Air contamination in oil is a serious condition. There are five problems associated with aerated oil that can be deadly to lubrication components, like oil pumps.

With proper measurements one can quantify the susceptibility of one's design or component to the negative effects of aeration.

There are a number of ways to introduce air into the oil to obtain a certain level of aeration. There are two predominant methods for achieving oil aeration: suction port t-fitting and direct injection.

Apart from the ingress of debris, the greatest danger to any design of a pump is cavitation. The phenomenon can be found in centrifugal (i.e. impeller) or positive displacement (i.e. gear, gerotor or vane) pumps, in both oil and coolant applications. Excessive cavitation can lead to erosion damage. It is important to understand how cavitation occurs as there are some misconceptions and confusion on this topic.

Many OEMs are battling to improve vehicle durability, increase efficiency and reduce noise, but are struggling to find the answers. Unfortunately, many of the recent design trend are forcing higher aeration levels, and far too many OEMs are unaware. 

In the pursuit of greater efficiency, many OEMs are making design decisions that may amplify the effects of oil aeration. Air bubbles may seem benign, but they can detrimentally affect the performance and durability of engines, drivelines and hydraulic equipment.  

As the global interest for clean energy alternatives increases within the automotive industry, so does the requirement of efficiently storing electricity. The latest trends in electric vehicle technology have led to the development of high-voltage storage solutions, all backed by the need for increased efficiency and quicker charge times.

ATA Inc. was awarded a project from an existing client to build test systems for production verification testing on six different engine oil pump models. We delivered on the client's needs for an accurate and interchangeable tool to verify pump performance and functionality using a grouping layout for the individual test cells, and by employing laser marking stations.