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Caterpillar® 1-K Method
 

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  image of apparatus that runs Caterpillar 1-K method, which evaluates the performance of crankcase lubricants
 

The Caterpillar 1-K method evaluates the performance of crankcase lubricants.

The Caterpillar 1-K method evaluates the performance of crankcase lubricants with respect to:

  • Piston deposits

  • Ring sticking

  • Ring wear

  • Cylinder wear

  • Piston scuffing

  • Ring scuffing

  • Liner scuffing

  • Oil consumption

High-speed turbocharged heavy-duty diesel engine service prior to 1989 is simulated. The Caterpillar 1-K method is part of categories:

  • API CF-4

  • API CH-4

  • API CI-4

Caterpillar 1-K Equipment Procedure

The test fixture is a Caterpillar 1Y540, single-cylinder, direct-injection diesel test engine with a four-valve arrangement having a 5.4-inch bore and a 6.5-inch stroke, resulting in a displacement of 148.8 cubic inches.


Compression ratio is 14.5:1. Keystone top ring and rectangular second ring are used.


Caterpillar 1-K Parameters

  • 2,100 rpm

  • 70 bhp

  • 1,800 bmep

  • 7,990 btu/min fuel input

  • 200 °F coolant temperature

  • 225 °F

  • 260 °F inlet air temperature at 71-inch Hg and 125 grains/lb

  • 29:1 air/fuel ratio

  • 252 hours


Caterpillar 1-K Parts

All parts meet Caterpillar's new "3L" quality specifications.

  • Liner (1Y3555G)

  • Piston (1Y0727)

  • Ring set (1Y0728)

Caterpillar 1-K Fuel

Reference fuel with a sulfur specification of 0.38-0.42 mass % and an API gravity specification of 33-35° is used.

 
  image of SwRI's Caterpillar 1-K pass/fail evaluation results
 

SwRI's Caterpillar 1-K pass/fail evaluation results

Caterpillar 1-K Results

At the end of the procedure, the following are evaluated:

  • Piston

  • Rings

  • Liner

Lubricant analysis includes:

  • Viscosity

  • Total base number (TBN)

  • Wear metals

  • Check for fuel dilution

Based on reference oil 809, the following acceptance limits apply:

  • No piston distress

  • No ring distress

  • No liner distress

  • No stuck rings

Based on the time period in which a procedure is completed, the appropriate parameter adjustment factor is added to the result.


For one run, the adjusted results are compared to the first limits below. For a 2- or 3-run program, the average of the adjusted results is compared to the appropriate pass limits.

 

CH-4 or CI-4

Requirement

1st Run

2nd Run

3rd Run

Weighted demerits/deposits 1K method (WDN) (demerits)

332

347

353

Top groove (ring groove carbon deposits) fill (TGF) (%)

24

27

29

Top land heavy carbon (carbon deposits on top of piston) (TLHC) (%)

   4

   5

   5

Brake specific oil consumption (BSOC) Avg. g/kW hr

   < 0.5

  < 0.5

   < 0.5

EOTOC g/kw hr

    < 0.27

    < 0.27

    < 0.27
 

CF-4

Requirement*

2nd Run

3rd Run

4th Run

WDK (Demerits)

332

339

342

TGF (%)

24

26

 27

TLHC (%)

   4

   4

  5

BSOC Avg. g/kW hr

    <0.5

    <0.5

   <0.5

EOTOC g/kw hr

 27

 27

27

*Minimum of 2 runs required.


For more information about our Caterpillar 1-K capabilities, or how you can contract with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), please contact Jim McCord at jmccord@swri.org or (210) 522-3439.

 

caterpillar1k.swri.org

 

Contact Information

Jim McCord

Caterpillar 1-K Method

(210) 522-3439

jmccord@swri.org

caterpillar1k.swri.org

Related Terminology

Caterpillar 1-K

crankcase lubricants

piston deposits

ring sticking

liner scuffing

oil consumption

liner distress

stuck rings

piston scuffing

API gravity

viscosity

wear metals

heavy-duty diesel engine

API CF-4

API CH-4

API CI-4

Related Information

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| Engine Lubricants Research Department | Fuels and Lubricants Research Division | SwRI Home |

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.

December 28, 2012