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Over the past several years the FZG A/8.3/90 test method has been used to evaluate current qualified aviation lubricants. The results of the effort have been summarized in this document as a historical reference to document the findings made from the committee.

This test method describes a standardized process to evaluate the an aviation lubricant’s resistance to oxidation and corrosion-based degradation and to evaluate the fluid’s tendency to corrode various metals. Fluids are evaluated under a low-moisture atmosphere at a variety of times and temperatures.

This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) is intended to evaluate corrosion inhibiting properties of synthetic gas turbine lubricants and gearbox oils.

This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) is intended to evaluate corrosion inhibiting properties of synthetic gas turbine lubricants and gearbox oils.

Employing ‘ball-on-cylinder’ philosophy, a non-rotating steel ball is held in a vertically mounted chuck and using an applied load is forced against an axially mounted steel cylinder. The test cylinder is rotated at a fixed speed while being partially immersed in a lubricant reservoir. This maintains the cylinder in a wet condition and continuously transports a lubricating film of test fluid to the ball and cylinder interface. The diameter of the wear scar generated on the test ball is used as a measure of the fluid’s lubricating properties. The apparatus can be used, by adjusting the operating conditions, to reproduce two different wear mechanisms; mild and severe wear, the ALTE therefore has the ability to assess a lubricant’s performance in that regard. These mechanisms are described below.

This method is designed to evaluate the coking propensity of synthetic ester-based aviation lubricants under two phase air-oil mist conditions as found in certain parts of a gas turbine engine, for instance, bearing chamber vent lines. Based on the results from round robin data in 2008–2009 from four laboratories, this method is currently intended to provide a comparison between lubricants as a research tool; it is not currently a satisfactory pass/fail test. At this juncture a reference oil may improve reproducibility (precision between laboratories); a formal precision statement will be given when there is satisfactory data and an agreed on, suitable reference oil if applicable.

There has been a recent upsurge in interest from the media concerning the quality of the environment within aircraft cabins and cockpits especially in the commercial world. This has included (although by no means been limited to) the air quality, with particular reference to the alleged effects of contamination from the aircraft turbine lubricant. Possible exposure to 'organophosphates' (OPs) from the oil has raised special concerns from cabin crew. Such is the concern that government organisations around the world, including Australia, USA and UK, have set up committees to investigate the cabin air quality issue. Concern was also voiced in the aviation lubricants world at the way in which OP additives in turbine lubricants were being blamed in some reports for the symptoms being experienced by air crew and passengers. SAE Committee E-34 therefore decided that it should gather as much available information on the subject as possible.

This AIR describes the current scientific and engineering principles of gas turbine lubricant performance testing per AS5780 and identifies gaps in our understanding of the technology to help the continuous improvement of this specification.

The intent is to provide a reference which explains the types of possible changes to AS5780 products and provide appropriate context to the QPG. All product change requests to the QPG will be evaluated on their merits recognizing the content of this AIR is guidance only.

This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) establishes guidance for the specification of formulated lubricant properties which contribute to the lubricating function in bearings, gears, clutches and seals of aviation propulsion and drive systems.

This AIR establishes guidance for the specification of formulated lubricant properties which contribute to the lubricating function in bearings, gears, clutches and seals of aviation propulsion and drive systems.

This SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) establishes guidance for the specification of formulated lubricant properties which contribute to the lubricating function in bearings, gears, clutches, and seals of aviation propulsion and drive systems.

This AIR establishes guidance for the specification of formulated lubricant properties which contribute to the lubricating function in bearings, gears, clutches and seals of aviation propulsion and drive systems.

This method is designed to evaluate the micropitting performance of currently available and future aviation turbine oil formulations. Drawing on previously performed tests documented in AIR6989, the method comprises of three rings rotating against a rotating central roller configuration using the standard, commercially available PCS Instruments Micropitting Rig (MPR). A test profile has been developed between industry and academia that relies on standard, commercially available test specimens.

This AIR describes the current scientific and engineering principles of gas turbine lubricant performance testing per AS5780 and identifies gaps in our understanding of the technology to help the continuous improvement of this specification.

The test method describes the procedure for the direct determination of water concentration in polyol ester and diester based aerospace lubricants by commercially available automated coulometric Karl Fischer titration instruments. The method was validated to cover the water concentration range of 150 to 3500 µg/g. The method may also be suitable for the determination of water concentrations outside this range and for other classes of fluids; however, the precision statement shall not be applicable for such uses.

Aviation oils provide thin lubricating films between highly stressed bearing, gear and other lubricated contacts. The stresses and shear rates cause rapid rheological changes in the oil which affect the traction (friction) between the surfaces. Thin film dynamic forces are associated with the molecular structure of the oil provided by the oil supplier. Traction force divided by the normal load (i.e. traction coefficient) can be viewed as a fundamental property of aviation oil. Its value is a function of stress, temperature and shear rate. Appropriate measurements are made under dynamic conditions to characterize aviation oil products for engineering design purposes and service performance prediction.

The intent of this SAE Aerospace Information Report (AIR) is to summarize and review the E34 committee’s efforts to educate the aerospace propulsion lubrication community on the science of micropitting, its consequences, and the various tribology evaluation methods that can be employed under aviation related conditions to differentiate formulation related aggravating factors.

This method is intended to evaluate the thermal and oxidative stability of synthetic, ester-based aviation lubricants under defined conditions of time and temperature. This method is applicable to lubricants meeting the compositional and performance requirements of AS5780.

This method is designed to evaluate the coking propensity of synthetic ester-based aviation lubricants under two phase air-oil mist conditions as found in certain parts of a gas turbine engine, for instance, bearing chamber vent lines. Based on the results from round robin data in 2008-2009 from four laboratories, this method is currently intended to provide a comparison between lubricants as a research tool; it is not currently a satisfactory pass/fail test. At this juncture a reference oil may improve reproducibility (precision between laboratories); a formal precision statement will be given when there is satisfactory data and an agreed on, suitable reference oil if applicable.