Lubricating composition

Abstract

A lubricating composition for use in the crankcase of an engine comprising a base oil and one or more additives, wherein the lubricating composition comprises from 0.01 wt % to 5 wt %, by weight of the lubricating composition, of one or more liquid crystal compounds, wherein the one or more liquid crystal compounds is a terphenyl compound. The lubricating composition provides improvements in terms of reduced friction and wear, in addition to improved fuel economy performance.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A lubricating composition for use in the crankcase of an engine comprising a base oil and one or more additives, wherein the lubricating composition comprises from 0.01 wt % to 5 wt %, by weight of the lubricating composition, of one or more liquid crystal compounds, wherein the one or more liquid crystal compounds is a terphenyl compound. 
     
     
         2 . A lubricating composition according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more liquid crystal compounds is present at a level of from 0.01 wt % to 4 wt %, by weight of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         3 . Lubricating composition according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein the one or more liquid crystal compounds is present at a level of from 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, by weight of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         4 . Lubricating composition according to any of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the one or more liquid crystal compounds is present at a level of from 0.2 wt % to 1 wt %, by weight of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         5 . Lubricating composition according to any of  claims 1  to  4  wherein the one or more terphenyl compounds is a cyano-substituted terphenyl compound. 
     
     
         6 . Lubricating composition according to  claim 5  wherein the cyano-substituted terphenyl compound is selected from alkylterphenylnitriles and alkyletherterphenylnitriles and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . Lubricating composition according to any of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the one or more terphenyl compounds is 4-cyano-4′-pentylterphenyl. 
     
     
         8 . Use of a lubricating composition according to any of  claims 1  to  7  in the crankcase of an engine, in order to reduce friction. 
     
     
         9 . Use of a lubricating composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  in the crankcase of an engine, in order to reduce wear. 
     
     
         10 . Use of a lubricating composition according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  in the crankcase of an engine, in order to improve fuel economy properties.