In recent years, mandated emissions reductions and new
fuel economy standards have been the major drivers for new engine
technologies. Application of improved engine technologies is
accelerating to meet these mandates, challenging lubrication and fuel
systems to operate accordingly. Two of the most common recently improved
engine technologies include turbochargers and gasoline direct injection.
Turbochargers
Turbocharged
engines have gained popularity with vehicle manufacturers for their
ability to maintain or increase engine power while simultaneously
increasing fuel economy. Turbochargers work by harnessing hot exhaust
gases to drive a compressor, which in turn pressurizes air from the
intake system to generate more engine power. Since turbochargers are
continually exposed to hot exhaust gases, they stress lubricants far
beyond other areas of the engine. High temperatures create the potential
for localized sludge and deposit build-up in critical areas, which can
lead to damage to the turbocharger and other parts of the engine if not
lubricated and maintained correctly. Some engines equipped with
turbochargers require warm-up and cool-down periods to avoid coking,
which is when motor oil becomes baked onto the internal parts of the
turbocharger.
According to BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems, 90
percent of all turbocharger failures are due to one of the following
causes:
1. Penetration of foreign bodies into the turbine or
compressor
2. Dirt in the oil
3. Inadequate oil supply (oil pressure/filter system)
4. High exhaust gas temperatures.
These failures can generally be avoided with regular
maintenance. Maintaining the air intake and filter, for example, helps
keep the system running cooler and ensures that no random foreign
material gets into the turbocharger.
Many new turbocharger-equipped engines are designed to
be consumer friendly and require little, if any, special intervention.
For example, the new Ford EcoBoost™ engine has two water cooled
turbochargers that continually circulate coolant after engine shutdown
to ensure the turbo is sufficiently cooled to prevent coking.
Although this addresses some of the immediate issues, oil debris and
localized excessive oil temperatures can still cause long-term issues.
Gasoline Direct
Injection Engines
Gasoline direct
injection (GDI) engines are becoming more widely used by vehicle
manufacturers because, like turbochargers, they can maintain engine
power while also increasing fuel efficiency. In a GDI engine, fuel is
injected directly into the combustion chamber rather than the intake
side of the engine. GDI technologies from different manufacturers vary
and component design is slightly different depending on the company.
Some GDI engines have exhibited problems with carbon build-up on the
intake side of valves. Oily residues build up over time and deposit on
the back side of intake valves causing loss of engine horsepower,
sluggish operation and poor fuel economy.
One of the larger concerns is the potential for clogging
fuel injectors. GDI systems operate under very high pressures and
temperatures. The fuel injector resides inside the combustion chamber,
so it is exposed to continuous cycles of high heat and pressure followed
by cold-soak periods. This is a much more severe operating environment
and deposit issues are more common than in engines with injectors on the
intake side. Since GDI systems depend on high pressures to atomize the
fuel, any disruption of flow through the small injector openings creates
noticeable issues. This problem is so prevalent that a GDI deposit test
was designed specifically to predict deposit formation and impact on
fuel flow.
So, with more change comes more issues and
opportunities. Increased use of turbochargers places more stress on
lubricant and filter technology.
Lubricants must hold up to excessive temperatures
created by use of these systems, and they must be able to quickly pull
heat away from lubricated areas. In addition, oil filtration is critical
as these systems continuously operate under high load and rpm. A slug of
dirt particles in engine oil can tear up key bearing components quickly.
Seems like a problem specifically designed for AMSOIL motor oils and
high-efficiency filters.
GDI technology has many benefits, but some significant
issues. The pressure-cooker
that is created by high temperatures, high fuel pressures and smaller
fuel injector openings can certainly cause new issues for drivers. With
varying fuel quality, AMSOIL has fuel additives to help prevent or
eliminate the issue.
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils,
AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oils,
AMSOIL High-Efficiency Oil Filters,
AMSOIL High-Efficiency Air Filters,
AMSOIL Fuel Additives
