IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,735,654
Granted Patent B2
US 12,735,654 · App. 18/948,703 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Lubricant compositions containing magnesium detergent for reduced pre-ignition in hydrogen fueled engines

Inventors: Thomas M. Featherstone (Bristol, GB); Ellis Mutter (Swindon, GB); Roxana Chirita (Juvisy-sur-Orge, FR); Adam P. Marsh (Wantage, GB); Mark P. Driver (Didcot, GB); Andrew J. D. Ritchie (Chatham, NJ)
Assignee: INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
C10M159/20C10M169/045F02B47/00C10M2203/003C10M2205/02C10M2207/262C10M2215/28C10M2217/06C10M2219/046C10M2223/045C10M2229/00C10N2010/04C10N2020/02C10N2030/02C10N2030/04C10N2030/12C10N2030/42C10N2030/45C10N2030/52C10N2040/25
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,735,654
App. No.
18/948,703
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention relates to a method of reducing abnormal combustion events in a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) during operation of the engine. The method includes the steps of: a) providing to the HICE a lubricating oil composition including or resulting from the admixing of: i) a base oil having a KV100 of less than or equal to 12 cSt and included at greater than 50 wt. % of the composition and comprising a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, a Group IV base oil, or combinations thereof; ii) an overbased magnesium containing detergent comprising an overbased magnesium salicylate, an overbased magnesium sulfonate, an overbased magnesium phenate, or combinations thereof with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at treat level to deliver between 100 to 5000 ppm by weight of total magnesium and between 0.15 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of total soap to the composition; iii) at least one overbased calcium containing detergent with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at a treat level to deliver greater than 100 ppm by weight of total calcium to the composition; and iv) the lubricating oil composition having a total sulfated ash of less than or equal to 2.0 wt. %, a total phosphorous level of less than or equal to 0.120 wt. %, and a SAE viscosity grade of 25W-X, 20W-X, 15W-X, 10W-X, 5W-X or 0W-X, where X represents any one of 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60; b) providing a fuel comprising hydrogen to the HICE; and c) combusting the fuel in the HICE. Also provided are a lubricating oil composition and a concentrate for use in a HICE to reduce the propensity for abnormal combustion events.

Claims (47)

1 . A method of reducing abnormal combustion events in a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) during operation of the engine comprising:

a) providing to the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine a lubricating oil composition comprising or resulting from the admixing of:

i) a base oil having a viscosity KV100 of less than or equal to 12 cSt and included at greater than 50 wt. % of the composition and comprising a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, a Group IV base oil, or combinations thereof;

ii) an overbased magnesium containing detergent comprising an overbased magnesium salicylate, an overbased magnesium sulfonate, an overbased magnesium phenate, or combinations thereof with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at treat level to deliver between 100 to 5000 ppm by weight of total magnesium and between 0.15 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of total soap to the composition;

iii) at least one overbased calcium containing detergent with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at a treat level to deliver greater than 100 ppm by weight of total calcium to the composition; and

iv) the lubricating oil composition having a total sulfated ash of less than or equal to 2.0 wt. %, a total phosphorus level of less than or equal to 0.120 wt. %, and a SAE viscosity grade of 25W-X, 20W-X, 15W-X, 10W-X, 5W-X or 0W-X, where X represents any one of 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60;

b) providing a fuel comprising hydrogen to the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine; and

c) combusting the fuel in the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine; and wherein the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) operates at a BMEP ranging from 12 bar to 18 bar and at an air:fuel ratio (AFR) from 1:1 to 3:1.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: d) measuring a number of abnormal pre-ignition events during combustion (1000 rpm, 12 bar BMEP and 1.85 air:fuel ratio (AFR)) and wherein the number of pre-ignition events per 1,000 engine cycles is less than or equal to 5.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: d) measuring a number of abnormal pre-ignition events during combustion (1200 rpm, 18 bar BMEP and 2.05 air:fuel ratio (AFR)) and wherein the number of pre-ignition events per 1,000 engine cycles is less than or equal to 5.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a frequency of abnormal pre-ignition events in the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (HICE) operating at 100% load during combustion is decreased by at least 20% compared to a comparable lubricating oil composition not including the overbased magnesium containing detergent.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the overbased magnesium containing detergent delivers between 400 to 1200 ppm by weight of total magnesium to the lubricating oil composition.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the overbased magnesium containing detergent is an overbased magnesium sulfonate detergent.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a dispersant, dispersant viscosity modifier or combinations thereof.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispersant or dispersant viscosity modifier comprises an amide, imide, and/or ester functionalized partially or fully saturated polymer comprising C 4-5 olefins having: i) an Mw/Mn of less than 2, ii) a Functionality Distribution (Fd) value of 3.5 or less, and iii) an Mn of 10,000 g/mol or more of the polymer prior to functionalization.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the dispersant comprises one or more, optionally borated, higher molecular weight polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSA-PAM) dispersant (Mn 1600 g/mol or more), one or more, optionally borated, lower molecular weight polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSA-PAM) dispersant (Mn less than 1600 g/mol), or combinations thereof, and wherein the treat level of the dispersant is from 1.0 to 15.0 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the higher molecular weight PIBSA-PAM is borated, the lower molecular weight PIBSA-PAM is borated or a combination thereof, and is/are included at a treat level to deliver from 20 ppm to 700 ppm by weight of boron to the lubricating oil composition.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitor a substituted thiadiazole, a substituted benzotriazole, a substituted triazole, a trisubstituted borate, an ethoxylated lauryl alcohol, a nonylphenol ethoxylate, a C 6 to C 20 ethoxylated linear alcohol, or a combination thereof, and is/are includes at a treat level of 0.001 wt. % to 5.0 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises one or more zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) compounds; and wherein the treat level of the one or more ZDDP compounds is from about 0.4 wt. % to about 1.5 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises one or more of the following components: one or more functional polymers, one or more friction modifiers; one or more antioxidants; one or more pour point depressants; one or more anti-foaming agents; one or more viscosity modifiers; one or more other dispersants; one or more other overbased metal-containing detergents, one or more inhibitors, one or more antirust agents; one or more seal swell agents; and/or one or more anti-wear agents.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen comprises green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, grey hydrogen, brown hydrogen, or combinations thereof.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel further includes natural gas, propane, mogas, renewable fuel, or combinations thereof.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel supplied to the engine comprises at least 50 mass % hydrogen, based upon the mass of the fuel.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprising hydrogen and the lubricating oil composition are combined in a combustion chamber of the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine to form a fuel composition.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel comprising hydrogen and the lubricating oil composition are combined prior to injection into a combustion chamber of the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) to form a fuel composition.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) is spark ignited or compression ignited.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine is a heavy duty or light duty internal combustion engine.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine is a stationary internal combustion engine.

