near the temperature of maximum density. This unit is called a "small calorie", or "gram calorie".
  2. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of water 1°C.
    This unit is called a "large calorie" or "kilogram-calorie".

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capillary viscometer

A viscometer in which the oil flows through a capillary tube.

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CARB

California Air Resources Board

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carbon monoxide (CO)

colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, formed by the incomplete combustion of any carbonaceous material (e.g., gasoline, wood, coal). CO is the most widely distributed and most commonly occurring air pollutant, with motor vehicles being the primary source of man-made emissions, although emission controls are reducing the automobile’s contribution. It is estimated that more than 90% of atmospheric CO comes from natural sources, such as decaying organic matter.

See catalytic converter,

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carburetor

device used with an internal combustion engine to atomize and mix fuel with air in the proper proportion for efficient combustion at all engine speeds. It controls the engine’s power output by throttling, or metering, the air-fuel mixture admitted to the cylinders.

The automobile carburetor is a complex mechanism designed to compensate for many variables over a wide range of speeds and loads.

Intake air is drawn through the venturi, a constricted throat in the air passage that causes a pressure reduction in the air stream, which draws fuel from the carburetor bowl through either the main jet or the idle jet.

The fuel is atomized by the high-velocity air, and the resulting air-fuel mixture is piped through the intake manifold to the individual cylinders, where it is burned.

A throttle plate between the venturi and the cylinders controls power and speed by controlling the volume of air-fuel mixture reaching the cylinders. In most carburetors, closing of this (venturi) throttle valve shuts down the main jet and activates the idle jet, which provides the fuel-rich mixture that idling requires. An accelerator pump in the carburetor provides momentary fuel enrichment when the accelerator pedal is depressed rapidly, to compensate for the sudden influx of air.

During cold starting, a choke (or butterfly valve) restricts airflow to the carburetor, thus enriching the mixture for faster starting. The choke on most automotive engine carburetors is operated automatically by a thermostatic spring, which opens the choke as the engine warms up.

See fuel injection,

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Carrier Oil

Oil (Petroleum), usually solvent neutral (SN) or process oil, used to "carry" or dissolve and/or disperse additives, which would otherwise be too viscous or even solid, and therefore not easily mixed with the Base Stock Oil.

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catalyst

substance that causes or speeds up a chemical reaction without itself undergoing an associated change; catalysts are important in a number of refining processes.

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catalytic converter

an emissions control device, incorporated into an automobile’s exhaust system, containing catalysts — such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium — that reduce the levels of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted to the air. In the catalytic converter, HC and CO are oxidized to form carbon dioxide (CO2), and NOx are reduced to nitrogen and oxygen. Three-way catalytic converters that control all three substances require associated electronic controls for precise regulation of oxygen levels in the exhaust gas. Catalytic converters are also effective in removing PNA (polynuclear aromatic) hydrocarbons. Cars equipped with catalytic converters require unleaded gasoline, since the lead in tetraethyl lead, an antiknock compound, is a catalyst "poison."

See hydrocarbon emissions

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catalytic cracking

in refining, the breaking down at elevated temperatures of large, high-boiling hydrocarbon molecules into smaller molecules in the presence of a catalyst. The principal application of catalytic cracking is the production of high-octane gasoline, to supplement the gasoline produced by distillation and other processes. Catalytic cracking also produces heating oil components and hydrocarbon feedstocks, such as propylene and butylene, for polymerization, alkylation, and petrochemical operations.

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cavitation

formation of an air or vapor pocket (or bubble) due to lowering of pressure in a liquid, often as a result of a solid body, such as a propeller or piston, moving through the liquid; also, the pitting or wearing away of a solid surface as a result of the collapse of a vapor bubble. Cavitation can occur in a hydraulic system as a result of low fluid levels that draw air into the system, producing tiny bubbles that expand explosively at the pump outlet, causing metal erosion and eventual pump destruction. Cavitation can also result when reduced pressure in lubricating grease dispensing systems forms a void, or cavity, which impedes suction and prevents the flow of greases.

