Turn to Techenomics for soot and sludge solutions

Build-up of sludge can cause damage to engines
Soot is generated by incomplete combustion of fuel and is harmful to engines, particularly if left to accumulate, but Techenomics, Your Partner in Lubrication Reliability, has the solutions to prevent this from causing damage or even breakdown and impacting on productivity.

While many think that the soot escapes through exhaust systems, Techenomics CEO Chris Adsett said that just 29 per cent reached the atmosphere by way of the exhaust pipe with the majority being deposited on the cylinder walls piston crown with some captured in the engine oil filtration system.

He said with the soot retained in the engine, including in the lubricant, three per cent was attributable to blow-by gases and the remainder was from piston rings scraping away soot deposits in the cylinder with this material ending up in the sump.

This was then transported around the engine and deposited on component contacts.

When particulate matter, including soot, is present in the lubricant it can bond with oil residues along with water and acids causing sludgy masses to form when operating at low or high temperatures.

This sludge may deposit on cool surfaces where it causes little trouble but problems can arise when oilways are blocked or when it is baked to a hard deposit in scraper-ring grooves and oil drain holes.

When these arise, oil effectiveness is reduced and consumption is increased while corrosion of the metal components can also occur resulting in a buildup of deleterious metals.

Sludge formation is exacerbated by inefficient combustion, particularly in association with piston blow-by and low temperature operation. The deposition of sludge can be retarded by dispersant additives.

Low-temperature sludge is typical in stop-and-go driving when an engine’s operating state is under-cooled. If the engine’s normal operating temperature is not reached, water and unburnt fuel produced during combustion can condense and bond with oil residues to form sludge.

High-temperature sludge forms at high operating temperatures and consists of oil-insoluble reaction products from blow-by gases, nitrogen oxides and engine oil. In an engine this type of deposit is particularly found on the valve cover (cylinder head) where it cannot be eliminated by an oil change and with resulting danger to the crankcase ventilation system.

Along with engine characteristics and operating  conditions, engine oil and fuel are factors that influence the formation of high-temperature sludge.

The independent lubricant analysis and condition monitoring services provided by Techenomics analyses the amount of soot and sludge in lubricants and can determine the source of this material. Another very valuable test is soot cake analysis to determine engine wear.

After analysis using specialist equipment in accredited laboratories by qualified staff, Techenomics can help prevent maintenance issues before they arise and this includes soot and sludge.

Adding Liquid Tungsten to the oil and lubricants can also help alleviate the problems, thus enhancing the total fluid management services. The product is distributed by Techenomics.

For more information about Techenomics International contact Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com; in Indonesia Freddy, freddy@techenomics.com; in South East Asia Siti, siti@techenomics.com, in Mongolia Tumee, tumee.m@techenomics.com, in Australia Dr Gopal Kumar, gopal.kumar@techenomics.com or for Liquid Tungsten globally Chris Adsett, c.adsett@techenomics.com.

Soot and sludge in engines – download this release as a pdf file