Industry issues: No substitute - the value of field trials in lubricants approval and testing
In the lubricants and additives industries, field trials are an essential part of the lubricant development process. Simulated tests can never perfectly replicate operation in the field, where variables, such as weather conditions, loading, traffic and terrain, come into play. Field trials are an indispensable part of the additive formulator's tool kit in all product areas and are an excellent way for comparing formulations, proving a theory or determining the best approach to meet a lubrication challenge. Insight looks at the common aspects of field trials in several product areas - passenger car, heavy-duty diesel, marine, railroad and gas-powered engines - as well as looking at some of the finer details.

Industry issues: Performance, composition and cost - getting the balance right
Historically, the reformulation of oils has been driven by the need to increase performance, which has essentially involved increasing the amount of additives in the lubricant. This is now starting to change. The need to improve environmental performance has already led to significant changes in fuel and lubricant formulations, and further changes lie ahead. The lubricants of the future will need to meet the performance needs of the latest engines without impairing the performance of emissions control technologies or contributing to emissions problems. The cost implications to industry stakeholders (OEMs, oil marketers and additive companies) in terms of additive and testing are significant. Therefore, the best way to ensure the compatibility of future oils is currently the subject of much debate, as Insight discovers.

Industry issues: Specific solutions - addressing the needs of outboard motors
Heightened interest in environmental matters is driving continued change in the outboard market. There is increased consumer demand for quieter, more fuel efficient, low pollution motors, which is changing the sales profile. Worldwide, current trends show a focused rollover to four-stroke technology with its inherently cleaner operation than the traditional two-stroke, as well as more widespread adoption of the new two-stroke direct fuel injection (DFI) technology. While DFI engines have generally been designed to use standard two-stroke outboard engine oils, work is still underway to finalise a specification for four-stroke engine oils. George L'Heureux of Infineum USA L.P. considers the challenges of lubricating four-stroke outboards and looks at why today's automotive oils do not fit the bill.

Industry issues: Worldwide Winter Diesel Fuel Quality Survey 2002 - tracking international trends
Results from Infineum's 16^th Worldwide Winter Diesel Fuel Quality Survey 2002 have recently been published. As with its previous surveys, Infineum aims to provide data on the quality of diesel in the marketplace to the petroleum refining and distribution industry, enabling them to track the global trends. John Maddox of Infineum Fuels Technology reports some of the key findings from the Winter 2002 survey, specifically trends in diesel sulphur content, lubricity, cetane number and cold flow. Contact details for those looking for further information are also given.

Face to face: Philipp Parreau on hydraulic fluid tests and trends
Hydraulic fluid specifications are intended to define high performance, high quality, fit-for-purpose hydraulic oils that will maintain system reliability and durability for customers, without unnecessary costs being built into formulations. To meet this goal, specifications and their associated tests need to keep pace with pump developments and general trends. As a key player in the industrial hydraulics market, Denison Hydraulics manufactures a range of pumps and motors. The company also has its own oil approval system in place, devised to ensure that their customers can find suitable oils that comply with their well-devised specifications. Insight talks to Philippe Parreau, Fluid Technician at Denison's Vierzon site in France, about the latest test changes and their impact on the approval system, and also seeks his views on future developments.