Development of Research Technique for Determining the Low-Temperature Cranking Characteristics of Engine Oils

It has been recognized that low-temperature engine cranking characteristics are not related to extrapolated viscosity for multiviscosity engine oils. At the request of SAE, the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) is endeavoring to develop a meaningful low-temperature viscometric technique to replace the extrapolated system now used in the SAE classification. The first step in accomplishing this objective was to develop a reproducible engine cranking technique. This phase of the program has been completed and a cranking technique known as CRC L-49-663 has been developed. The development of the technique is discussed in this paper.