Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubrication General

Lubrication Knowledge Menu

Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubrication General

Definition. AW agents are effective only up to a maximum temperature of about 250C (480F). Unusually heavy loading will cause the oil temperature to increase beyond the effective range of the antiwear protection. When the load limit is exceeded, the pressure becomes too great and asperities make contact with greater force. Instead of sliding, asperities along the wear surfaces experience shearing, removing the lubricant and the oxide coating. Under these conditions the coefficient of friction is greatly increased and the temperature rises to a damaging level.