1.

PHYSICS INVESTIGATORY PROJECT Fluid Mechanics: Viscosity of Engine Oils

By Ashrant Kohli (2013-2014)

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF

CONTENTS...........................................................................................................................
.... 1
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................
....................... 2
AIM .......................................................................................................................................
................... 3
APPARATUS ........................................................................................................................
..................... 3
THEORY ...............................................................................................................................
.................... 4
PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................................
..................... 6
OBSERVATIONS .................................................................................................................
...................... 7
CALCULATIONS ................................................................................................................
........................ 8
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................
................... 14
BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................
..................... 15

3. INTRODUCTION Consider the following situation: You are driving your diesel car on
the road to Shimla (a hill-station) and it is 25 degrees Celsius outside. Suddenly your car
breaks down and you open the bonnet to see whats wrong. You notice that grime has
accumulated in your engine and the motor oil has to be replaced for your car to start. You
wait for people but no cars pass your way. You only get the following oils : 1. 2. 3. 4.
MAK Gold 40 (for bikes) Servo 4T (for bikes) HP Milcy Turbo (for trucks) Castrol
Active (for trucks) Of the given choices, you must use your knowledge of physics and
viscosity to choose the oil most suited for your diesel engine car.

4. AIM To compare the viscosity of different engine oils at a given temperature and
thereby determine the most effective one for a diesel car. APPARATUS 1. Metre high,
5cm broad cylindrical glass tube 2. Metre scale alongside tube 3. High density carbon
steel balls 4. Screw gauge 5. Stop watch 6. String 7. Assorted engine oils

5. THEORY Why is engine oil used and how does it work? Motor oil or engine oil is
used for lubrication of various internal combustion engines. The main function is to
reduce wear (deterioration due to friction) on moving parts. When the pistons of the
engine move back and forth they wear out the sides of the cylinder block, the oil creates a
layer that lets them move smoothly. It also cleans, inhibits corrosion, improves sealing,
and cools the engine by carrying heat away from moving parts. How is engine oil rated?

How it is rated: Engine oils can be made of singular polymers (single grade) or multiple
polymers (multi grade) and are rated accordingly. These differ in their viscosity, and
therefore, in their uses. The SAE gives a single grade to engine oils. However, single
grade oils cannot withstand the variety of conditions vehicles today are put through.
Therefore, multi grade oils are more popular. These behave as differently rated single
grade oils under different temperature conditions. Under cold conditions, the oil is thin
enough to grease the engine and allow for proper ignition and running. Under high engine
temperatures, the oil only thins to a particular extent so as to keep the engine sufficiently
lubricated. Multi grade ratings are in the form xWy (eg. 5W40). 'W' is the winter rating
which shows that the oil has been tested to work under cold conditions. The 'x' number
tells us which single grade polymer the oil behaves like under cold conditions. The lower
the number, the less viscous the oil and better the performance in low temperatures. The
'y' number tells us the single grade polymer as much as which the oil thins at high
temperatures. The rating is primarily based on the viscosity of the engine oils. Hence, it is
evident that viscosity is the single most important characteristic deciding the efficiency of
these oils. Different polymer combinations are made to essentially alter the viscosity of
the oil at different temperatures.

6. What is viscosity? It is the property of a fluid by virtue of which an internal resistance

comes into play when the fluid is in motion, and opposes the motion between its different
layers. In a vehicle engine, viscosity determines how easily the motor oil flows to
different parts of the engine. Coefficient of viscosity When liquid flows over a flat
surface, the liquid layer in contact with the fixed surface does not move. Higher layers
move forward with increasing velocity. Due to relative motion, a backward dragging
force F acts tangentially to every layer. This force is proportional to the speed (v) of the
layer, the area (A) of the layer and inversely proportional to their separation (x).
Combining these factors we have the following: F = A (v/x) In the equation, the
constant of proportionality () is called the coefficient of viscosity, which varies for every
fluid. Stokes Law It was shown by Stokes Law that if a small sphere of radius r be
moving with a terminal v through an infinite homogeneous and incompressible fluid of
coefficient of viscosity , it experiences a force F given by, F = 6rv (This relation is
known as Stokes Law) Terminal Velocity This is the maximum velocity acquired by the
body falling freely in a viscous medium. Consider a small sphere of radius (r) and density
() falling freely in a viscous medium (coefficient of viscosity and density ). Total
downward force = Weight of sphere up-thrust F = (4/3) r3 ( ) g This is equal to
the upward force of viscosity = 6rv 6rv = (4/3) r3 ( ) g

