Influence of oil temperature on gear failures

B. R. Höhn, K. Michaelis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

148 Scopus citations

Abstract

Typical gear failures like wear, scuffing, micropitting and pitting are influenced by the oil temperature in the lubrication system. High temperatures lead to low viscosities and thus thin lubricant films in the gear mesh with generally detrimental influence on failure performance. On the other hand, for gear oils with additives higher temperatures correspond with higher chemical activity and, at least in some cases, with better failure performance of the lubricant. Last, but not least, at very high temperatures even metallurgical changes have been found with a reduction in material endurance limits. Examples for the influence of oil temperature on gear failure modes, as well as their introduction into load carrying capacity calculation methods are shown. With this background, the often-applied practice of increasing the severity of a gear oil test method by increasing the oil temperature has to be revised. Adequate solutions are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)103-109
Number of pages7
JournalTribology International
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2004

Keywords

  • Gear failures
  • Gear oil test
  • Micropitting
  • Pitting
  • Scuffing
  • Wear

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