VIB Test Bench Successfully Commissioned at Lanzhou Lubricant Evaluation Center

In line with the development needs of lubricant bench evaluation, PetroChina's Lanzhou Lubricant Research and Development Center cooperated with Southwest Research Institute to successfully introduce a Lubricant Fuel-Efficiency Performance Test Stand for evaluating the energy-saving performance of premium internal combustion engine oils, known as the Program VIB test bench. The test and evaluation platform completed installation and commissioning in the laboratory of the Lubricant Evaluation Center on May 12.
With the development of the automotive and machinery industries, lubricants are increasingly closely tied to social needs, and performance requirements for lubricants are rising. The prerequisite for developing premium internal combustion engine oils is the simultaneous possession of advanced additive research and formulation technology together with matching advanced bench evaluation methods. The successful introduction of the Program VIB test bench provides the necessary hardware support for further implementing the Lubricant Company's development goals and for the bench evaluation of premium gasoline engine oils.
Based on fuel consumption test benches, API and ILSAC strictly specify indicators for fuel savings by gasoline engine oils in the specifications they issue. Their test methods are mainly ASTM Procedures VI, VIA and VIB. These test methods are suitable for measuring how lubricants reduce friction in gasoline engines to improve fuel consumption rates. The SL/GF-3 gasoline engine oil specification places even greater emphasis on the durability of a product's fuel economy, requiring not only that new oil has a fuel-saving effect but also that used oil retains a certain energy-saving effect. As specifications are upgraded, the performance requirement for fuel savings is gradually raised, and the next-generation GF-4 specification sets an even higher bar for this indicator. Establishing a fuel economy test bench is therefore essential.
The Lubricant Fuel-Efficiency Performance Test Stand introduced and installed by the evaluation center of the Lanzhou Lubricant R&D Center can meet the requirements for GF-3 and GF-4 fuel economy testing and evaluation of premium gasoline engine oils. The test engine is a 1993 Ford 4.6-liter V-8 gasoline engine with a fuel injection system. The engine used in testing is in original factory configuration and does not need to be disassembled; it is tested in as-delivered condition, ensuring that the test data is authentic and valid.