7. PROCEDURE 1. 850 ml of the oil was weighed and the density was found out 2. The
jar was cleaned and filled with the motor oil up to a 97 cm (850 ml) marker. 3. Two loops
of string were tied around the lower part of the glass tube, 50 cm apart: one at 65 cm and
the other at 15 cm. 4. A high density carbon steel shot was measured and weighed to
determine its density 5. The carbon steel shot was dropped into the liquid 6. The timer
was started when the shot reached the first string (at terminal velocity) and stopped when
it reached the second one. 7. Three readings were taken for each engine oil and the
observations were noted.

8. OBSERVATIONS Radius of carbon steel ball = 1.905mm (r) Density of carbon steel
ball = 549.45 kg/m3 () Density of all oils = 0.84 g/cm3 = 840 kg/m3 () Ambient
temperature = 25oc Time Taken in Different Oils OIL NAME MAK Gold 40 Servo 4T
HP Milcy Turbo Castrol Active T1 3.51 3.01 2.86 3.1 TIME (seconds) T2 3.35 3.06 2.66
3.01 T3 3.41 3.03 2.71 3.08 AVERAGE TIME 3.42 3.03 2.74 3.06 Terminal Velocity in
Different Oils OIL NAME MAK Gold 40 Servo 4T HP Milcy Turbo Castrol Active
Terminal velocity = 0.5m/average time TERMINAL VELOCITY (M/S) 0.146 0.165
0.182 0.137

9. CALCULATIONS 6rv = (4/3) r3 ( ) g = [2r2 ( ) g ] / 9 v MAK Gold 40

= [2 * (1.9x10-3)2 * (549.45 - 0.84) * 9.8] / (9 * 0.146) = 0.029541 kg/ms Servo 4T
= [2 * (1.9x10-3)2 * (549.45 - 0.84) * 9.8] / (9 * 0.165) = 0.02614 kg/ms HP Milcy
Turbo = [2 * (1.9x10-3)2 * (549.45 - 0.84) * 9.8] / (9 * 0.182) = 0.023698 kg/ms
Castrol Active = [2 * (1.9x10-3)2 * (549.45 - 0.84) * 9.8] / (9 * 0.137) = 0.031482
kg/ms

10. There are a wide range of factors that must be taken into consideration to choose the
right engine oil. Engine oil ratings are based on the viscosity of the oil, but these ratings
arent exactly accurate. Each of these oils falls under a SAE 40 rating, but they have
different viscosities. The rating of engine oils therefore is based on a factor known as
kinematic viscosity. Kinematic viscosity in turn is the ratio between dynamic viscosity
(absolute viscosity) and the density of the liquid. These values are then divided into
ranges and then SAE ratings. The kinematic viscosity however will not be constant at a
given temperature. The density of liquids decreases with increase in temperature. This is
because when temperature rises so does volume. When volume rises the density
decreases. Therefore we must also look at the coefficient of thermal expansion of engine
oils in order to calculate the new density and in turn, kinematic viscosity. Volumetric
Expansion V = T (V-Volume, -Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, T-Temperature)
Change in Density 1 = 0 / [1 + ( t1 - t0 )] ( Density, - Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion, t-Temperature) Kinematic Viscosity =/ ( = kinematic viscosity, =
absolute or dynamic viscosity, = density) Viscosity Index VI = (L - U)/ (L - H) * 10 (U kinematic viscosity, L and H kinematic viscosity of the reference oils)

