Technical Organizations & Standards
A.A.M.A. (American Automobile Manufacturers Association): American Automobile Manufacturers Association.
A.C.E.A. (Association of European Automotive Manufacturers): Association of European Automotive Manufacturers. Consequently, ACEA defines performance standards for European vehicles.
A.C.S. (American Chemical Society): American Chemical Society.
AFNOR (Association Français de Normalisation): French Standardization Association.
A.G.M.A. (American Gear Manufacturers’ Association): American Gear Manufacturers’ Association.
API (American Petroleum Institute): American Petroleum Institute. Essentially, it represents the US petroleum industry and sets key engine oil standards.
ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials): American Society for Testing and Materials.
BIA (Boating Industry Association): Boating Industry Association.
BSI (British Standards Institution): British Standards Institution.
CEC (Coordinating European Council): Coordinating European Council.
CMA (Chemical Manufacturers Association): Chemical Manufacturers Association.
CRC (Coordinating Research Council): Coordinating Research Council.
DIN (Deutsche Industrie Normen): German Industrial Standards.
EMA (Engine Manufacturers Association): Engine Manufacturers Association.
ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization & Approval Committee): International Lubricant Standardization & Approval Committee.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization): International Organization for Standardization.
JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association): Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
JASO (Japan Automobile Standards Organization): Japanese Automobile Standards Organization.
JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards): Japanese Industrial Standards.
JSAE (Society of Automotive Engineers, Japan): Society of Automotive Engineers, Japan.
MVMA (Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association): Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association.
NALSAS (North American Lubricant Standardization & Approval System): North American Lubricant Standardization & Approval System.
NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute): National Lubricating Grease Institute. For example, this organization classifies greases by their worked penetration.
NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association): National Marine Manufacturers Association.
NVMA (National Vehicle Manufacturers Association): National Vehicle Manufacturers Association.
Oil and Lubrication Technical Terms (A-Z)
Absolute Viscosity: This is a fluid’s resistance to flow. In other words, its unit of measurement is the poise.
Adherence (Adhesion): The force that attracts one substance to another.
Alkali: Basic substances in lubricating oil. Therefore, they neutralize acids to prevent corrosive wear.
Bleeding: This occurs when a grease separates and releases its oil component during storage.
Cavitation: A condition where moving oil temporarily fails to coat a surface.
Cohesion: The force that holds the particles of a substance together.
Compressed Air: Air kept at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Thus, it is used in many industrial applications.
Friction: The force that acts in the opposite direction to motion.
Kinematic Viscosity: The ratio of a fluid’s absolute viscosity to its density. Specifically, it is measured in stokes.
Lubricating Oil: A substance used to minimize friction between moving surfaces. As a result, it prolongs machine life.
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets): Material Safety Data Sheets.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers): Original Equipment Manufacturers.
Pour Point: The lowest temperature at which an oil will flow before it thickens.
TBN (Total Base Number): This indicates the amount of alkaline substance in an oil (unit: mgKOH/g). Therefore, a high TBN is vital for diesel oils using sulfurous fuel.
Additives and Their Properties
Additive: A substance added to oil to impart or enhance specific properties.
Additive Stability: The ability of additives to maintain their performance during use and storage.
Anti-Wear Additives: Additives that prevent wear, thereby extending component service life.
COP (Code of Practice): Code of Practice.
Corrosion Inhibitors: Additives that protect metal surfaces from acidic residues by forming a protective film.
Detergent Additives: These are basic salts that reduce high-temperature deposits. Thus, they ensure engine cleanliness.
Dispersant Additives: Ashless additives that delay the formation of sludge at low temperatures.
Emulsifying Additives (Emulsion Additives): Substances that prevent rust by trapping water that enters machinery.
EP (Extreme Pressure) Additives: Additives that increase oil film strength and load-carrying capacity under severe pressure.
Foam Inhibitors (Anti-Foam Additives): Additives that help oil separate easily from air, preventing foam.
HDDEO (Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil): Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oil.
Hydrodynamic Lubrication (Thick Film): A regime where the oil film thickness is greater than 6000 Angstroms.
Hydrostatic Lubrication (Thin Film): A regime where the oil film thickness is less than 6000 Angstroms.
Metal Passivators: Additives that prevent the metal from catalyzing chemical reactions in the oil.
Oxidation Inhibitors (Anti-Oxidants): Additives that prevent oil oxidation, thereby prolonging the life of the oil and the machine.
Oleic Acid: An organic acid used in lubricating oil as a mild EP additive.
Pour Point Depressant (PPD): Polymeric substances that prevent oil solidification at low temperatures. Consequently, they are critical for winter operation.
Rust Inhibitor (Anti-Rust Additive): Polar organic compounds that prevent moisture from causing rust on metal surfaces.
Tackiness Additive (Adhesiveness Additive): Soap compounds that provide high cohesion. As a result, the oil does not drip from bearings.
Thickeners: Substances that turn oil into grease. Moreover, they control the grease’s fundamental performance.
VII (Viscosity Index Improver Additives): Oil-soluble polymers that reduce the effect of temperature on viscosity.
Worked Penetration: A grease’s consistency value, measured after it has been mechanically worked.