Page 78: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 1999)

Marine Engineering Oil Consumption of Medium Speed Diesel Engines Reliability and availability are of paramount importance to all users of internal combustion engines. Inherent engine design reliability must be com-plemented by a suitable periphery and the appropriate choice and treatment of working media such as lubricants and fuel. CIMAC Working Groups have a long tradition of preparing recommendations and guidelines for the internal combus-tion engine industry and its users. In performing this work, CIMAC takes advantage of its wide and competent international membership; Working Group -"Lubricant" is truly worldwide, with active members from Japan, U.S. and all round Europe/Scandinavia. Spe-cialists from all relevant background -Equipment/Engine Manufacturers, Oil Companies, Additive Companies, Clas-sification Society, Shipyard etc - meets twice a year and additionally in various sub-group to work on matters/guide-lines/recommendations to help better serve the industry. The work is done on a voluntary basis. The proof of its effort is shown by CIMAC Documents No. 13 and 15, which are Lubrication Guidelines for Trunk Piston Medium Speed Diesel Engines and two-Stroke cross-head diesel engines respectively. Success from these effort, has given impetus to the group in scoping other key industry issues, relating to lubrication, to work on. The WG has now completed anoth-er document entitled "Oil Consumption of Medium Speed Diesel Engines" and are also into the advance stages of final-izing four further documents, entitled as below, which are to be phased into the industry over 1999 to year 2000: ? The Impact of Fuels on Lubrication: 4 & 2-Stroke ? Lubrication of Large High Speed Engines ? Oil Degradation ? Gas Engine Lubrication Oil Consumption of Medium Speed Diesel Engines Today's medium speed engines vary in oil consumption from as low as ~0.15g/kW-hr to several times this fig-ure. Added to the severity of low oil consumption, engine oil sump sizing is not getting any bigger. Against these complexity, there are a variety of engines in service ? varying from medium/high speed engines (typically on distillate fuel) down to large medium speed engines of lower rpm traditional-ly on heavy fuel ? which may have dif-ferent practices with regard to oil sump changes, oil treatment, oil type etc. The requirement/impact of one engine on distillate fuel and with regular oil change interval (stipulated by the engine builder) is different compared to anoth-er on heavy fuel, and which works its sump to the oil condemning limit (based on used oil analysis) and changes its sump on that basis. All these gave good reason for a document to thoroughly discuss the issues and bring it to the You Handle Production... ... Let Us Supply the People At Ameri-Force, Inc. we have been supplying top notch craftspeople to major U.S Shipyards since 1991. What do we have to offer? Quality Craftspeople: Welders Ship Fitters Pipefitters Pipewelders ? Machinists ? Electricians ? Riding Crews ? Offshore Workers Why Choose Ameri-Force? We Deliver: ? Quality Personnel ? Insurance to meet your needs ? Quick Response Time ? Professional coordination ? Safety Trained Workforce ? Extensive Marine Experience AMERI-FORCE, INC. 1 800 633-4096 www. ameriforce. com The Work Force Specialists AMEHI-FORCE AMEHI-FOHCE 74 Circle 206 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News