Method for extending lubricant life

Abstract

This invention provides a method for extending the life of a lubricant composition, said lubricant composition comprising one or more base oils and one or more additives, wherein at least one of the additive is a depleting additive, said method comprising: i. determining the amount of the one or more depleting additives required for a desired extended lifetime of the lubricant composition, wherein said extended lifetime is longer than the standard lifetime of said lubricant composition; ii. providing a first portion of said one or more depleting additives to the fresh lubricant composition; and iii. providing the remainder of the amount of the one or more depleting additives in two or more portions spread over the standard lifetime of the lubricant composition.

1 . A method for extending the life of a lubricant composition, the lubricant composition comprising one or more base oils and one or more additives, wherein at least one of the one or more additives is a depleting additive, the method comprising:
 i. determining the amount of the depleting additive required for a desired extended lifetime of the lubricant composition, wherein the extended lifetime is longer than a standard lifetime of the lubricant composition;   ii. providing a first portion of the depleting additive to a fresh lubricant composition; and   iii. providing a remaining amount of the depleting additive in two or more portions spread over the standard lifetime of the lubricant composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depleting additive is selected from one or more of antioxidant additives, antiwear additives and anti-rust or anti-corrosion additives. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the depleting additive is one or more antioxidant additives. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depleting additive is selected from hindered phenolic antioxidants, aminic antioxidants and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the overall amount of the depleting additive used is no more than 1 wt % and no less than 0.001 wt %, based on the overall mass of the lubricating composition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the depleting additive is an amount in the range of from 30 to 70 wt % of the overall amount of the depleting additive. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the remaining amount of the depleting additive is provided in two further portions and each further portion contains in the range of from 40 to 60 wt % of the remainder of the amount of the depleting additive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the remaining amount of the depleting additive is provided in three further portions and each further portion contains in the range of from 30 to 35 wt % of the remainder of the amount of the depleting additive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more portions are provided as an additive booster package comprising one or more antioxidant additives and one or more base oils. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more portions are added after periods spaced across the standard lifetime and the periods are roughly evenly spaced across the standard lifetime.