Improving lubricity in fuels

Patent Granted Friction modifiers or friction reducers, like molybdenum disulfide, are used for increasing fuel economy by reducing friction between moving parts.[4] Friction modifiers alter the lubricity of the base oil. Whale oil was used historically.[5] Extreme pressure agents bond to metal surfaces, keeping them from touching even at high pressure. Antiwear additives or wear inhibiting additives cause a film to surround metal parts, helping to keep them separated. Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate [6] or zinc dithiophosphates are typically used. Wear metals from friction are unintentional oil additives, but most large metal particles and impurities are removed in situ using either magnets or oil filters. Tribology is the science that studies how materials wear.