Mechatronic colorimetric system for measuring operational degradation of engine oil as a means to enhance the reliability of motor vehicles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2025.28.04.34Keywords:
engine oil, oil degradation, mechatronics, wear of components, inter-schedule maintenanceAbstract
The article presents the results of a study on the operational degradation of engine oil under the working conditions of internal combustion engines (ICE) used in agricultural and automotive machinery, where the operating environment is classified as particularly severe: high air dustiness, irregular loads, frequent engine starts, and extended idling periods. These factors accelerate the wear of friction pairs, deteriorate lubricating properties, and reduce the overall reliability of power units. Existing maintenance regulations do not consider real operating conditions, which creates the need for inter-schedule monitoring of oil condition – possible only through technical measurements and digital analysis of degradation parameters. The aim of the research is to develop a methodology and conduct experiments to determine the resource indicators of engine oil based on color change using colorimetric equipment equipped with mechatronic system elements. The study is based on comparing the color of fresh oil with that of oil after operational wear. RGB/HSL colorimetry tools and statistical processing were applied. A laboratory setup was developed based on the STM32H747XI microcontroller and the TCS3472 color sensor, enabling the detection of oil color changes and evaluation of its degradation linked to engine operating hours. Calibration was performed between reference samples and boundary conditions corresponding to the full service interval. The investigation of VAG Special G 5W-40 engine oil (BSE engine) over 400 engine hours demonstrated a stable functional dependence between impurity saturation and engine runtime. The average increase in contamination confirmed a reliable correlation between color variation and actual wear of friction components. The proposed methodology enables inter-schedule monitoring of engine oil condition and prediction of optimal replacement timing based on real operating conditions. The practical significance of the study lies in the increased reliability of ICE, reduced maintenance costs, and prevention of premature equipment failures. The proposed mechatronic colorimetric system can be integrated into service centers and precision farming systems as a component of digital diagnostics of machine technical condition.
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