Accurate Measurements of Pressure-Viscosity Behavior in Lubricants

The piezoviscous effect is accurately characterized for a number of representative lubricating oil base stocks and a simple, well-defined hydrocarbon. Procedures for the generation of accurate pressure-viscosity coefficients are outlined. The reciprocal asymptotic isoviscous pressure may be measured to within perhaps 1%. The piezoviscous effect may be important to automotive fuel economy. The departure from exponential behavior at very low pressure becomes more pronounced at high temperature.