11. The Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of light diesel oil is 0.00085. Assuming this
value to be equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of our engine oils, we have
postulated that we can calculate the kinematic viscosity at any given temperature.
Assuming the exponential model for calculation of absolute viscosity to hold true under
our conditions In order to calculate the kinematic viscosity ratio at a given temperature
we can use this equation, divided by the respective densities. Dynamic viscosity is the
coefficient of viscosity of a liquid which we have calculated. Oil Name Coefficient of
Viscosity Density MAK Gold 40 Servo 4T HP Milcy Turbo Castrol Active 0.029541
0.02614 0.023698 0.031482 820 840 820 840 Kinematic Viscosity (m2/s) 0.000359
0.000311 0.000289 0.000374 Kinematic Viscosity (cSt) 359 311 289 374

12. Calculating the kinematic viscosity at 1000 C : (T)= 0 * e-bT 0 = (T) / e-bT
(100) = ((T) / e-bT) * e-b(373) (Used to calculate the value of the constant b in the

equation) e-b(373) / e-bT = k (constant at a given temperature T) V(T) / V(100) = [0 *

e-bT / (t) ] / [ {0 * e-b(373)} / {(t) / 1 + ( 100 T ) } ] (Cancelling 0 and (T) from
the equation) V(T) / V(100) = [1 / k * {1 + ( 100 T ) } ] V(100) / V(T) = k * [1 +
( 100 T ) ] or V(100) / V(T) = [e-b(373) / e-bT ] * [1 + ( 100 T ) ] (This is a
hypothesised relation which may or may not hold true for all values that are entered into
it.)

13. CONCLUSION V(100) / V(T) = [e-b(373) / e-bT ] * [1 + ( 100 T ) ] This

equation puts all the values of kinematic viscosity of the oils in the SAE 40 Range.
Therefore any of the oils may be used as SAE 40 is suitable for prolonged use in cars.
But in order to compensate for the grime build-up and the fact that the engine may have
to start in colder weather as it is specified that the car is on its way to a hill station, the
least viscous oil should be used. This oil will ensure it doesnt get too thick at lower
temperatures and will still flow. With a dynamic viscosity of 0.023698 Kg/m3 and a
kinematic viscosity of 289 cSt, HP Milcy Turbo is the ideal engine oil.

14. BIBLIOGRAPHY WEBSITES: http://www.machinerylubrication.com

http://www.kittiwake.com http://www.carbibles.com http://www.racq.com.au
http://www.redlineoil.com http://www.upmpg.com http://www.olwinlube.com
http://www.kewengineering.co.uk http://www.howstuffworks.com
http://www.synlube.com/viscosity.html
http://www.widman.biz/English/Calculators/VI.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity_index http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagen%E2%80%93Poiseuille_equation
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/ppois.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature_dependence_of_liquid_viscosity
http://easycalculation.com/physics/classical-physics/kinematic-viscosity.php

15.
http://wwwmdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/aerothermal_dvd_only/aero/fprops/
propsoffluids/node5.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity#Dynamic_.28shear.29_viscosity
http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/EN/units-converter/viscositykinematic/184/centistokes-millimeter%C2%B2%2Fsecond/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_oil
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Tribology/Viscosity.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/kinematic-viscosity-d_397.html RESEARCH
PAPERS:
http://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/MNL/SOURCE_PAGES/DS39B_forewor
d.pdf
http://wwwpersonal.engin.umd.umich.edu/~ratts/me379fil/me379_lab_report_example.p
df
http://www.ideas4aged.com/uploads/3/7/0/4/3704787/stan_toepfer_understanding_motor
_oil_vi scosity.pdf http://www.kittiwake.com/sites/default/files/2%20%20Viscosity
%20Dec12_0.pdf
http://www.pipeflow.co.uk/public/articles/Viscosity_And_Density_Units_And_

Formula.pdf
http://biosystems.okstate.edu/Home/jcarol/Class_Notes/BAE2023_Spring200
9/viscosity_handout.pdf http://www.physics.usyd.edu.au/teach_res/jp/fluids/viscosity.pdf