Abstract
Semi-volatile in internal combustion engine lubricating oil may be responsible for limiting service life and can lead to in-cylinder deposit formation. In order to measure semivolatile content, a new thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) procedure has been adapted from existing soot procedures to determine the levels of semi-volatile compounds in progressively aged lubricating oil samples from a natural gas engine dynamometer test cell run. The per cent weight remaining at 550 °C, while heated at a constant rate in an inert atmosphere, varied linearly with running time, viscosity, and oxidation and nitration. The method yielded reproducible run-to-run results and showed good agreement between helium and argon atmospheres. Mass spectroscopy data confirmed increased levels of high molecular weight species during engine operation. This method may be applicable to diesel engine oil samples.
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