Development engineer wins IMechE award for oil tech research

Dr Rai Singh Notay of specialist oil developer and producer Millers Oils has won an award for his experimental research into lubrication degradation. The product development engineer wrote his paper as part of a PhD and was awarded first prize for the ‘Communication in Engineering’ competition by the Yorkshire Automotive Division of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

Dr Notay explored how oil degradation and flow around engine components can be affected by new automotive technology trends such as start-stop systems and downsizing. “I am honoured to receive this prestigious award from the IMechE and am pleased that the need to develop oil alongside automotive technology is being recognised by the industry,” says Dr Rai Singh Notay. “Working for Millers Oils allows me to continue researching into how oil technology needs to progress and help develop the products needed to enable new component technologies for vehicle manufacturers.”

The paper looks at how the automotive industry focuses on improvements to fuel economy and reductions in harmful exhaust emissions, but may have forgotten how modern technology impacts engine oils.

Dr Notay used an experimental method to examine lubricant flow within the engine, predominantly around the piston ring area, and looked at how modern technologies can affect this along with oil degradation. He discovered that the piston pack residence time had important implications for lubricant degradation as well as ring pack film thickness, friction and wear.

Dr Notay’s research mirrors the views of Millers Oils, which believes that oil technology has a crucial role to play in helping OEMs meet legislation targets and should be considered as an important factor in vehicle development.

“At Millers Oils we believe in putting oil back on the map and strive to develop innovative oil technologies that not only provide benefits to consumers but also enable advances in automotive technology,” says Nevil Hall, joint managing director, Millers Oils. “Dr Notay’s ongoing work makes him an excellent addition to our development team, as he has a true understanding of how automotive and oil technology developers need to work together to optimise the evolution of engine design.”

Millers Oils was founded in 1887 by John Watson Miller. It was the first to offer diesel-specific engine oil for cars. In January 2012, the company launched nanotechnology engine oils. Tested against a competitor’s oil of the same viscosity, Millers Oils says Nanodrive recorded 33 percent lower friction at operating temperatures of 110degC. 

Photograph: Dr Rai Singh Notay accepting his IMechE award for his work on exploring oil degradation