Influence of the position of oil drain holes of a piston on lubricating oil consumption

An increase in lubricating oil consumption in a gasoline engine causes an increase in particulate matters in exhaust gases, poisoning the catalyst after treatment devices, abnormal combustion in a turbo-charged gasoline engine, and so on. Recent trend of low friction of a piston and piston ring tends to increase in lubricating oil consumption. Therefore, reducing oil consumption is required strongly. In this study, the effect of the position of oil drain holes on oil pressure under the oil ring and lubricating oil consumption was investigated. The oil pressure under the oil ring is measured using fiber optic pressure sensors and pressure generation mechanisms were investigated. Lubricating oil consumption was also measured using sulfur tracer method and the effects of oil drain holes hence the oil pressure were evaluated. Four types of arrangement of oil drain holes were tested. The oil pressure variations under the oil ring in the circumferential direction was measured. An increase in oil pressure was found during down-stroke of the piston. The lowest oil pressure was found for the piston with four oil drain holes. Two holes nearby the front/rear end of the piston skirt showed relatively lower pressure. The measured results of oil consumption showed good agreement to measured oil pressure under the oil ring. It was found that oil pressure under the oil ring affected oil consumption, and oil drain holes set near the front/rear end of the piston skirt were effective for reducing oil consumption.