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RESULTS of an experimental study of the viscosity characteristics of motor oils at low temperatures and their influence upon cranking torque and circulation within the engine are presented by the authors. At temperatures in the neighborhood of 0 deg. fahr., even oils of asphaltic origin appear to possess some plastic characteristics, while those of the mixed and paraffin-base types deviate widely from the generally accepted laws of viscous flow. Oils of these latter classes have apparent viscosities which tend to increase with decreasing shearing-stress and to become somewhat greater than might be expected from a study of their characteristics at normal temperatures. However, as resistance to cranking the engine is due mainly to oil in thin films on the cylinder walls, the relatively small temperature-viscosity coefficient of the wax-bearing oils gives them a marked advantage over those of asphaltic origin, an advantage which becomes greater as the temperature is lowered.

THE PAPER suggests a criterion for the tendency toward overheating of plain journal bearings of the high-speed type. The application of a criterion consisting of the product of oil viscosity by the square of the running speed is considered on a heat-balance basis and is compared with a series of observations of crankcase temperatures in a number of typical cars. Quoting the fact that in a plain journal bearing the coefficient of friction is a function of the term “viscosity times rate of sheer divided by unit load,” the author states the symbols and units employed and analyzes heat generation in the fluid film. An analysis of the dissipation of frictional heat is presented also, together with a discussion of the subject of bearing-temperature estimation. Curves are presented which resulted from data based on observations taken during a series of tests on a number of representative passenger-cars on the Indianapolis Speedway.