Lubmarine new lubricant

TOTAL Lubmarine has developed a new cylinder lubricant specially designed for use with low-sulphur fuels. The lubricant, TALUSIA LS 40, has successfully completed in-service tests and is now approved by MAN B&W and WARTSILA Sulzer designs. TALUSIA LS 40 is available in the major European ports and should be available in selected ports worldwide in 2005. Low-sulphur fuel will be compulsory in certain waters from May 2005 following the ratification of MARPOL Annex VI.

Claude Ouvrier-Buffet, head of TOTAL Lubmarine’s Technical Department, says, “TALUSIA LS 40 retains the same levels of detergency, anti-wear properties and thermal stability that operators have come to expect from our well-known TALUSIA HR 70, but has been designed especially for low-speed engines burning low-sulphur fuel. TALUSIA HR 70 has already proven in service that it is possible to reach low lube oil feed rates with perfect security, and the same possibility – and potential cost saving – is offered to our customers with the new TALUSIA LS 40.”

When a low-sulphur fuel is burnt there is less acid production, so the lube oil should be switched to a lower base number to avoid excess alkalinity, which can lead to a build-up of deposits, especially on the piston crown. However, formulating a lubricant to cope with low-sulphur fuel oil is not just a question of diluting existing products. Dilution would reduce alkalinity, but would not leave enough detergency to protect the engine from a build-up of deposit precursors. TALUSIA LS 40 also has increased detergent properties to ensure that the engine is kept clean and protected from wear and corrosion.