Krytox™ Greases - Efficient lubrication

Automotive Product Guide

High-performance lubricants: for increased power and cabin comfort

Modern cars are deriving more power and performance from smaller engines, while providing passengers with a quieter ride. Soon, vehicle service times will be years longer, and warranties on critical engine and structural parts will last even longer.

This places new demands on lubricants used in engine parts under the hood or slightly noisy, vibrating components. They must withstand higher operating temperatures and exposure to fumes and fuels, while reducing subtle noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) and buzz/squeak/rattle (BSR).

Krytox™ performance lubricants support vehicle power, cabin comfort and longevity by offering the following:

• High performance: Ability to work in extreme conditions
• Durability: Does not clump or crack over time
• High lubricity: Small amounts required for effective use
• Chemically inert: no oxidation or reaction with water, fumes, fuels, vapors
• Material Compatibility: No damage or discoloration to new and different car materials

Krytox Automotive Product Range:

Fan clutch

A thermostatically controlled fan clutch typically drives the radiator fan. The bearings that support the drive shaft of this clutch regularly experience high temperatures. If these bearings wear out and begin to fail, the radiator fan operates less efficiently. When this happens, the engine can overheat, and any resistance to the rotation of the fan clutch can drain valuable power from the engine drive shaft, further reducing overall efficiency. Krytox™ greases are low volatility and high viscosity, providing long life and excellent lubrication of the fan clutch bearing in these high temperature conditions.

Alternator

The alternator is typically belt-driven by the engine and provides electrical power for the vehicle’s basic functions (headlights, radio, etc.) while also charging the vehicle’s battery. While generating electrical power, alternators, and therefore the bearings, become very hot. Standard lubricants evaporate in the extremely high-temperature environment of the alternator, which leads to the alternator bearings being damaged. As the bearings wear out and fail, they can increase the alternator’s resistance to rotation. This reduces the alternator’s efficiency and robs the rest of the vehicle of power. Perhaps more importantly, if the alternator bearings fail, the alternator will also fail and the vehicle will stop running. The higher-output alternators used in today’s vehicles generate enormous amounts of heat, requiring the advanced and reliable thermal stability and performance of Krytox™ lubricants.

Clutch shaft bearings

These bearings support the clutch end of the transmission shaft. If the grease in the pilot bearing fails, the transmission itself will fail. Pilot bearings lubricated with Krytox™ high-performance greases will last longer and perform better than those lubricated with other synthetic greases, due to the high load-carrying capacity and chemical inertness of Krytox™ products.

Cooling fan

To maximize performance, a car engine must operate at an optimum temperature (usually around 93 °C [200 °F]), which is controlled by the cooling system. One component of the system is the cooling fan, which blows air through the radiator, removing excess heat. Failure of the cooling fan bearings leads to fan failure, which ultimately results in engine overheating. Sintered bearings used in cooling fans often fail in one of two ways: either the lubricant evaporates or they degrade through oxidation. The use of Krytox™ prevents both of these failure modes through its low volatility and unmatched oxidation resistance.

Automatic clutch in heavy trucks

Many heavy-duty trucks have engines with a much lower maximum RPM limit. To prevent engine damage, an automatic clutch is used. When the maximum RPM limit is reached, the automatic clutch disengages and informs the driver to change gears. This both prevents engine damage and increases ease of maintenance. The bearings in the clutch are critical to its operation and must receive adequate lubrication to function properly. Lubrication with Krytox™ medium-viscosity, low-volatility greases reduces the chance of bearing failure under the frequent gear changes and high loads encountered during long-term operation of these trucks.