Splash lubrication applies oil to engine parts through immersion and spraying. Suitable for small engines, it can be combined with force-feed lubrication. Gear teeth can also be splash lubricated. Oil viscosity and purity affect effectiveness, and it helps regulate temperature by absorbing heat.
Splash lubrication is a method of applying lubricant, a compound that reduces friction, to parts of a machine. In splash lubrication of an engine, the rocker arms on the connecting rod bearing caps are immersed in oil with each rotation. As the rocker arms exit the trough, oil is sprayed onto the cylinders and pistons, lubricating them.
Experts agree that splash lubrication is suitable for small engines such as those used in lawn mowers and outboard boat engines, but not for automobile engines. This is because the amount of oil in the trough has a dramatic impact on how well engine parts can be lubricated. If there is not enough oil, the amount sprayed on the machine will be insufficient. Too much oil will cause over lubrication, which can also cause problems.
Engines are often lubricated through a combination of splash lubrication and force-feed. In some cases, an oil pump keeps the channel filled so that the engine bearings can always spray enough oil onto the other engine parts. As the engine accelerates, so does the oil pump, producing a flow of lubricant powerful enough to directly coat the rocker arms and ensure sufficient spray. In other cases, the oil pump directs the oil to the bearings. Holes drilled in the bearings allow it to flow to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings, lubricating them in the process.
The gears in enclosed gear drives can also be splash lubricated. In this case it is the gear tooth that is dipped in the oil, which is then smeared on the meshing gear teeth as it spins. Experts recommend this method of gear lubrication for medium and high speeds and grease lubrication for lower speeds.
In addition to reducing the amount of friction in an engine or gearbox, splash lubrication also helps regulate system temperature. Friction generates heat, and oil is able to absorb and dissipate some of that heat, protecting the gears from further wear.
The effectiveness of splash lubrication is determined in part by the type of oil used. Experts recommend an oil thick enough to provide sufficient lubrication, but not so viscous that it heats up when agitated in the oil channel. The purity of the oil is also a factor and it is recommended that oil used in splash lubrication be filtered regularly and topped up when necessary.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
