A Search for Ecofriendly Detergent/Dispersant Additives for Vegetable-Oil Based Lubricants

Carbonaceous deposits in automotive engines are the major problems associated with oil aging. Efficient detergents and dispersants have been used for several decades to solve this problem particularly in petroleum oils. But future lubricants and new engine hardware require development of new nontoxic detergent/dispersant additive technologies. Environmental concerns limit the formulation of the future lubricants. It requires not only the base oil to be ecofriendly but the additives also. In the present work, some of the potential ecofriendly chemical’s molecules were identified. Specific detergents applications along with effects of chemical modifications were evaluated by Blotters Spot and Panel Coker Tests. Among the studied compounds, the PIB (polyisobutylene) succinimides are showing promising results at lower temperature, while at higher temperature piperazine derivatives citrate and oleate have the best potential to be develop as ecofriendly detergent/dispersant additives.