IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,630,778
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,778 · App. 18/541,023 · Granted May 19, 2026

Detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition

Inventors: Mariah Parker (Richmond, VA); Jason Bell (Powhatan, VA); Kenneth Garelick (Mechanicsville, VA)
Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
C10M137/02C10M133/16C10M2215/28C10N2020/02C10N2030/45C10N2040/25
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,778
App. No.
18/541,023
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure describes detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition achieving piston cleanliness with one or more succinimide dispersants, one or more ashless antiwear additives, and one or more antioxidants when selected ratios of sulfur, phosphorus, and nitrogen are maintained.

Claims (35)

1 . A detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition comprising:

one or more base oils of lubricating viscosity;

a total sulfated ash (SASH) as measured by ASTM D874 of less than about 0.2 weight percent;

about 5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of one or more succinimide dispersants providing about 600 to about 700 ppm nitrogen to the detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition and derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of at least about 1000, wherein the succinimide dispersants each have up to about 2 weight percent of nitrogen and wherein at least one of the succinimide dispersants is post treated with a boron compound, wherein the one or more succinimide dispersants includes (i) a succinimide dispersant derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 to about 2000 and post treated with a boron compound; (ii) a succinimide dispersant derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight greater than about 2000; and (iii) a succinimide derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of 1000 to about 2000;

about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent of one or more ashless antiwear additives, wherein the one or more ashless, antiwear additives have a structure of Formula I, or a salt thereof:

wherein R 4 and R 5 are, independently, a C3 to C8 linear or branched alkyl group, and R 6 is —H or —CH 3 ;

one or more antioxidants, wherein the one or more antioxidants includes an aminic antioxidant, a hindered phenolic antioxidant, or combinations thereof and wherein the composition includes at least about 6 times more of the one or more antioxidants relative to the one or more ashless antiwear additives;

about 1 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a dispersant olefin copolymer viscosity index improver;

a total base number (TBN) pursuant to ASTM D2896 of at least about 4;

at least about 1000 ppm of nitrogen, no more than 100 ppm of boron, no more than 800 ppm of sulfur, and a sulfur-to-phosphorus ratio of 2.0 or less, and a ratio of nitrogen-to-TBN of about 150 or greater;

wherein the detergent-free, low ash lubricating composition is substantially free of calcium, barium, copper, lead, lithium, magnesium, sodium, molybdenum, zinc, and potassium; and

wherein more than 50 weight percent of the total nitrogen is provided by the one or more antioxidants.

2 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , further comprising no more than about 500 ppm of phosphorus and no more than about 600 ppm of sulfur.

3 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein the total sulfated ash (SASH) measured pursuant to ASTM D874 is less than about 0.1 weight percent.

4 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein the aminic antioxidant is selected from the group comprising aromatic amines, alkylated diphenyl amines, alkyl diphenylamine, di-alkyl diphenylamine, octyl diphenylamine, di-octyl diphenylamine, phenyl-alpha-naphthylamines, alkylated phenyl-alpha-naphthylamines, hindered non-aromatic amines, or combinations thereof.

5 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein more than 50 weight percent of the total nitrogen is provided by the one or more antioxidants.

6 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , further comprising a dispersant olefin copolymer viscosity index improver including the reaction product of an acylated olefin copolymer and a polyamine, wherein the acylated olefin copolymer includes an olefin copolymer having grafted thereon about 0.3 to about 0.75 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the olefin copolymer, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 150,000, and wherein the polyamine is a N-arylphenylenediamine.

7 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein the total amounts of the nitrogen, the sulfur, and the phosphorus relative to the amount of boron (N+S+P)/B is about 20 to about 50.

8 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition cleans up piston deposits pursuant to the Sequence IIIH Engine Test (ASTM D8111) with a merit rating of at least about 4 total weighted piston deposits, and wherein the lubricating composition exhibits an average engine varnish (AES) of at least 8 merits and/or an average engine sludge rating of at least 7.6 merits pursuant to the Sequence VH test (ASTM D8256).

