Lubricating composition comprising sulfonate detergent and ashless hydrocarbyl phenolic compound

Abstract

The disclosed technology provides lubricating compositions comprising an oil of lubricating viscosity, an alkaline earth metal sulfonate detergent having a metal ratio of at least 10, in an amount to contribute 3 to 14 g KOH/kg of TBN to the lubricating composition, an ashless, sulfur free, hydrocarbyl phenolic compound in an amount of 0.4 to about 6.0 weight percent (wt %) of the composition, and an ashless dispersant; wherein the lubricating composition has total ash of 0.3 to 1.8 wt %, total detergent soap of 0.1 to 1.2 wt % and wherein the lubricating composition contains less than 0.1 wt % of a sulfur-containing phenolic detergent. The disclosed technology further relates to a method of lubricating a mechanical device (such as an internal combustion engine) with the lubricating composition. The disclosed technology further relates to the use of the of the lubricating composition in a heavy duty diesel internal combustion engine to improve control of at least one of the following (i) fuel economy, (ii) corrosion, (iii) cleanliness, and (iv) bore wear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubricating composition comprising:
 a) an oil of lubricating viscosity;   b) an alkaline earth metal sulfonate detergent having a metal ratio of at least 10, in an amount to contribute 3 to 14 g KOH/kg of TBN to the lubricating composition;   c) an ashless, sulfur free, hydrocarbyl phenolic compound in an amount 0.4 wt % to about 6.0 wt % of the composition; and   d) an ashless dispersant;   wherein the lubricating composition has total ash of 0.3 to 1.8 wt %;   wherein the lubricating composition has total detergent soap in an amount 0.1 weight percent to 1.2 wt %; and   wherein the lubricating composition contains less than 0.1 wt % of a sulfur-containing phenolic detergent.   
     
     
         2 . The lubricating composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ashless, sulfur free, hydrocarbyl phenolic compound comprises an oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic compound. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic compound comprises a hydrocarbyl group containing 25 to 200 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic is an oxyalkylated polyisobutylene phenolic compound. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated group of the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic compound has formula —(R 1 O) n —, wherein each R 1  is independently selected from the group consisting of an ethylene group, a propylene group, and a butylene group; and n may independently be from 1 to 50. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic compound is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 each R 2  may be independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R 3  may be hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an acyl group represented by —C(═O)R 5 ; 
 R 5  may be a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms; 
 each R 4  may be independently a hydrocarbyl group of 20 to 200 carbon atoms; 
 n=1 to 20; and 
 m=1 to 3. 
 
     
     
         7 . The lubricating composition of  claim 6 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenol is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 each R 2  independently can be hydrogen or methyl; 
 R 3  may be hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an acyl group represented by —C(═O)R 5 ; 
 R 5  may be a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms; 
 R 4  is a hydrocarbyl group of 20 to 200 carbon atoms; 
 n=1 to 20; and 
 m=1. 
 
     
     
         8 . The lubricating composition of  claim 7 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenol is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 each R 2  can independently be hydrogen or methyl; 
 R 3  may be hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an acyl group represented by —C(═O)R 5 ; 
 R 5  may be a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms; 
 R 4  is a polyalk(en)yl group containing 20 to 200 carbon atoms; 
 n=1 to 8; and 
 m=1. 
 
     
     
         9 . The lubricating composition of  claim 8 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenol is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 each R 2  can independently be hydrogen or methyl; 
 R 4  is a polyisobutenyl group containing 20 to 200 carbon atoms; 
 n=1 to 8; and 
 m=1. 
 
     
     
         10 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenol is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         each R 2  independently can be hydrogen or methyl; 
         R 3  may be hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an acyl group represented by —C(═O)R 5 ; 
         R 5  may be a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms; 
         R 4  is a hydrocarbyl group of 20 to 200 carbon atoms; and 
         n=1 to 20. 
       
     
     
         11 . The lubricating composition of  claim 10 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenol is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 4  is a polyolefinic group and wherein 
         each R 2  independently can be hydrogen or methyl; 
         R 3  may be hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, or an acyl group represented by —C(═O)R 5 ; 
         R 5  may be a hydrocarbyl group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms; and 
         n=1 to 20. 
       
     
     
         12 . The lubricating composition of  claim 11 , wherein the polyolefinic group has a number average molecular weight of 250 to 2500. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricating composition of  claim 12 , wherein the polyolefinic group is a polyisobutenyl group. 
     
     
         14 . The lubricating composition of  claim 12 , wherein the polyolefinic group is a polypropenyl group. 
     
     
         15 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the oxyalkylated hydrocarbyl phenolic compound is present in an amount of 0.4 wt % to about 5.0 wt % of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         16 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ashless, sulfur free, hydrocarbyl phenolic compound further comprises an alkylated phenolic antioxidant. 
     
     
         17 . The lubricating composition of  claim 16 , wherein the alkylated phenolic antioxidant is derived from a 2,6 dialkyl phenol, wherein each alkyl group is independently selected from alkyl groups containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         18 . The lubricating composition of  claim 17 , wherein the alkylated phenolic antioxidant is present in an amount of 0.1 wt % to 2.0 wt % of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         19 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ashless, sulfur free, hydrocarbyl phenolic compound further comprises a hydrocarbyl phenolic detergent selected from the group consisting of ashless salixarate detergents and ashless saligenin detergents. 
     
     
         20 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the ashless dispersant comprises the reaction product of a high-vinylidene polyisobutylene acylating agent and an amine, wherein the polyisobutylene contains greater than about 50 mole % of alpha-vinylidene and/or beta-double bond isomer. 
     
     
         21 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the alkaline earth metal sulfonate detergent is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfonate detergents and magnesium sulfonate detergents. 
     
     
         22 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , further comprising a boron containing compound. 
     
     
         23 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the lubricating composition is substantially free of phenates. 
     
     
         24 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the lubricating composition comprises less than 0.3 wt % of an alkaline earth metal sulfonate detergent having a metal ratio of less than 10. 
     
     
         25 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the total TBN of the lubricating composition is 3 to 15 gKOH/Kg. 
     
     
         26 . The lubricating composition of  claim 2 , wherein the phosphorus level is between about 0.04 and about 0.12 wt %. 
     
     
         27 . A method of lubricating an internal combustion engine, comprising supplying to the engine a lubricating composition of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the engine is a compression-ignition internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the vehicle powered by the compression-ignition internal combustion engine has a maximum laden mass over 3,500 kg. 
     
     
         30 . The use of a lubricating composition of  claim 2 , for lubricating a compression-ignition internal combustion engine to provide at least one of (i) control of fuel economy, (ii) control of corrosion, and (iii) cleanliness.