Lubricant base stock-surface interaction

Superior performance is by far the most desirable aspect of any Spark Ignition (SI) engine that is designed for competition use. This is closely followed by a predictable life expectancy of the unit. A major aspect that can seriously affect both performance and longevity of the unit are the frictional losses and wear of the reciprocating components within the engine. One of the major areas where frictional losses and excessive wear that can reduce performance at an alarming rate is the first compression ring/cylinder liner interface. This investigation uses lateral force microscopy to determine the congruity of matching individual base stock components to liner material/substrate combinations.