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Lubrication is the control of fiction. The substances which are used in lubrication can be fluid, solid or plastic. There are various substances which are used to lubricate a surface. Here oil and grease are more common. Grease is composed of oil and this is a thickening agent which is used to obtain it's consistency while the oil actually lubricates. But Chassis Lubrication Systems can be synthetic or mineral based or the combination of both of it. For some extreme conditions, synthetic oils can be used but where the environment is concerned, vegetable base oils are used. 

The role of a lubricant:

i. It helps to reduce friction
ii. It prevents wear
iii. It helps to protect the equipment from corrosion
iv. It can control temperature
v. It provides w fluid seal
vi. It has transmit power

The function of reducing friction and preventing wear are used interchangeably. Actually, friction is the resistance to motion and wear is the loss of materials as a result of friction.

Reducing friction is the main objective of Chassis Lubrication Systems, but you can get many benefits of this process. Lubricating films prevent corrosion by protecting the surface from water and other corrosive substances. Additionally, it plays an important role in controlling contamination within systems. 

Types of lubrication:

You can find three different types of lubrication such as boundary, mixes and full film. Each and every type is different here but they all are dependent on a lubricant and the additives within the oils to give protection against wear. 

Full film lubrication: It can be broken down into two forms such as hydrodynamic and elastohydrodynamic. Hydrodynamic lubrication only happens when two surfaces of sliding motion are fully separated by a film or fluid.

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication: The film layer in elastohydrodynamic condition is thinner than hydrodynamic lubrication and here the pressure on the film is greater. This is called elastohydrodynamic because here the film elastically deform the rolling surface to lubricate it. On the most polished smooth surfaces, there will be some irregularities. It stick out from the surface forming peaks and valleys at a microscopic level. These are called asperities. For full film conditions, the lubricating film must be thicker than the length of asperities. 

Boundary lubrication: Boundary lubrication is needed for the Progressive Metering Device where frequent starts and stops and where  loading conditions are present. Some of the oils have extreme pressure or anti wear additives for protecting surfaces in the event that full films cannot be achieved due to speed, load or other factors.

Mixed lubrication: This lubrication stays between hydrodynamic and boundary lubrication. Where the surfaces are separated by a lubricating layer, the asperities make contact with each other. In Progressive Metering Device,  the addivities come into play. 

These all are about lubrication system, its function and types. Before using any particular lubrication, you should know about it very well.