Automotive lubricants for the next millennium

Abstract

During the first decades of the next millennium, automobile manufacturers will strive to achieve, in the USA, another twofold increase in energy efficiency and tenfold reduction in emission levels. On the way to achieving these goals, automobile manufacturers will be improving efficiency and emissions of internal combustion engines, while minimizing customer servicing requirements, as well as introducing new unconventional engine technologies and gradually changing energy sourcing from oil to gas, and possibly to hydrogen. Numerous supporting technologies, such as electronics, computers, sensors, fuels, catalysts, lubricants, etc., will be involved in contributing to engine system improvements. This paper describes expected improvements and changes in lubricant technology and points out the need for development of “breakthrough” technologies which could satisfy the near‐term requirements and eventually in the long term, in combination with novel surface technologies and engine design changes, lead to fill‐for‐life engine lubrication.