Method of Friction Control

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of lubricating an internal combustion engine comprising at least one of a crankcase, a gear and a wet-clutch, said method comprising supplying to said crankcase, gear, and wet-clutch a lubricating composition containing: (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity; (b) a boron containing compound; and (c) a friction modifier.

1 . A method of lubricating an internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase and at least one of a gear and a wet-clutch, said method comprising supplying to said crankcase and at least one of the gear and wet-clutch a lubricating composition comprising: 
 (a) an oil of lubricating viscosity;    (b) a boron containing compound; and    (c) a friction modifier.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition is supplied to the crankcase and to the gear (or multiplicity of gears).  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition is supplied to the crankcase and the wet clutch.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition is supplied to the crankcase and both the gear (or gears) and the wet clutch.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boron containing compound comprises a borate ester, a borate alcohol, a borated dispersant or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boron containing compound is a borated dispersant.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boron containing compound is an N-substituted long chain alkenyl succinimide.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the N-substituted long chain alkenyl succinimide comprises a polyisobutyl group with a number average molecular weight of 350 to 5000, or 550 to 1500.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boron containing compound is present from 0.01 wt % to 20 wt %, or 1 wt % to 8 wt % weight percent of the lubricating composition.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the friction modifiers comprise a molybdenum dithiocarbamate, a molybdenum thiophosphate, a long chain fatty acid ester or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the long chain fatty acid ester is a mono-ester or a (tri)glyceride.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the friction modifier is present at 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %, or 0.05 wt % to 3 wt % of the lubricating composition.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating composition has a SAE viscosity grade from XW-Y, wherein X is an integer from 0 to 20 and Y is an integer from 20 to 50.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a 4-stroke engine.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the 4-stroke engine is a motorcycle engine.