Meeting the lubrication challenge

In response to market demands for oils to meet the lubrication challenges of today’s medium-speed engines in marine propulsion applications including highly

rated turbocharged engines, Castrol Marine has launched its new Castrol TLX Plus range of oils. This oil was developed

to handle the increasingly demanding engine operating conditions resulting from higher working temperatures and pressures, combined with smaller sumps and lower oil consumption.

Castrol TLX Plus is formulated using high quality base oils and supercedes the previous TLX series by incorporating a unique formulation of additive technology systems designed to overcome the adverse conditions seen in low oil consumption engines

operating with varying heavy

fuel qualities. It is available with 20, 30, 40 or 50 BN, and SAE 30 and 40 viscosity grades to suit differing fuel sulphur contents and engine builders’ requirements. Approved grades of BN 55 and higher can also be made available on demand for use when rapid base number depletion is experienced in low oil

consumption engines. These particular grades will further increase the time between oil drain intervals.

The company claims that its new lubricant excels in all the performance requirements

including:

?Exceeds API CF specification

? Superior wear performance

?Improved thermal and anti-oxidation stability

? Anti-rust against salt water

(as tested by IP 135B)

?High load carrying properties of FZG 11 for antiwear performance

? Excellent anti-foam properties

? Tolerant to water contamination

? Cleans and protects the engine whilst performing well in used oil analysis trends (by improved

ability to release dirt and water

in purifier cetrifuges).

The main advantage of Castrol TLX Plus is its ability to overcome the problems experienced by

conventional oils in low oil consumption engines operating on low quality heavy fuels and with possible fuel contamination of the crankcase oil.

Fuel contamination can result in the formation of black asphaltenic sludge in the crankcase, deposits in piston scraper rings, ring belt, and

critically in the piston cooling

cavities.

The oil also has a significantly improved capability to handle asphaltenic contaminants, which will lead to cleaner engines and much reduced piston deposits to achieve safely extended overhaul intervals. It is significantly advanced in its piston ring belt and under-crown cleanliness

performance.

To fully trial the performance of the product, Castrol Marine?s technical team subjected it to comprehensive bench and laboratory tests, as well as extensive field evaluations. Engines used in field trials included MAK 6M32, Pielstick 12PC2.6V, MAN L58/64 and Wärtsilä 12V38, operating in various demanding conditions. The tests comprised of over 20,000 hours of in-service

evaluation.

Caterpillar MAK tested the improved lubricant in an M43 engine, running at severe high load condition and, according

to MAK, the undercrown was

spotlessly clean with no deposit. The company commented “The result is remarkable because

typically some deposits are expected and always seen on other oils previously, even when running at less severe conditions.” Extremely successful results were found during the test of Castrol TLX Plus on a DFDS A/S Scandinavian Seaways passenger ferry. “In particular, we are very pleased that very good undercrown cleanliness was seen and that the piston ring cleanliness was outstanding. These results were obtained despite the low lubricating oil consumption during the field test.” said DFDS A/S. Leading four-stroke engine

manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce Bergen, Wärtsilä, MAN

B&W, Caterpillar MAK and Pielstick, as well as makers of ancillary equipment such as Valmet Gears and Blohm & Voss, have approved Castrol TLX

Plus. The new oil series will be available in over 700 ports in 75

countries worldwide.