Diesel Engine Emissions Reduction-The Benefits of Low Oil Consumption Design

The consumption of lubricating oil must be substantially reduced to meet the 1991 and 1994 EPA particulate emission standards.

The main factors that have to be considered to achieve low oil consumption are analysed in this paper. These factors are: Operation of the ring seal (pressure balancing), piston secondary motion, piston oil drainage features, liner distortion and piston ring conformability as well as liner surface roughness.

From the analysis a piston / piston ring design concept for '91 emission targets is derived that is able to reach very low oil consumption figures in the important high speed / part load range as well as a good oil consumption at rated power.