9 . A method of lubricating a combustion engine using a detergent-free and low-ash ash lubricating composition, the method comprising:

lubricating a combustion engine with a detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition; wherein the detergent-free, low ash lubricating composition includes one or more base oils of lubricating viscosity; a total sulfated ash (SASH) as measured by ASTM D874 of less than about 0.2 weight percent; about 5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of one or more succinimide dispersants providing about 600 to about 700 ppm nitrogen to the detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition and derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of at least about 1000, wherein the succinimide dispersants each have up to about 2 weight percent of nitrogen and wherein at least one of the succinimide dispersants is post treated with a boron compound, wherein the one or more succinimide dispersants includes (i) a succinimide dispersant derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of about 1000 to about 2000 and post treated with a boron compound; (ii) a succinimide dispersant derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight greater than about 2000; and (iii) a succinimide derived from a polyisobutylene having a number average molecular weight of 1000 to about 2000; about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent of one or more ashless antiwear additives, wherein the one or more ashless, antiwear additives have a structure of Formula I, or a salt thereof:

wherein R 4 and R 5 are, independently, a C3 to C8 linear or branched alkyl group, and R 6 is —H or —CH 3 ; one or more antioxidants, wherein the one or more antioxidants includes an aminic antioxidant, a hindered phenolic antioxidant, or combinations thereof and wherein the composition includes at least about 6 times more of the one or more antioxidants relative to the one or more ashless antiwear additives; a total base number (TBN) pursuant to ASTM D2896 of at least about 4; at least about 1000 ppm of nitrogen, no more than 100 ppm of boron, no more than 800 ppm of sulfur, and a sulfur-to-phosphorus ratio of 2.0 or less, and a ratio of nitrogen-to-TBN of about 150 or greater; and wherein the detergent-free, low ash lubricating composition is substantially free of calcium, barium, copper, lead, lithium, magnesium, sodium, molybdenum, zinc, and potassium; wherein more than 50 weight percent of the total nitrogen is provided by the one or more antioxidants; and about 1 weight percent to about 4 weight percent of a dispersant olefin copolymer viscosity index improver; and

wherein the lubricating composition cleans up piston deposits pursuant to the Sequence IIIH Engine Test (ASTM D8111) with a merit rating of at least about 4 total weighted piston deposits, and wherein the lubricating composition exhibits an average engine varnish (AES) of at least 8 merits and/or an average engine sludge rating of at least 7.6 merits pursuant to the Sequence VH test (ASTM D8256).

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising no more than about 500 ppm of phosphorus and no more than about 600 ppm of sulfur.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the total sulfated ash (SASH) measured pursuant to ASTM D874 is less than about 0.1 weight percent.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the aminic antioxidant is selected from the group comprising aromatic amines, alkylated diphenyl amines, alkyl diphenylamine, di-alkyl diphenylamine, octyl diphenylamine, di-octyl diphenylamine, phenyl-alpha-naphthylamines, alkylated phenyl-alpha-naphthylamines, hindered non-aromatic amines, or combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein more than 50 weight percent of the total nitrogen is provided by the one or more antioxidants.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising a dispersant olefin copolymer viscosity index improver including the reaction product of an acylated olefin copolymer and a polyamine, wherein the acylated olefin copolymer includes an olefin copolymer having grafted thereon about 0.3 to about 0.75 carboxylic groups per 1000 number average molecular weight units of the olefin copolymer, wherein the olefin copolymer has a number average molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 150,000, and wherein the polyamine is a N-arylphenylenediamine.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the total amounts of the nitrogen, the sulfur, and the phosphorus relative to the amount of boron (N+S+P)/B is about 20 to about 50.

16 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur-to-phosphorus ratio is 1.0 to 1.8 and the ratio of nitrogen-to-TBN is about 150 to about 350.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the sulfur-to-phosphorus ratio is 1.0 to 1.8 and the ratio of nitrogen-to-TBN is about 150 to about 350.

18 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 16 , wherein less than half of the lubricant nitrogen is provided by the one or more succinimide dispersants.

