EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS THROUGH USE OF SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS

Cost and environmental benefits of extended-drain engine lubrication were evaluated by means of a two-year field program at Letterkenny Army Depot, Pennsylvania. Four MIL-L-46152 crankcase lubricants (two mineral and two synthetic-base) were utilized in routine post operation. Each lubricant was assigned to one of four 25-vehicle fleets, and each fleet then operated exclusively on that lubricant. During this time there were no engine failures that could be attributed to the extended-drain program. Therefore, it is concluded that (a) extended-drain engine operation has potential for both economic and ecological benefits to Army field operations, and (b) the synthetic lubricants employed showed no particular performance advantages over the mineral oils. Consequently, the higher cost of synthetic lubricants would make them less attractive for widespread Army utilization. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  Department of Mechanical Sciences
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78284

  Army Tank-Automotive Command

  Army Fuels and Lubricants Research Laboratory
  Warren, MI  United States  48090
• Authors:
  • Tosh, J D
  • Russell, J A
• Publication Date: 1977-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Costs; Crankcases; Drainage; Economic factors; Engine oils; Environmental impacts; Environmental policy; Field tests; Lubricating oils; Maintenance; Materials; Military organizations; Mineral oils; Motor vehicles; Oil filters; Operations; Specifications; Synthetics; Test procedures; Time intervals; Waste disposal
• Uncontrolled Terms: Operational test and evaluation
• Old TRIS Terms: Cost benefits; Military requirements
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00169426
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AFLRL-91 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DAAG53-75-C-0232
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM