Promoting a Sustainable Model of Consumption and Production by Issuing Suitable Truck Engine Maintenance Recommendations Through the Assessment of the Used Oil Wear Degree During Operation

Rodica Niculescu (), Catalin Victor Zaharia, Mihaela Nastase, Aurelian Denis Negrea and Liliana Stana
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Rodica Niculescu: Department Automobiles and Transport, University Centre of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” Bucharest, 1, Tg. din Vale Street, 110040 Pitești, Argeș, Romania
Catalin Victor Zaharia: Department Automobiles and Transport, University Centre of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” Bucharest, 1, Tg. din Vale Street, 110040 Pitești, Argeș, Romania
Mihaela Nastase: Regional Center of Research & Development for Materials, Processes and Innovative Products Dedicated to the Automotive Industry (CRC&D-Auto), University Centre of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” Bucharest, 11, Doaga Street, 110440 Piteşti, Argeş, Romania
Aurelian Denis Negrea: Regional Center of Research & Development for Materials, Processes and Innovative Products Dedicated to the Automotive Industry (CRC&D-Auto), University Centre of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” Bucharest, 11, Doaga Street, 110440 Piteşti, Argeş, Romania
Liliana Stana: Department Automobiles and Transport, University Centre of Pitesti, National University of Science and Technology “POLITEHNICA” Bucharest, 1, Tg. din Vale Street, 110040 Pitești, Argeș, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-26

Abstract: Lubricants play a crucial role in improving the reliability of internal combustion engines. The deterioration of engine oil is influenced not only by mileage and usage time but also by subjective factors. Currently, engine oil is replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. At the time of a scheduled oil change, two situations may arise: the degree of lubricant wear may exceed normal levels, in which case the technical systems may also be damaged, with serious consequences for the environment and, implicitly, for human health; or the degree of wear may be low, consistent with normal engine operation, in which case prolonging oil use is recommended, thereby reducing consumption. In this paper, the authors propose a method for diagnosing the engine through periodic analysis of the physico-chemical properties of used engine oil, based on which appropriate vehicle maintenance strategies are issued. Also, recommendations are made for prolonged use of the oil on the condition of its periodic evaluation. Thus, for samples taken from 43 trucks the following physico-chemical properties were analyzed: kinematic viscosity, density, flash point, fuel content, water content, and metal content and their values, for all samples, were within the recommended limits. However, for some samples, more pronounced variations in the values of some properties were found and suitable preventive maintenance recommendations were issued.

Keywords: lubricating oil; physico-chemical properties; maintenance strategies; sustainable consumption and production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:8968-:d:1767761

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