Lubricant compositions for reduced pre-ignition in hydrogen fueled engines

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of reducing abnormal combustion events in a hydrogen fueled internal combustion engine (HICE) during operation of the engine. The method includes the steps of: a) providing to the HICE a lubricating oil composition including or resulting from the admixing of: i) a base oil having a viscosity KV100 of less than or equal to 12 cSt and included at greater than 50 wt. % of the composition and comprising a Group I base oil, a Group II base oil, a Group III base oil, a Group IV base oil, or combinations thereof; ii) an overbased magnesium containing detergent comprising an overbased magnesium salicylate, an overbased magnesium sulfonate, an overbased magnesium phenate, or combinations thereof with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at treat level to deliver between 100 to 5000 ppm by weight of total magnesium; iii) an overbased metal-containing detergent comprising an overbased metal salicylate detergent, an overbased metal phenate detergent, or combinations thereof with a Total Base Number (KOH/g) greater than or equal to 9 and less than or equal to 500 and included at treat level to deliver between 100 to 5000 ppm by weight of total metal; and wherein the overbased magnesium containing detergent of ii) and the overbased metal-containing detergent of iii) in combination deliver between 0.15 wt. % to 8.0 wt. % of total soap to the composition; iv) at least one zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate compound included at a treat level to deliver more than 100 ppm by weight of zinc and less than 800 ppm by weight of phosphorus to the composition; v) at least one molybdenum containing compound included at a treat level to deliver between 20 to 2000 ppm by weight of total molybdenum to the composition; vi) at least one silicon containing compound included at a treat level to deliver between 5 to 1000 ppm by weight of total silicon to the composition; and vii) the lubricating oil composition having a total sulfated ash of less than or equal to 2.0 wt. %, a total phosphorous level of less than or equal to 800 ppm by weight and a SAE viscosity grade of 25W-X, 20W-X, 15W-X, 10W-X, 5W-X or 0W-X, where X represents any one of 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60; b) providing a fuel comprising hydrogen to the HICE; and c) combusting the fuel in the HICE. Also provided are a lubricating oil composition and a concentrate for use in a HICE to reduce the propensity for abnormal combustion events.