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CCMC

Comite des Constructeurs d'Automobile du Marche Commun
(European Common Market Automobile Manufacturers Association)
European vehicles. This organization was dissolved at the end of 1990.
ACEA, the new association of the European automobile manufacturers, formed in February 1991, has decided to retain the CCMC oil sequences and their original designation for a transitional period.

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CEC

Coordinating European Council

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cellulose

the chief substance composing the cell walls or fibers of all plant tissue, a polymeric carbohydrate with the general formula (C6H10O5)x: it is used in the manufacture of paper, textiles, filters, etc.

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centistoke (cSt)

The worldwide unit of kinematic viscosity.

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channeling

  1. The phenomenon observed among gear lubricants and greases when they thicken due to cold weather or other causes, to such an extent that a groove is formed through which the part to be lubricated moves without actually coming in full contact with the lubricant.
  2. A term used in percolation filtration; may be defined as: a preponderance of flow through certain portions of the clay bed.

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CID

Commercial Item Description used in many cases in lieu of military specification (MIL).

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clay filtration

refining process using fuller’s earth (activated clay) or bauxite to adsorb minute solids from lubricating oil, as well as remove traces of water, acids, and polar compounds.

See adsorption

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cloud point

The temperature at which paraffin wax or other solid substances begin to crystallize or separate from the solution, imparting a cloudy appearance to the oil when chilled (ASTM Method D 97).

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CMA

Chemical Manufacturers Association is the trade association responsible for the development and administration of the Petroleum Additives Panel Product Approval Code of Practice (CMA Code).

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Coking
(a) The undesirable accumulation of carbon (coke) deposits in the internal combustion engine or in a refinery plant.
(b) The process of distilling a petroleum product to dryness.

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colloid

  1. a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance made up of very small, insoluble, nondiffusible particles (as single large molecules or masses of smaller molecules) that remain in suspension in a surrounding solid, liquid, or gaseous medium of different matter
  2. a state of matter consisting of such a substance dispersed in a surrounding medium All living matter contains colloidal material, and a colloid has only a negligible effect on the freezing point, boiling point, or vapor pressure of the surrounding medium

[< Greek kolla, glue + -oid; coined by T. Graham (1805-69), Scottish chemist]

Colloidal particles are 5 to 5000 angstroms in size. In a gas or liquid medium, they do not settle and are not easily filtered.

Colloids are usually ionically stabilized by some form of surface charge on the particles to reduce the tendency to agglomerate.

A lubricating grease is a colloidal system, in which metallic soaps or other thickening agents are dispersed in, and give structure to, the liquid lubricant.

SynLube™ Lube-4-Life™ Lubricants are colloidal systems, in which solid graphite, moly and PTFE colloids are dispersed in synthetic liquid lubricants.

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color

A factor in the identification, rather than in the quality rating of a petroleum products and lubricants, except where staining or appearance are considerations.

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combustion

rapid oxidation of a fuel (burning).

The products of an ideal combustion process are water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2); if combustion is incomplete, some carbon is not fully oxidized, yielding carbon monoxide (CO).

A stoichiometric combustible mixture contains the exact quantities of air (oxygen) and fuel required for complete combustion. For gasoline, this air-fuel ratio is about 15:1 by weight or about 9,500:1 by volume.

If the fuel concentration is too rich or too lean relative to the oxygen in the mixture, combustion cannot take place.

See internal combustion engine.

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combustion chamber

in an internal combustion engine, the volume, bounded by the top of the piston and the inner surface of the cylinder head, in which the air-fuel charge ignites and burns. Valves and spark plugs are fitted into the combustion chamber.

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complex grease

A lubricating grease thickened by a complex soap consisting of a normal soap and a complexing agent.

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compounding

The addition of fatty oils and similar materials to lubricants to impart special properties. Lubricating oils to which such materials have been added are known as compounded oils.

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compounded oil

mixture of a petroleum oil with animal or vegetable fat or oil. Compounded oils have a strong affinity for metal surfaces; they are particularly suitable for wet-steam conditions and for applications where lubricity and extra load-carrying ability are needed. They are not generally recommended where long-term oxidation stability is required.

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copper strip corrosion

The gradual eating away of copper surfaces as the result of oxidation or other chemical action.
It is caused by acids or other corrosive agents.

