Federal-Mogul Corp. has announced the availability of its proven,
innovative two-piece oil ring design for direct-injection gasoline
engines, previously developed for high-demanding diesel applications.
The patented LKZ oil control ring reduces oil consumption by up to 50
percent and friction by up to 15 percent, compared to the best
conventional two-piece oil rings, according to Federal-Mogul. The
additional benefits of this improved engine performance, the company
says, are fuel economy, CO2 reduction and longer oil life.
“There are very few technologies that provide such an easily
implemented improvement in fuel economy and emissions reduction as LKZ
rings,” said Rainer Jueckstock, Federal-Mogul senior vice president of
Powertrain Energy.
Widely used in both light- and heavy-duty diesel applications, LKZ
rings are ideal for the highly loaded conditions increasingly seen in
gasoline engines, particularly more sophisticated units with direct
injection.
“We are seeing strong interest for gasoline applications because of the
immediate fuel economy benefit and reduction in CO2 at low cost,”
Jueckstock added.
Typical piston rings apply equal pressure to the cylinder bore on the
downstroke, toward the crankcase, and on the upstroke, toward the
combustion chamber. Federal-Mogul’s LKZ ring combines a stepped surface
and taper on its contacting edge, which provides a well-defined
pressure to the cylinder wall on the downstroke and a significantly
lesser effect on the upstroke. The downstroke pressure more effectively
returns the oil that lubricates the cylinder to the oil pan, as opposed
to allowing oil to enter the combustion chamber where it may create
carbon on the spark plug or on the cylinder head and increase oil
consumption.
“The LKZ ring is so effective in pulling oil away from the combustion
chamber and in reducing oil consumption that we are able to improve
ring tension and reduce friction,” said Johannes Esser, Federal-Mogul’s
director of engineering, Rings and Liners. “Reduced ring friction
requires less energy, which means better fuel economy and less CO2
emissions.”
“The LKZ ring, unlike conventional oil rings, also provides consistent
low oil consumption over the life of the engine by reducing carbon
build-up on critical parts of the piston, such as just above the
compression ring,” Esser continued. “Carbon build-up on the piston can
lead to cylinder liner damage and increased oil consumption. The LKZ
ring helps to mitigate that concern for vehicle manufacturers and
consumers.”
LKZ rings are one of several rings offered by Federal-Mogul, providing
an attractive product range to engine designers worldwide. Depending
upon the level of wear resistance required by engine manufacturers,
Federal-Mogul can apply a variety of surface treatments to piston
rings, such as chrome, CKS (chrome ceramic coating) and GDC (Goetze
diamond coating), which protect the ring periphery from scuffing, thus
minimizing wear and enabling the oil ring to function properly over the
life of the engine. The LKZ ring also can be coated with
Federal-Mogul’s DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating to even further
reduce engine friction.
The company says the success of the unique LKZ-ring technology has
contributed to Federal-Mogul’s substantial market share, making the
company the global market leader for pistons rings.
For more information about Federal-Mogul, visit www.federalmogul.com.