Lube Oil System

The lube oil system in a WDG3A locomotive plays a critical role in ensuring the proper functioning and longevity of its engine components.
The primary function of the lube oil system is to provide lubrication and cooling to various moving parts within the locomotive's diesel
engine. Here are the key functions of the lube oil system in a WDG3A locomotive:
Lubrication: The lube oil system is responsible for supplying lubricating oil to critical engine components such as crankshaft bearings,
camshafts, pistons, cylinder walls, and other moving parts. This reduces friction and wear between the metal surfaces, preventing premature
damage and enhancing the engine's overall efficiency.
Cooling: The lube oil also acts as a coolant, carrying away excess heat from the engine components. Diesel engines operate at high
temperatures due to the combustion process, and the lube oil system helps in dissipating some of this heat, preventing overheating and
potential engine failures.
Cleaning: The lube oil system helps in cleaning the engine parts by carrying away contaminants, debris, and combustion by-products that
may accumulate during engine operation. This prevents the formation of sludge and deposits, maintaining the engine's cleanliness and proper
functioning.
Corrosion protection: The lube oil contains additives that provide protection against corrosion and oxidation of engine components. This is
particularly important for the long-term health of the engine, especially in harsh operating conditions.
Sealing: The lube oil system also aids in sealing the gaps between moving parts, reducing oil leakage and ensuring proper compression
within the engine cylinders.
To ensure the lube oil system's efficiency and effectiveness, regular maintenance, proper oil level checks, and timely oil changes are essential.
Neglecting the lube oil system can lead to increased engine wear, reduced performance, and even severe engine damage, impacting the
locomotive's overall reliability and longevity.
Lube Oil System
The lubricating oil, besides providing a film of soft
slippery oil in between two frictional surfaces to
reduce friction and wear, also serve the following
purposes :-
• Cooling of bearings, pistons, etc.
• Protection of metal surfaces from corrosion, rust,
surface damage and wear.
• Keen the components clean and free from carbon,
lacquer deposits and prevent damage due to
deposits.

The system essentially consists of:

 Gear type oil circulating pump
 Relief valve
 Lube oil cooler
 Filters
 Regulating valve
 Strainer filters and associated pipelines.
Lube Oil System
The system essentially consists of t. he following
components:
 Gear type lube oil pump driven by the engine crankshaft.
 Spring loaded relief valve, adjusted to 7.5 kg/cm2.
 Lube oil filter tank accommodating eight nos. of filter elements.
 Differential bypass valve set at 1.4 kg/cm2 differential pressure
across the filter tank.
 Lube oil cooler, which has a bunch of element tubes through
which cooling water circulates and circulation of lube oil takes
place around the tubes.
 Regulating valve, which is a spring-loaded valve
adjusted to 5.5 kg/cm2.
 Lube oil strainer, which is a wire mesh type filter reusable after
cleaning.
 Oil pressure switch (OPS), which is meant to automatically
shut down the engine in case of a drop in lube oil pressure below
1.3 kg/cm2.
 Oil pressure gauge, which indicates the main oil
header pressure.
 Oil sump having capacity 1025 lt. RR606
multigrade oil.
 Trouble shooting of lube oil system
CAUSES OF LOW LUBE OIL CAUSES OF WATER CAUSES OF FUEL
• PRESSURE
Lube oil pump discharge capacity In case of water contamination white
CONTAMINATION InCONTAMINATION
case of fuel contamination, FIP fuel
low. smoke also comes from Crank case control rack may be locked if it is
• Diesel engine temps high. exhaust identified .
• Pressure setting of relief /regulating
• Cylinder liner O Ring defective. • NOZZLES Dribbling.
valve not adjusted properly
• Quality of lub oil • Cylinder liner sleeve defective . • Wrong setting of Fuel injection
• Cracked cylinder liner . timing in particular FIP.
• Choking of filter /strainer
• Low lub oil level in c/case. • Cracked cylinder head. • Cam lobe worn out and push rod
defective.
• Contaminated lub oil . (water/fuel oil) • TSC casing crack. • Improper cam gear setting .
• Low idling speed.
• Excessive/clearance in bearings.
Leakage in pipe line
Actions for reducing high lube oil consumption
 Ensure fitment of piston ring at 180’ to each other.
 Check engine sump vacuum at 8th notch, it should be 95 mm of water. Positive pressure or less vacuum will increase LOC.
 Clearance between cylinder liner & piston should be within limit not excess. For this check I/D of Liner and Diameter of
piston.
 Clearance between V/V and V/V guide should be within limit. Excess clearance causes heavy fuel oil consumption.
 Ensure proper maintenance of Turbine oil seal and blower oil seal in TSC. It should not leak.
 Prevent water contamination in lube oil. It causes consumption of high lube oil.
Spectrographic Analysis- METAL WEAR
CONCENTRATION
Spectrographic analysis of used crankcase oil is a valuable tool in providing warning about abnormal wear which may lead to
major breakdown such as piston or bearing seizure. It does not, however, give prior indication of a sudden failure of any
component due to fatigue. It may be said that spectrographic analysis of the used lube oil is analogous to the blood test of
human body with a view to detect the abnormality of the system.

ELEMENT ABNORM CRITIC REMARKS

AL PPM AL PPM
Copper (Cu) 10 20 Wear of bush. If lead is abnormal, main/connecting rod bearing wear
Lead (Pb) 5 10 Main/connecting rod, Turbocharger bearing wear
Tin Sn) 5 10 Main/connecting rod, Turbocharger bearing wear
Iron (Fe) 20 50 Wear of piston ring,piston,liners,crank- shaft journal, gear trains, cams etc. If only
iron is high, wear of gear train is suspected.
If iron is high along with Cu & Pb, wear of crankshaft journal is suspected.
If iron is high along with Cr & Al, wear of rings, piston or liners is suspected.
Chromium 5 10 If Na is normal, wear of liners is suspected. Otherwise water leakage
(Cr)
Sodium (Na) 30 100 Water leakage
Aluminum 5 10 Piston wear, , Inefficient filtration
(Al)