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corrosion

The gradual eating away of metallic surfaces as the result of oxidation or other chemical action.
It is caused by acids or other corrosive agents
or by electro-chemical reaction of the metal with its environment.

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Corrosion Inhibitor

substance which protects a metal against corrosion by substances which originate from products of combustion, or from deterioration of the lubricant.

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cracking

petroleum refining process in which large-molecule liquid hydrocarbons are converted to small-molecule, lower-boiling liquids or gases; the liquids leave the reaction vessel as unfinished gasoline, kerosene, and gas oils. At the same time, certain unstable, more reactive molecules combine into larger molecules to form tar or coke . The cracking reaction may be carried out under heat and pressure alone (thermal cracking), or in the presence of a catalyst (catalytic cracking).


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Crankcase oil

Lubricant used in the crankcase of the internal combustion engine.

bulletAlso referred to as:
bulletMotor Oil
bulletEngine Oil
bulletPCMO (Passenger Car Motor Oil)
bulletDHD (Diesel Heavy Duty)
bulletDEO (Diesel Engine Oil)

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crude oil

complex, naturally occurring fluid mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons, yellow to black in color, and also containing small amounts of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur derivatives and other impurities. Crude oil was formed by the action of bacteria, heat, and pressure on ancient plant and animal remains, and is usually found in layers of porous rock such as limestone or sandstone capped by an impervious layer of shale or clay that traps the oil (reservoir). Crude oil varies in appearance and hydrocarbon composition depending on the locality where it occurs, some crudes being predominantly naphthenic, some paraffinic, and others asphaltic. Crude is refined to yield petroleum products.

See asphalt, distillation, sour crude, sweet crude, naphthene, paraffin.

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CUNA

Commissione Tecnica de Unificazione nel l'Autoveicolo

D

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demulsibility

ability of an oil to separate from water, as determined by test method ASTM D 1401 or D 2711. Demulsibility is an important consideration in lubricant maintenance in many circulating lubrication systems.

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demulsifier

additive that promotes oil-water separation in lubricants that are exposed to water or steam.

See demulsibility.

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density

The mass of a unit of volume of a substance as compared to Water which has a density of one.

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DEO

Diesel Engine Oil

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detergency

The ability of an oil to keep working surfaces of equipment clean (i.e. free from contaminants) by holding oil-insoluble material in suspension thus preventing deposition where it would be harmful.

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detergent

important additive component of engine oils and some industrial lubricants, such as paper machine oils and hydraulic fluids; helps control deposits by preventing contaminants of combustion from directly contacting metal surfaces and, in some cases, by neutralizing acids. A detergent is usually a metallic (commonly barium, calcium, or magnesium) compound, such as a sulfonate, phosphonate, thiophosphonate, phenate, or salicylate. Because of its metallic composition, a detergent leaves a slight ash when the oil is burned. A detergent is normally used in conjunction with a dispersant.

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detergent oil

Is a lubricating oil possessing special sludge-dispersing properties usually conferred on the oil by the incorporation of special additives. Detergent oils hold formed sludge particles in suspension and thus promote cleanliness especially in internal-combustion engines. However detergent oils do not contain "detergents" such as those used for cleaning of laundry or dishes. Also detergent oils do not clean already "dirty" engines, but rather keep in suspension the sludge that petroleum oil forms so that the engine remains cleaner for longer period. The formed sludge particles are either filtered out by Oil Filters or drained out when oil is changed.

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DHD

Diesel Heavy Duty   Engine Oil

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dielectric strength

A measure of the of insulating properties of electrical insulating oils for use in electrical cables, transformers, circuit breakers, and similar apparatus (Tested by ASTM Method D 877).

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diester oil

A synthetic Iubricating fluid made from esters: also called ester oil or an organic ester, formed by reacting a dicarboxylic acid and an alcohol; properties include a high viscosity index (V.I.) and low volatility. With the addition of specific additives, it may be used as a lubricant in compressors, hydraulic systems, and internal combustion engines.

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DIN

Deutsche Industrie Norm (German Industrial Standards).

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diolefin

highly reactive straight-chain hydrocarbon with two double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms.

See olefin

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dispersant

A dispersing agent, which holds a very finely divided substance in a dispersed state in the carrier fluid. Such as sludge or a wear particles in a motor oil.

