Lubrication Facts & Knowledge

The oil used in power plant steam turbines must be extraordinarily clean, often filtered to remove particles smaller than a human red blood cell. Even microscopic contamination can cause catastrophic damage when turbine blades spin at thousands of revolutions per minute. A single...

Mechanics sometimes place a drop of used engine oil on paper towel and let it dry overnight. The oil spreads in rings, with heavy particles staying in the center while...

The grease inside cordless drills and impact drivers can reach temperatures of 200°F (93°C) during heavy use, which is why manufacturers use special high-temperature greases. Regular household greases would break down and leak out of the gearbox within minutes under these conditions. This...

When ice skaters glide, the pressure and friction from the blade actually melts a microscopic layer of ice beneath it, creating a self-lubricating water film. This natural lubricant lets skaters reach speeds over 50 km/h with minimal...

A typical lawn mower engine holds less than half a liter of oil but spins at over 3,000 RPM while running much hotter than car engines due to air cooling. The oil must protect engine parts in extreme heat with minimal cooling assistance, which is why using the wrong...

Researchers are developing lubricants from ionic liquids, which are salts that remain liquid at room temperature. Unlike traditional oils made from hydrocarbon chains, these liquids are made entirely of charged particles that conduct electricity....

Modern engines can burn a small amount of oil during normal operation without any defect. Car manufacturers often consider oil consumption of up to one quart per 1,000 miles acceptable, especially in high-performance engines. This happens...

Synthetic oils outperform conventional oils partly because their molecules are remarkably uniform in size and shape. In mineral oil refined from crude petroleum, molecules vary wildly, creating unpredictable behavior at temperature extremes. Synthetic oils are...

Most engine wear happens during cold starts when oil is thick and hasn't circulated yet. In the first 30 seconds after starting, metal parts can briefly touch before full oil pressure...

Large observatory telescopes require special low-temperature lubricants because they often operate in cold mountain locations or even at freezing temperatures. Regular oils would become too thick and affect the telescope's ability to smoothly...