Engine & Machinery Division Tel No.

+82 52 230 7411

1, Cheonha-Dong, Dong-Ku Fax No.+82 52 230 7581
Ulsan, Korea 682-792 e-mail: engineas@hhi.co.kr

Service Letter

Date: April 2002

Ref. No.:K190-SL01

TBN in the system circulation oil

for Hyundai-MAN B&W MC/MC-C Engines

In very rare case we used to face some argument about the increased Alkalinity of the
engine system circulation oil. At this opportunity, we are describing about TBN in system
lube oil to help our client so as to assess the system oil whether to refill new oil partly or to
change the oil completely.

What is TBN?
TBN(Total Base Number) is an index of alkalinity level in oil and an indication of oil’s
ability to neutralize the effect of high-sulfur diesel fuels. The initial TBN for system oil is
usually 5 to 10 and for cylinder lube oil is 50 to 70 depending on using fuel oil.

Why TBN in system Lube oil is increased?

The stuffing box is to separate the combustion and scavenge air area from the crankcase. By
virtue of this system, lube oil will not be contaminated with combustion products and used
cylinder lube oil. However, in practice some amount of cylinder lube oil is leaking through
the stuffing box down into the system lube oil sump mainly because of pressure difference
between two spaces.

If a stuffing box drain cleaning system is optioned and “cleaned” lube oil by a purifier is
returned to the system lube oil sump to save the lube oil consumption, the TBN will increase
further, as the TBN is not reduced by purifying and clarifying. This is one of the arguments
for omitting a stuffing box drain cleaning system in our installation standard so our licensor
has changed this from the standard to an option since 1996.

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What is the effect of high TBN?
If the TBN is so high, the ability of the oil to reject water can be reduced. It will then be
difficult to remove water by purifier, resulting in accumulating the water in the system lube
oil. Calcium as an alkaline detergent reacts slowly with water. The reaction forms calcium
hydroxide and hydrogen gas (Ca +2H2O
Ca(OH)2 + H2) and calcium hydroxide can
build up a deposit of lacquer on the bearings. And another risk of high TBN is to increase
the sludge formation when water is present.

When and how TBN shall be reduced?

Based on the recent technical information from our licensor, MAN B&W, we give you a
new guiding limit for TBN is 30 if water content is less than 0.2%, while our instruction
book says that guiding limit for TBN is max.+100%, min.-30% of initial values.

However, higher levels of TBN than 25 calls for close investigation of the cause and of the
necessity of changing the oil sump or part of the oil sump to reduce the TBN level again.

Other oil properties’ guidelines like gravity and viscosity etc keep the same as shown on our
instruction book. Please refer to chapter 708 of the operation for more details.

Faithfully yours,

I. K. Ryu, General Manager

Engine A/S Department
Engine and Machinery Division
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd
www.hyundai-engine.com

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