TESTING PROCEDURES FOR GEAR LUBRICANTS WITH THE FZG TEST RIG

The FZG test rig has become, within the past twenty years, a very important method for evaluating and testing different types of gear lubricants such as greases, mineral and synthetic oils, hydraulic fluids, ATF‐fluids, and hypoid oils. The test can evaluate scuffing and wear resistance in gear drives. There are about 100 FZG machines working in laboratories all over the world. These have a centre distance of 91·5 mm and the standard test A/8.3/90, standardized in DIN 51 354 is recommended as a basic testing procedure for gear oils, eg in the AGMA‐Standards and by the Coordinating European Council (CEC). However, there seems to be some confusion concerning different test procedures which can be carried out on this rig. To help to clear the air, the author deals, in this article, with the additional procedures that can be carried out.