DEVELOPMENT OF A FUEL DILUTION DETECTOR (FDD)
KAPILA, F. P.
Abstract
Excessive unburned fuel in the oil can reduce oil
viscosity and reduce oil-film thickness. It is generally accepted that a fuel
dilution of 5% is the maximum failure limit. This corresponds to a reduction
of approximately one SAE grade.
For many years the only field method available for detecting fuel dilution in
crankcase oil was monitoring for changes in kinetic viscosity. It involves side-
by- side visual comparison of lubricant samples taken from an engine with an
uncontaminated "standard" lubricant. This test requires a skilled
operator and a lubricant standard that is from the same lube oil source as the
engine sample in order for the comparisons to be valid. The physical properties,
mainly, colour, of the used engine oil reduces method's precision.
Key words:
fuel dilution detector fuel dilution, lubricants,
viscosity, oil-film thickness