In engine oil dispersant is additive that helps prevent sludge, varnish, and other engine deposits by keeping particles suspended in a colloidal state (see colloid) within the bulk oil.

Dispersants are normally used in conjunction with detergents.

A dispersant can be distinguished from a detergent in that the former may be non-metallic and thus does not leave an ash when the oil is burned; hence the term ashless dispersant.

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distillate

Wide range of and any product produced by distillation.

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distillation

The process of condensing into liquid the vapours distilled from any liquid such as water, petroleum or alcohol.

In the petroleum oil industry it is the primary refining step, in which crude oil is separated into fractions, or components, in a distillation tower, or pipe still. Heat, usually applied at the bottom of the tower, causes the oil vapors to rise through progressively cooler levels of the tower, where they condense onto plates and are drawn off in order of their respective condensation temperatures, or boiling points — the lighter-weight, lower-boiling-point fractions, exiting higher in the tower. The primary fractions, from low to high boiling point, are: hydrocarbon gases (e.g., ethane, propane); naphtha (e.g., gasoline); kerosene, diesel fuel (heating oil); and heavy gas oil for cracking. Heavy materials remaining at the bottom are called the bottoms, or residuum, and include such components as heavy fuel oil (fuel oil) and asphaltic substances (see asphalt). Those fractions taken in liquid form from any level other than the very top or bottom are called sidestream products; a product, such as propane, removed in vapor form from the top of the distillation tower is called overhead product. Distillation may take place in two stages: first, the lighter fractions — gases, naphtha, and kerosene — are recovered at essentially atmospheric pressure; next, the remaining crude is distilled at reduced pressure in a vacuum tower, causing the heavy lube fractions to distill at much lower temperatures than possible at atmospheric pressure, thus permitting more lube oil to be distilled without the molecular cracking that can occur at excessively high temperatures.

See hydrocracking.

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DKA

Deutsche Koordinierungsausschuss

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dropping point

In general, the dropping point is the temperature at which the grease passes from a semisolid to a liquid state. This change in state is typical of greases containing conventional soap thickeners. Greases containing thickeners other than conventional soaps may, without change in state, separate Oil

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dry lubricant

Solid material left between two moving surfaces to prevent metal-to-metal contact, thus reducing friction and wear. Such materials are especially useful in the region of boundary lubrication, and for lubrication under special conditions of extremely high or low temperature where usual lubricants are inadequate. They may be applied in the form of a paste or solid stick, or by spraying, dipping, or brushing in an air-drying carrier which evaporates leaving a dry film. Or can be present in a "sol", a colloidal suspension in Water, Alcohol or Oil.

Some examples of dry lubricants are:

bullet

graphite

bullet

molybdenum disulfide (moly)

bullet

boron nitride

bullet

plastics such as tetrafluorethylene resins (PTFE or Teflon).

E

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EC & ECII

Energy Conserving (1.5% Fuel Conserving) and Energy Conserving Level II (2.7% Fuel Conserving). It is the ability of lubricant to conserve fuel in gasoline automotive type engines when compared to ASTM HR-2 20W-30 reference motor oil.

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elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Lubrication model modified to take into consideration the elastic properties of the bearing material and the viscosity increase of the lubricant under concentrated load.

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emissions (automotive)

the three major pollutant emissions for which gasoline-powered vehicles are controlled are: unburned hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Diesel-powered vehicles primarily emit NOx and particulates. Motor vehicles contribute only a small percentage of total man-made emissions of other atmospheric pollutants, such as sulfur oxides. Evaporative HC emissions from the fuel tank and carburetor are adsorbed by activated carbon contained in a canister installed on the vehicle. Blow-by HC emissions from the crankcase are controlled by positive crankcase ventilation (PCV). Exhaust emissions of HC, CO, and NOx — the products of incomplete combustion — are controlled primarily by a catalytic converter, in conjunction with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and increasingly sophisticated technology for improving combustion efficiency, including electronic emission controls.

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emulsibility

The ability of a non-water soluble fluid (such as oil) to form an emulsion with water.

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emulsifier

A substance used to promote or aid the emulsification of two liquids and to enhance the stability of the emulsion.

additive that promotes the formation of a stable mixture, or emulsion, of oil and water.

