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Caterpillar® 1-P Test Method

 

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  image of Caterpillar 1-P test method apparatus at SwRI
 

Caterpillar 1-P test method apparatus at SwRI

The Caterpillar 1-P test method evaluates the performance of crankcase lubricants, with a steel top, aluminum skirt, two-piece piston, for:

  • Piston deposits

  • Ring sticking

  • Piston scuffing

  • Ring scuffing

  • Liner scuffing

  • Oil consumption

The Caterpillar 1-P test is part of lubricant category:

  • API CH-4

High-speed turbocharged heavy-duty diesel engine service prior to 2002 is simulated.


Caterpillar 1-P Test Equipment and Procedure

 

Pass

 
 

 

Fail

 

The test fixture is a Caterpillar 1Y3700 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 16.25:1. Keystone top ring and second ring are used. The top ring is closer to the piston top than in the Caterpillar 1-K or Caterpillar 1-N. The engine features overhead cam and electronic injection control.


Test parameters are 1,800 rpm, 55 kW, 185 g/min fuel rate, 95 °C coolant, 130 °C oil, 60 °C intake air, 272 kPa intake air, 17.8 g/kg water vapor, 360-hour test length.


Caterpillar 1-P Test Results


The piston is rated by the Coordinating Research Council (CRC) demerit procedure. The following are evaluated at the end of the test:

  • Piston

  • Rings

  • Liner

  • Viscosity

  • Total base number (TBN)

  • Total acid number (TAN)

  • Wear metals

  • Fuel dilution

 

Typical Reference Oil Result

 

The following are not allowed:

  • Piston distress

  • Ring distress

  • Liner distress

  • Stuck rings

Based on the time period in which a test is completed, an appropriate severity adjustment factor may be added to the test result. For a one-test run, the adjusted results are compared to the first test limits below.


For a two- or three-test program, the average of the adjusted test results is compared to the appropriate pass limits.

 

Requirement

1st Test

2nd Test

3rd Test

Weighted demerits/deposits 1-P method (WDP) (demerits)

350

378

390

Top groove carbon (TGC) (%)

 36

 39

  41

Top land carbon (TLC) (%)

 40

 46

  49

Average oil consumption (OC) g/h

    12.4

    12.4

    12.4

End of test oil consumption (EOTOC), g/h

    14.6

    14.6

    14.6


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

 

caterpillar1p.swri.org

 

Contact Information

Jim McCord

Caterpillar 1-P Test

(210) 522-3439

jmccord@swri.org

caterpillar1p.swri.org

Related Terminology

crankcase lubricants

piston deposits

ring sticking

piston ring scuffing

liner scuffing

oil consumption

rings

liner

viscosity

liner distress

stuck rings

Caterpillar 1-P

API CH-4

heavy-duty engine lubricant

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