Automotive Engine Tribology: Fuel Economy and Durability

The improvement in fuel economy and consequent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is a major challenge for the automotive industry, driven by global environmental demands and legislation. For the tribologist this means reduced friction in the engine and transmission and its retention as the engine oil and hardware age, without increasing wear and compromising durability and reliability. Recent developments in automotive engine tribology at the speaker's institution are reviewed in this presentation, encompassing experimental and modelling tools and their application to achieving more environmentally acceptable automotive power trains.