Common emulsifiers are: metallic soaps, certain animal and vegetable oils, and various polar compounds (having molecules that are water-soluble at one extremity of their structures and oil-soluble at the other).

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Emulsion

A mechanical mixture of two insoluble liquids such as oil and water.

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Energy Conserving Oil

engine oil categories developed by SAE, ASTM, and API, based on an oil’s fuel-saving performance in passenger cars, vans, and light trucks.

Originally "Energy Conserving" rating was based on the average fuel economy gain of a five vehicle test, this however proved to be too costly and difficult to repeat the test results.

Later engine-stand test was used for "Energy Conserving" oil which must have produced a fuel economy improvement of 1.5% or greater over a reference oil (ASTM HR-2) in a standard ASTM test procedure. An "Energy Conserving II" oil must have produced a fuel economy improvement of at least 2.7%.

With ILSAC GF-2 and API SJ the "Energy Conserving II" rating was dropped and only one "Energy Conserving" rating was used, but with different values based on motor oils SAE Viscosity rating.

(Note: the fuel economy gain of SynLube™ SAE 5W-50 Motor Oil in ASTM test is 5% when compared to HR-2 test oil)

Since all current motor oil ratings such as API SK, ILSAC GF-3 incorporate "Energy Conserving" performance into their specifications, and therefore most motor oils on the market today are "Energy Conserving". The rating is not as important as it once was.

In actual vehicle operation, the fuel economy obtained by these lubricants differs, depending on vehicle type, operating conditions, and driving habits. Therefore the fuel saving ability of any Motor Oil is mostly a theoretical value.

In real life day-to-day operation, a fuel saving of less than 2% is not possible to verify, since tank-to-tank fuel economy in normal driving can vary by up to 20%.

See fuel-economy oil.

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engine deposits

hard or persistent accumulations of sludge, varnish, and carbonaceous residues due to blow-by of unburned and partially burned (partially oxidized) fuel, and/or from partial breakdown of the crankcase lubricant. Water from condensation of combustion products, carbon, residues from fuel or lubricating oil additives, dust, and metal particles also contribute. Engine deposits can impair engine performance and damage engine components by causing valve and ring sticking, clogging of the oil screen and oil passages, and excessive wear of pistons and cylinders. Engine deposits are increased by short trips in cold weather, high-temperature operation, heavy loads (such as pulling a trailer), and over-extended oil drain intervals.

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Engine Oil

An engine oil is a lubricating agent that can be classified according to one or a combination of the viscosity grades identified in Table 1 of the most recent edition of SAE Standard J300. Engine OiIs are also called Motor Oils. Engine oils include diesel engine oils and passenger car motor oils (PCMOs).

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Engine test

Also called engine sequence test or sequence test, it refers to a test of an oil’s performance using a full-scale engine operating under laboratory conditions.

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Engler degree

A measure of viscosity. The ratio of the time of flow of 200 ml of the liquid tested, through the viscometer devised by Engler, to the time required for the flow of the same volume of water gives the number of degrees Engler.

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EOLCS

Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) refers to an administrative process and legally enforceable system by which API authorizes marketers of engine oil to display an API Mark or Marks on oils that meet specified industry standards, as prescribed in a formal licensing agreement.

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EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

agency of the federal executive branch, established in 1970 to abate and control pollution through monitoring, regulation, and enforcement, and to coordinate and support environmental research.

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EP additive

lubricant additive that prevents sliding metal surfaces from seizing under conditions of extreme pressure (EP). At the high local temperatures associated with metal-to-metal contact, an EP additive combines chemically with the metal to form a surface film that prevents the welding of opposing asperities, and the consequent scoring that is destructive to sliding surfaces under high loads. Reactive compounds of sulfur, chlorine, or phosphorus are used to form these inorganic films.

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EP agent

An Extreme Pressure additive introduced into a lubricant to improve the load-carrying or anti-weld qualities.

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EP lubricant

Any of the lubricating oils or greases which contain an Extreme Pressure additive specifically introduced to prevent metal-to-metal contact in the operation of highly loaded gears. In some cases, this is accomplished by the additive reacting with the metal to form a protective film.