19 . The detergent-free and low-ash lubricating composition of claim 18 , wherein the succinimide dispersants (ii) and (ii) are not post-treated with boron.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein less than half of the lubricant nitrogen is provided by the one or more succinimide dispersants.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the succinimide dispersants (ii) and (ii) are not post-treated with boron.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2024
From: PARKER, MARIAH; BELL, JASON; GARELICK, KENNETH
To: AFTON CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066102/0601 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 18068795 · Dec 20, 2022
Related Publication 20240209277A1 · Jun 27, 2024
References Cited (133)
US 2237625A · Olin · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2237627A · Olin · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2527948A · Lyon, Jr. et al. · 1950 [cited by applicant]
US 2695316A · Mcbride · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2995569A · Hamilton et al. · 1961 [cited by applicant]
US 3022351A · Mihm et al. · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3219666A · Norman et al. · 1965 [cited by applicant]
US 3308166A · Biensan et al. · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3392201A · Warner · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3471404A · Myers · 1969 [cited by applicant]
US 3502677A · Le Sner · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3565804A · Honnen et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3634515A · Piasek et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3673090A · Waldbillig et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3697429A · Engel et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3697574A · Piasek et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3703504A · Horodysky · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3703505A · Horodysky et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3736357A · Piasek et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3763244A · Shubkin · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3796661A · Suratwala · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3816346A · Coppock et al. · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3873454A · Horodysky et al. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3991056A · Okamoto et al. · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4036771A · Denis et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4118329A · Hotten · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4119549A · Davis · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4119550A · Davis et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4147640A · Jayne et al. · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4191659A · Davis · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4204969A · Papay et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4218332A · Schwab et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4234435A · Meinhardt et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4240958A · Braid · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4282392A · Cupples et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4285822A · deVries et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4344854A · Davis et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4472306A · Powers et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4537696A · Beimesch · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4564709A · Koyama et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4587368A · Pratt · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4636322A · Nalesnik · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4711736A · Horodysky et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4747971A · Erdman · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4795576A · Born et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4857214A · Papay et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4925983A · Steckel · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4941984A · Chamberlin, III et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4954274A · Zaweski et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4956122A · Watts et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4966720A · DeGonia et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4992183A · Beimesch et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5089156A · Chrisope et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5114602A · Petrille et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5266223A · Song et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5439605A · Khorramian · 1995 [cited by examiner]
US 5614480A · Salomon et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5627259A · Thaler et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5633326A · Patil et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5643859A · Gutierrez et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5792729A · Harrison et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5851965A · Harrison et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5853434A · Harrison et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5936041A · Diana et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6117825A · Liu · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 6124247A · Cazin et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6303546B1 · Hata et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 8260530B2 · Rollinger et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8327687B2 · Amann et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8404624B2 · Ribeaud · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8543315B2 · Glugla et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9481696B1 · Edwards et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 11034912B2 · Ritchie et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11214750B2 · Milner · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20020165102A1 · Hata et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20040242434A1 · Yagishita et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050101496A1 · Loper et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060058200A1 · Shaw et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060217271A1 · Brown et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070184992A1 · Takeuchi et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080128184A1 · Loper et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090156446A1 · McAtee et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100009876A1 · Kamano · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20110111997A1 · Cook et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110213538A1 · Amann et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110265761A1 · Amann et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110297122A1 · Bardasz · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120029789A1 · Mehta et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120101017A1 · Duggal · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120186225A1 · Amann et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130035841A1 · Glugla et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140187453A1 · Umehara et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140187455A1 · Umehara et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140194329A1 · Shimizu et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150322367A1 · Patel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150322369A1 · Patel et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160230116A1 · Mosier et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160281020A1 · Yamamoto et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170015926A1 · Fletcher et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170015930A1 · Fletcher · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170022441A1 · Onodera · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170175027A1 · Gieselman · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180002631A1 · Milner · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20210371767A1 · Shimizu et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP 0088453A1 · 1983 [cited by applicant]
EP 612839A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
EP 1788068A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 1985690A2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 2639433A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
GB 961009A · 1964 [cited by applicant]
GB 1162334 · 1969 [cited by applicant]
GB 1162334A · 1969 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014152301A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016534216A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017514984A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017149830A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 201821107A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018168344A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009104682A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015023559A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015042337A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015042340A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015042341A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015076417A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 20150114920A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017011691A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020085228A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in Application No. PCT/US2023/084180 mailed on Apr. 8, 2024, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Takeuchi et al., Investigation of Engine Oil Effect on Abnormal Combustion in Turbocharged Direct Injection-Spark Ignition Engines, SAE Int., Nov. 2012, vol. 5, Issue 3. [cited by applicant]
Haenel et al., Systematic Approach to Analyze and Characterize Pre-ignition Events in Turbocharged Direct-injected Gasoline Engines, SAE Int., Apr. 2011. [cited by applicant]
Takeuchi et al., Investigation of Engine Oil Effect on Abnormal Combustion in Turbocharged Direct Injection-Spark Ignition Engines, SAE Int., Nov. 2012, vol. 5, Issue 3. (Abstract). [cited by applicant]
Haenel et al., Systematic Approach to Analyze and Characterize Pre-ignition Events in Turbocharged Direct-injected Gasoline Engines, SAE Int., Apr. 2011. (Abstract). [cited by applicant]
W. W. Yau, J. J. Kirkland and D. D. Bly, “Modern Size Exclusion Liquid Chromatography”, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979. [cited by applicant]