THE LUBRICATION IN AGRICULTURAL TRACTORS: A COST NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED

30 October 201930 October 2019 Domenico Ditto

Lubrication effectiveness is of paramount importance for the durability of machine components and efficient transmission of power. In addition to reducing the wear and friction of moving parts, lubricants remove potentially damaging heat and impurities and reduce the oxidation and corrosion of components. In agricultural tractors, lubricant oils are used in the engine, transmission, hydraulic system, front and rear axles, three point hitch, steering, and braking systems. This means that a substantial amount of oil must be changed at regular intervals, as recommended by manufacturers. This leads to a significant total oil consumption rate whose estimation is related to accurate accounting of tractor operating costs and to environmental impact analysis of mechanized agricultural operations. The objective of this study, conducted by Aldo Calcante e Roberto Oberti, both professors of agricultural machinery at DiSAA, was to propose a new general equation to estimate the total hourly lubricant oil consumption rate of agricultural tractors, as a function of the rated engine power. The model is proposed for use in technical and economic analyses for estimating the operating costs or the environmental impact of tractor operations.

In figure: particular of the rear part of a tractor with the rear axle, the three point hitch, the hydraulic top link and the valves of the hydraulic system.

REFERENCE

Calcante A., Brambilla M., Bisaglia C., Oberti R. (2019) Estimating the total lubricant oil consumption rate in agricultural tractors. Transactions of the ASABE, 62(1):197-204.

DOI: 10.13031/trans.12803