Fundamentals of Lubrication and Tribology
Friction, wear, viscosity and base oils: the ground every lubricant professional stands on.
- Level
- Foundation
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Format
- Online
- Lessons
- 5
About this programme
This programme explains what an engine oil has to do and why. It starts with friction and wear, moves through the lubrication regimes and viscosity, and ends with base oils and the role of additives.
No chemistry background is assumed. It is the recommended starting point for every other programme in the academy.
What you will be able to do
- Explain the jobs an engine oil does besides reducing friction
- Read a Stribeck curve and name the three lubrication regimes
- Interpret SAE viscosity grades and viscosity index
- Distinguish the API base-oil groups
- Describe in plain words what the main additive types do
Lessons
-
Friction, wear and why engines need oil
The five jobs of an engine oil and the main ways metal wears.
-
Lubrication regimes and the Stribeck curve
Boundary, mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication, and where each occurs in an engine.
-
Viscosity, viscosity index and SAE grades
What the numbers on the bottle mean and how they are measured.
-
Base oils: API Groups I to V
Where base oils come from and how the five groups differ.
-
What additives add
A first map of the additive families and the problem each one solves.
Who it is for
- Workshop technicians and service advisers
- Lubricant sales and counter staff
- New laboratory and blending-plant staff
Other programmes
- UTR-150 Certified Product Advisor For workshop and sales staff: match the right additive to the problem and explain it honestly.
- UTR-201 Engine-Oil Additive Chemistry How each additive family works at the metal surface and in the bulk oil, and how they interact.
- UTR-240 Oil Analysis and Condition Monitoring Take a representative sample, understand the tests and read a laboratory report with confidence.