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Numerical Investigation on Oil Pan Design Parameters to Improve Engine Performance During Oil Cool Down and Warm Up Periods

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Abstract

For developing automotive industry, one of the focusing point is reduction of engine friction level to decrease both engine emissions and fuel consumption. Important part of researchers have focused on cold engine start period, which has higher friction loses. Shorter warm up period and faster heating of engine oil help to provide better engine performance. Not only warm up time but also better cool down period after engine stops, dramatically effects engine efficiency. If oil temperature stays hot for longer time during the vehicle key-off duration, it brings an important advantageous at the next start. Main purpose of this study is to investigate oil temperature changes depending on the design parameters of the oil pan. This investigation is done for oil warm up and cool down periods by mathematical model, which is validated for 2.0 L and 4 cylinders diesel engine. Design improvement combinations against base steel oil pan has been examined throughly in terms of oil temperature changes, warm up and cool down time, fictional loses and weight reduction opportunity. As a result, 5 mm thickness plastic oil pan with windage tray application is the best solution option since it brings both 12.5 % friction decreasing in cold start after 2 hours key-off duration, and 43 % weight reduction.

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Abbreviations

A :

surface area of the piston skirt, m2

a :

ampirical constant of engine to calculate friction mean effective pressure

c :

main bearing and shaft radial clearance, m

c oil :

oil specific heat, J/kg·K

c p :

fluid specific heat, J/kg·K

FMEP:

friction mean effective pressure, bar

FMEPfully warm :

friction mean effective pressure for fully warm oil condition, bar

Gr :

Grashof number

g :

gravity force, m/s2

H oil :

convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

h air :

oil pan wall convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

h oil pan wall :

oil pan wall convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

h piston skirt :

convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

k :

fluid thermal conductivity, J/m·K

k oil pan wall :

oil pan wall thermal conductivity, J/m·K

h ref :

reference convection heat transfer coefficient, W/m2K

L :

height of heat transfer surface, m

l :

main bearing total length, m

M :

frictional torque in main bearing, Nm

n :

engine speed, rpm

Nu :

Nusselt number

Pr :

Prandtl number

r :

main bearing radius, m

Ra :

Rayleigh number

T oil :

engine oil temperature, °C

T piston skirt :

piston skirt surface temperature, °C

Q oil :

heat transfer from piston skirt to engine oil, W

ρ :

fluid density, kg/m3

μ :

dynamic viscosity, poise

μ fully warm :

dynamic viscosity for fully warm oil condition, poise

β :

fluid thermal expansion coefficient, K−1

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Acknowledgement

Authors would like to thank Ford Otosan Team for providing support on writing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engine Engineering, Ford Otosan Research and Development Center, Akpinar Mahallesi, Hasan Basri Cd. No:2, Sancaktepe, Istanbul, 34885, Turkey

    Yusuf Kartal

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Besiktas, Istanbul, 34349, Turkey

    Yusuf Kartal & Ovun Isin

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  1. Yusuf Kartal
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  2. Ovun Isin
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Correspondence to Yusuf Kartal.

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Kartal, Y., Isin, O. Numerical Investigation on Oil Pan Design Parameters to Improve Engine Performance During Oil Cool Down and Warm Up Periods. Int.J Automot. Technol. 20, 465–475 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-019-0044-5

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