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Measuring Real-Time Wear in Operating Engines

For more than 40 years, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has used radioactive tracer techniques to make highly accurate and sensitive real-time wear measurements in operating engines. These capabilities are particularly important in light of the harsh operating and environmental conditions imposed on today's high-performance engines, in which performance as well as low emissions levels increasingly depend on close-tolerance operation with minimal wear. Using sophisticated instrumentation, SwRI studies real-time wear, detecting wear and wear rate changes instantly. Advantages of radioactive tracer measurement techniques include:

• Cost effective tests

• Repeatable measurements 

• Real-time wear data 

• Meaningful results for short tests 

• Easily measured transients 

• Identification of cause and effect relationships 

• Association of wear with specific design parameters, fuel and lubricant characteristics, and engine operating conditions 

Real-Time Engine Oil Consumption Measurement

SwRI, with more than 40 years of experience in engine, fuels, and lubricants research, has developed an innovative sulfur dioxide (SO₂)-tracer technique that permits continuous, real-time measurement of lubricating oil consumption in a wide range of diesel and spark-ignition (SI) engines.

The SwRI-proprietary, real-time oil consumption (RTOC) technique has evolved into a reliable and sensitive instrument for research and development applications. Designated as the RTOC-III™ apparatus, the sophisticated SO₂-tracer system offers several advantages over other methods, including:

• Reduced test duration.
  Oil consumption for one operating condition, typically acquired in 8 minutes, allows real-time data for a 21-point, steady-state map to be generated within one working day.
   

• Accelerated multicylinder engine testing.

  The time required to test multicylinder engines is reduced by testing different components in each cylinder. For example, the testing program for a V8 engine can be accelerated eightfold.
   

• True real-time transient capability.
  Using highly repeatable, real-time transient data, SwRI engineers recommend engine modifications that extend oil change intervals and prolong the life of emission control devices, including three-way catalysts.br>  

• Radioactive tracer method.
  Our ability to combine two radioactive tracer technologies allows near real-time measurement of engine wear and engine oil consumption simultaneously with the measurement of engine-out emissions, during controlled laboratory testing.

At SwRI, we are always striving to offer the best services possible to our clients. This motorcycle technology information represents only a small portion of how SwRI can assist your company with motorcycle testing, research, and development. For a more comprehensive review of our capabilities, please contact Charles Roberts, Ph.D., at croberts@swri.org or (210) 522-5521 to arrange a tour of our complete facilities. We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio.

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

June 16, 2008