The Effect of Shear Rate and Shear Stress on Viscosity Determinations at Low Temperatures for Engine Oils

Kenneth O. Henderson; Julia M. Sicking

doi:10.4271/902091

1990-10-01

The Effect of Shear Rate and Shear Stress on Viscosity Determinations at Low Temperatures for Engine Oils 902091

The viscosity of engine lubricants was measured at multiple shear rates by a unique Scanning Brookfield apparatus. These oils included both Pumpability Reference Oils (PRO) and a selection of today's commercial multigrade oils. It was found that the viscosity of “flow-limited” oils remained constant when the shear rate decreased. Oils with “air-binding” properties exhibited an increase in viscosity with decreasing shear rate. The magnitude of a change in “slope of the temperature/viscosity profile was found to suggest the degree of air-binding character of an oil.

The flow characteristics of PRO 1, 3, 9, 11, and 16 were measured at several shear stresses and temperatures in the Mini-Rotary Viscometer. The Scanning Brookfield technique and the Mini-Rotary Viscometer were found to yield similar results when the shear stress of the Mini-Rotary Viscometer was reduced from 525 to 35 Pascals.

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The Effect of Shear Rate and Shear Stress on Viscosity Determinations at Low Temperatures for Engine Oils 902091

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