22 . The method of claim 1 , further including providing a turbocharger or a supercharger prior to the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine.

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine is a passenger vehicle engine, a commercial vehicle engine, or a marine engine.

24 . A lubricating oil composition for hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (HICE) comprising or resulting from the admixing of:

i) a base oil having a KV100 of less than or equal to 12 cSt and included at greater than 50 wt. % of the composition and comprising a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, a Group IV base oil, or combinations thereof;

ii) an overbased magnesium containing detergent comprising an overbased magnesium salicylate, an overbased magnesium sulfonate, an overbased magnesium phenate, or combinations thereof with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at treat level to deliver between 100 to 5000 ppm by weight of total magnesium and between 0.15 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of total soap to the composition;

iii) at least one overbased calcium containing detergent with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at a treat level to deliver greater than 100 ppm by weight of total calcium to the composition; and

wherein the lubricating oil composition has a total sulfated ash of less than or equal to 2.0 wt. %, a total phosphorus level of less than or equal to 0.120 wt. %, and a SAE viscosity grade of 25W-X, 20W-X, 15W-X, 10W-X, 5W-X or 0W-X, where X represents any one of 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60,

wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a dispersant, dispersant viscosity modifier or combinations thereof, and

wherein the dispersant or dispersant viscosity modifier comprises an amide, imide, and/or ester functionalized partially or fully saturated polymer comprising C 4-5 olefins having: i) an Mw/Mn of less than 2, ii) a Functionality Distribution (Fd) value of 3.5 or less, and iii) an Mn of 10,000 g/mol or more of the polymer prior to functionalization.

25 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the composition decreases the number of abnormal pre-ignition events in the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (HICE) during combustion as measured at 1000 rpm, 12 bar BMEP and 1.85 air:fuel ratio (AFR) to less than or equal to 5 events per 1,000 engine cycles.

26 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the composition decreases the number of abnormal pre-ignition events in the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (HICE) during combustion as measured at 1200 rpm, 18 bar BMEP and 2.05 air:fuel ratio (AFR) to less than or equal to 5 events per 1,000 engine cycles.

27 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the composition decreases the number of abnormal pre-ignition events in the hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines (HICE) operating at 100% load during combustion by at least 20% compared to a comparable lubricating oil composition not including the overbased magnesium containing detergent.

28 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the overbased magnesium containing detergent delivers between 1000 to 2000 ppm by weight of total magnesium to the lubricating oil composition.

29 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the overbased magnesium containing detergent is an overbased magnesium sulfonate detergent.

30 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the dispersant comprises one or more, optionally borated, higher molecular weight polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSA-PAM) dispersant (Mn 1600 g/mol or more), one or more, optionally borated, lower molecular weight polyisobutylene succinimide (PIBSA-PAM) dispersant (Mn less than 1600 g/mol), or combinations thereof, and wherein the treat level of the dispersant is from 1.0 to 15.0 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

31 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the higher molecular weight PIBSA-PAM is borated, the lower molecular weight PIBSA-PAM is borated or a combination thereof, and is/are included at a treat level to deliver from 20 ppm to 700 ppm by weight of boron to the lubricating oil composition.

32 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting of corrosion inhibitor a substituted thiadiazole, a substituted benzotriazole, a substituted triazole, a trisubstituted borate, an ethoxylated lauryl alcohol, a nonylphenol ethoxylate, a C 6 to C 20 ethoxylated linear alcohol, or a combination thereof, and is/are includes at a treat level of 0.001 wt. % to 5.0 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

33 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises one or more zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) compounds; and wherein the treat level of the one or more ZDDP compounds is from about 0.4 wt. % to about 1.5 wt. % of the lubricating oil composition.

34 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises one or more of the following components: one or more functional polymers, one or more friction modifiers; one or more antioxidants; one or more pour point depressants; one or more anti-foaming agents; one or more viscosity modifiers; one or more dispersants; one or more other overbased metal detergents, one or more inhibitors, one or more antirust agents; one or more seal swell agents; and/or one or more anti-wear agents.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2025
From: FEATHERSTONE, THOMAS M.; MUTTER, ELLIS; CHIRITA, ROXANA; MARSH, ADAM P.; DRIVER, MARK P.; RITCHIE, ANDREW J.D.
To: INFINEUM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 073083/0794 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63610000 · Dec 14, 2023
Related Publication 20250197761A1 · Jun 19, 2025
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