The piston ring and cylinder liner tribosystem is very
sensitive. It is a heavily loaded system with high temperature and
force exposure. High demands are made on the components in this
area. These facts concern not only system components, but also the
engine oil which can reach up to 300°C at the inner cylinder walls.
High temperatures and force cause oil aging.
As a part of the combustion chamber, the piston ring-cylinder
liner tribosystem is in close contact with combustion constituents.
If alternative fuels like ethanol are used, the influences to this
tribosystem have to be investigated. In particular, the impacts of
oil aging have to be considered to avoid higher wear and damage to
the engine, to assure low fuel consumption, and to extend oil
change intervals. Research work on abrasion of the ring-cylinder
system was aimed to gain detailed information about the effects on
this tribosystem. This was realized by the use of different engine
oils and the experimental consideration of the impacts of ethanol
on the oil.
For wear measurement, a novel measuring method is used. This
measurement device is based on online and continuous detection of
radioactive isotopes as wear tracers. The measurement device has
been integrated to a conventional passenger car with an SI engine.
The research was done on a chassis dynamometer test bench.