Ultra low ash lubricating oil compositions

1. A lubricating oil composition having a sulfur content of up to 0.4 wt. % and a sulfated ash content of up to 0.6 wt. % as determined by ASTM D874, comprising:

a. a major amount of base oil;

b. at least 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a triazole compound represented by the following structure:

wherein n is 1, R is a hydrocarbyl group and Y is hydrogen, —R 1 or —(R 2 ) p —NR 3 R 3 where —R 1 is a hydrocarbyl group, —R 2 is a hydrocarbylene group, p is 0 or 1, and each —R 3 is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group, and wherein the triazole compound has a molecular weight of about 70 to about 1000 g/mol; and;

c. about 0.20 to 1.3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a diphenylamine antioxidant;

d. at least 900 ppm of molybdenum from a molybdenum containing compound; and

e. about 100 to 4000 ppm of sulfur derived from an ashless sulfur containing wear inhibitor;

wherein the lubricating oil composition is essentially free of ZnDTP.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein composition further comprises an oil soluble or oil dispersible boron-containing compound.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein the boron-containing compound is present in an amount of at least about 500 ppm of boron, based upon the total weight of the composition.

4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the boron-containing compound is present in an amount from about 500 ppm to about 1500 ppm of boron, based upon the total weight of the composition.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur content is from about 0.01 to about 0.4 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the composition.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the molybdenum containing compound is present in an amount of from about 900 to 1500 ppm of molybdenum, based upon the total weight of the composition.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a weight ratio of sulfur to molybdenum of less than or equal to 4:1.

8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the composition has a weight ratio of sulfur to molybdenum of from 0.5:1 to 4:1.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the triazole compound is present at from about 0.02 wt. % to about 0.08 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the sulfated ash is present at from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.60 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the diphenylamine antioxidant is present at from about 0.30 wt. % to about 1.30 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein phosphorous is present at is from about 0.01 wt. % to about 0.12 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition.

13. A method for improving copper corrosion performance in an engine comprising:

(i) lubricating said engine with a lubricating oil composition having a sulfur content of up to 0.4 wt. % and a sulfated ash content of up to 0.6 wt. % as determined by ASTM D874, comprising:

a. a major amount of base oil;

b. at least 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of triazole compound represented by the following structure:

wherein n is 1, R is a hydrocarbyl group and Y is hydrogen, —R 1 or —(R 2 ) p —NR 3 R 3 where —R 1 is a hydrocarbyl group, —R 2 — is a hydrocarbylene group, p is 0 or 1, and each —R 3 is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group, and wherein the triazole compound has a molecular weight of about 70 to about 1000 g/mol;

c. about 0.20 to 1.3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a diphenylamine antioxidant;

d. at least 900 ppm of molybdenum from a molybdenum containing compound; and

e. about 100 to 4000 ppm of sulfur derived from an ashless sulfur containing wear inhibitor;

wherein the lubricating oil composition is essentially free of ZnDTP, and

(ii) operating said engine,

wherein the engine is equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) after treatment device system.

14. A method for improving copper corrosion performance in an engine comprising:

(i) lubricating said engine with a lubricating oil composition having a sulfur content of up to 0.4 wt. % and a sulfated ash content of up to 0.6 wt. % as determined by ASTM D874, comprising:

e. a major amount of base oil;

f. at least 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of triazole compound represented by the following structure:

wherein n is 1, R is a hydrocarbyl group and Y is hydrogen, —R 1 or —(R 2 ) p —NR 3 R 3 where —R 1 is a hydrocarbyl group, —R 2 — is a hydrocarbylene group, p is 0 or 1, and each —R 3 is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group, and wherein the triazole compound has a molecular weight of about 70 to about 1000 g/mol;

g. about 0.20 to 1.3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a diphenylamine antioxidant;

h. at least 900 ppm of molybdenum from a molybdenum containing compound; and

i. about 100 to 4000 ppm of sulfur derived from an ashless sulfur containing wear inhibitor;

wherein the lubricating oil composition is essentially free of ZnDTP, and

(ii) operating said engine,

wherein the engine is equipped with a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) after treatment device system.

15. A method for reducing wear while at the same time improving copper corrosion performance in an engine comprising:

(i) lubricating said engine with a lubricating oil composition having a sulfur content of up to 0.4 wt. % and a sulfated ash content of up to 0.6 wt. % as determined by ASTM D874, comprising:

a. a major amount of base oil;

b. at least 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of triazole compound represented by the following structure:

wherein n is 1, R is a hydrocarbyl group and Y is hydrogen, —R 1 or —(R 2 ) p —NR 3 R 3 where —R 1 is a hydrocarbyl group, —R 2 — is a hydrocarbylene group, p is 0 or 1, and each —R 3 is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group, and wherein the triazole compound has a molecular weight of about 70 to about 1000 g/mol;

c. about 0.20 to 1.3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a diphenylamine antioxidant;

d. at least 900 ppm of molybdenum from a molybdenum containing compound; and

e. about 100 to 4000 ppm of sulfur derived from an ashless sulfur containing wear inhibitor;

wherein the lubricating oil composition is essentially free of ZnDTP, and

(ii) operating said engine,

wherein the engine is equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) after treatment device system.

16. A method for reducing wear while at the same time improving copper corrosion performance in an engine comprising:

(i) lubricating said engine with a lubricating oil composition of having a sulfur content of up to 0.4 wt. % and a sulfated ash content of up to 0.6 wt. % as determined by ASTM D874, comprising:

m. a major amount of base oil;

n. at least 0.02 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of triazole compound represented by the following structure:

wherein n is 1, R is a hydrocarbyl group and Y is hydrogen, —R 1 or —(R 2 ) p —NR 3 R 3 where —R 1 is a hydrocarbyl group, —R 2 — is a hydrocarbylene group, p is 0 or 1, and each —R 3 is independently hydrogen or hydrocarbyl group, and wherein the triazole compound has a molecular weight of about 70 to about 1000 g/mol;

o. about 0.20 to 1.3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the lubricating oil composition, of a diphenylamine antioxidant;

p. at least 900 ppm of molybdenum from a molybdenum containing compound; and

q. about 100 to 4000 ppm of sulfur derived from an ashless sulfur containing wear inhibitor;

wherein the lubricating oil composition is essentially free of ZnDTP, and

(ii) operating said engine,

wherein the engine is equipped with a gasoline particulate filter (GPF) after treatment device system.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an oil soluble or oil dispersible boron-containing compound.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an oil soluble or oil dispersible boron-containing compound.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an oil soluble or oil dispersible boron-containing compound.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an oil soluble or oil dispersible boron-containing compound.