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Two programs were conducted to study the relationships between engine oil rheology and crankshaft bearing wear. A Chassis Dynamometer test of four oils in four cars was used to explore and define the key variables affecting bearing wear. These results were used to design a Field Test of nine oils in 45 taxicabs in New York City. The test oils (SAE OW-20 to 20W-20) were formulated to measure the effects of viscosity, viscosity index improver, and detergent inhibitor package. Bearing wear tended to be either low and unremarkable or very high, particularly in the thrust bearings. Oil performance was best expressed as the frequency of excessive wear, rather than by quantitative wear measurement. There were many instances of very high wear in cabs operated with the lowest viscosity oils but none in cabs with higher viscosity oils.

The first measurements of oil film thickness in the main bearings of an engine in an operating vehicle are reported. Experiments have been conducted during 0-65 mph vehicle acceleration on a test track. With some commercial oils, upon initial vehicle acceleration, oil films on the order of 0.01-0.1 microns occur. As the acceleration progresses the thickness of the minimum oil film occurring in each engine cycle increases and reaches a plateau beyond the first transmission shift. Under identical conditions the shape and magnitude of the minimum oil film thickness traces are different for different main engine bearings.