Suitability of coconut oil as an engine lubricant

• Coconut oil has a high flash point than other available hydrocarbon based lubricants. So in case of the flash point, coconut oil is superior than others.

• Coconut oil has low oxidization. So, this is also a pros of using coconut oil as an engine lubricant.

• One of the main causes of bad emissions of an engine is carbon deposits in the engine. Unlike traditional lubricants, coconut oil dissolves this carbon deposits in the engine reducing emission levels of the engine.

• Coconut oil is cheaper than conventional engine lubricants. This is also a reason coconut oil to be popular in countries like Malaysia,Indonesia and Philippines.

• Engine maintenance becomes easier if coconut oil is used.

• Coconut oil is very stable over a high temperature range. This is an one reason that coconut oil is able to be cooked. We see that coconut oil gets solidify when it is cool. Below temperatures about 20 Celsius, this happens. This may be a problem to coconut oil to be used as a engine lubricant, specially in cool areas. But this happens only for non pure coconut oil. Pure coconut oil can withstands much lower temperatures then it's non pure counterpart.

How to determine the flash point of an oil

Flash Point

This is the lowest temperature of a volatile material that the material can vaporize to form an ignitable mixture with air. Here, the word volatile means the tendency of the material to vaporize.
If we put the volatile material into a closed container and keep the temperature of the mateial at it’s flash point, and then we put an ignition source into the container, the vapor mixture burns with a pop sound. Below the flash point, this incident doesn’t occur. At the flash point, the burning of the air and fuel mixture stops quickly because the vapor is not produce at the rate that it is burned.


Fire point

Fire point is a temperature that is higher than the flash point of a same substance. At the fire point, the air and fuel mixture continues to burn even after the ignition source is removed from the mixture. This is caused because, the rate of production of fuel vapor from the liquid fuel is somewhere near the rate of burning of the vapor. Usually, the fire point is defined as the temperature of a liquid and vapor system of a certain substance, when ignited, burn for at least 5 seconds. Considering a typical lubrication oil, usually, the fire point is higher than about 10 ᐤc from the value of the flash point.

Importance of these temperatures

1. Some liquids cause explosions. Because, they should be stored and transported very carefully. Liquids with lower flash points (also low fire points) tends to burn at lower temperatures. So, we should impose more care when handling those liquids with lower flash points. So, flash point is important to know which amount of care should be taken handling liquids.

2. Liquids are categorized as flammable and combustible. Fluids with relatively higher flash points are categorized as flammable. Liquids with relatively low flash points are categorized as combustible. The exact temperature of the temperature used to categorize, depends on the standardization used.

3.Flash point is important when selecting a proper lubricant.In some machinery, very high temperatures are imposed on the lubricants. It is important in most cases, the lubrcation material is a fire proof one. Looking at the flash point of a certain material, we can say that this particular lubricant is appropriate for the lubricant in the particular machinery.

Importance of flash point for engine lubrication oil

• In an engine, high temperatures and pressures are applie

  d upon lubrication oils. So, if the lubrication oil has a law flash point, it might get ignited. So, high flash point is always desirable for engine lubricants.

• Flash point of a engine lubricant is an important measure to check the performance of the machine valves and seals. If the fuel of the engine or some other fluid used in the engine leaks through the seals, valves or other fastenings to the lubricant, the flash point of the lubricant changes. (usually, addition of substances to a particular oil increases it's flash point). So,measuring the flash point of an engine lubricant, gives us the information of how good is the performance of the seals,fittings,valves...etc. of the engine.

• Not only the temperatures by the combustion proces

  s is a positive effect for the lubricant to ignite. But also, some failures of the engine causes the lubricant to ignite. As examples, bearing failures, some other mechanical failures. So, keeping the flash point of the engine lubricant high avoids unnecessary effects caused by failures of the engine.

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  PROCEDURE

  
  

  1. Connect the gas lines to the gas supply

  2. Clean the brass vessel.

  3. Pour the oil to be tested into the brass vessel till it is filled up to the indicated mark on the wall of the vessel.

  4. Place the cover on the vessel.

  5. Place the vessel in the appropriate place design to place it in the tester.

  6. Place the thermometer in the pocket of the flash point tester.

  7. Ignite the Bunsen burner and place it under the Pensky Martin flash point tester.

  8. Adjust the burner to give a small and blue flame.

  9. Use the wire mess the spread the flame by the Bunsen burner around the tester base uniformly.

  10. Steer the oil in the vessel continuously with the rod attached to the flexible spring fastened to the top of the vessel's cover.

  11. When the temperature of the ol reaches a considerable figure, reduce the gas supply to give very small flame.

  12. Test for the flash point by inserting the ignition source(knurled knob) into the vessel containing oil. The time of the application of the ignition source should approximately 3 seconds.

  13. Test for flash point per increase of each 5 degrees of Fahrenheit.(Flash point can be easily recognized by the pop noise and the quick lighting of a flame)

  14. After the flash point was reached, continue for about 50 degrees above.

  15. Let the oil to cool by closing the gas supply.

  16. Test for flash point when the mixture is getting cool.

  17. Table the recorded data.

  
  

Does modern technology make life more convenient,or was life better when technology was simpler?

Modern technology, the meaning of this word as we use today, refers mainly to the strategies that man uses to do his tasks easier. Even though lots of aspects of technology,mathematics and sciences were already gained by the man kind by 18^th century, most of the technological aspects we use today were boosted up to the existing level in between 18^th and 19^th centuries during the industrial revolution. Since, technology has spread it's wings to a wast area of fields.

Even though technology is to make our lives more convenient, sometimes it has caused several messes to ourselves. In early times, when there were no such developed technologies as today, people died because of some illnesses like malaria, tuberculosis. But now, we have simple treatments to diseases like these which were developed using modern medical and chemical technologies. But, unfortunately, some people use this precious technology to make biological weapons. There are many incidents of usage of biological weapons in recent history such as Anthrax bacteria, firstly used by the Japanese Kwantung army as a biological weapon in 1930's. LTTE has used some biological weapons in the recent elam war.

Internet is the most widely used and hugest knowledge source of the mankind. A technological marvel. We can talk to someone in the other end of the world instantly using the internet and WWW. But there are cons as always. Thousands of software are being pirated. Cheating of money is being carried out. Thousands of children are being abused. Thousands of peoples privacy is being damaged during the time I am writing this. These are the cons of the internet. But if people use this knowledge source in a correct manner, it is a huge propeller to the development of the man.

Electricity, being the most pure and highest in the quality of energy, has being a slave to the mankind for a long time. We sometimes rely 100% in electricity. Even though, lots of people die and are being injured because of electricity.

So, it is not that checking weather technology is good or bad is worthy. Instead, we should use is for the good. Not for evil. We should use technology after well studying it. Knowing the dangers of the technology we use, and taking precautions, we can avoid it's bad effects. So if we use technology in a good sense, we can get the maximum benefit out of the technology.