{"id":10883,"date":"2026-09-17T14:56:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T12:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mom-packaging.com\/?p=10883"},"modified":"2026-09-17T14:56:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T12:56:30","slug":"motor-oil-filling-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mom-packaging.com\/en\/motor-oil-filling-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"Motor oil filling machine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why does motor oil filling present specific constraints?<\/h2>\n

Motor oils are industrial or consumer products subject to high accuracy requirements. Under-dosing or over-dosing has direct consequences on product compliance, production costs, and relationships with OEM customers (vehicle manufacturers) or specialist distribution networks.<\/p>\n

A strongly temperature-dependent viscosity<\/h3>\n

Motor oil viscosity varies considerably with temperature. A 5W30 oil is very fluid when cold (viscosity close to water at low temperature) and significantly more viscous when warm. This variation directly modifies product behaviour during dosing: flow rate, end-of-cycle inertia, nozzle behaviour. If the machine is set up and qualified at a different temperature from the actual production temperature, the measured performance is not representative.<\/p>\n

Metal expansion with temperature<\/h3>\n

The mechanical components of a filling machine expand with heat. Mechanical clearances between the piston and cylinder vary with temperature. A machine qualified at 15\u00b0C in a cold workshop will present different clearances than in production at 30\u00b0C or 40\u00b0C. These variations, even small in absolute terms, can generate significant dosing deviations on small-volume doses. It is therefore essential to qualify the machine at the production temperature<\/strong>, with the real product, in real packaging.<\/p>\n

High accuracy requirements<\/h3>\n

Motor oil fillers supplying vehicle manufacturers (OEM) or specialist distribution networks are subject to strict dosing accuracy specifications. Legal metrology applies to pre-packaged products intended for consumers (1 L, 2 L, 5 L canisters in mass retail). MOM weight-based fillers hold a type-approval certificate for operation under legal metrology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A critical anti-drip nozzle<\/h3>\n

Motor oils are greasy products that spread across every surface they touch. A drip at the end of dosing contaminates the canister neck, complicates capping, and degrades the product’s appearance. The valve key dimension<\/strong> plays a decisive role: a passage cross-section that is too large for a very fluid product generates residual flow after the flap closes, producing drips and traces on the canister neck. It must be sized precisely according to the viscosity of each reference.<\/p>\n

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What types of motor oil are there, and what are their filling constraints?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Oil type<\/th>\nSAE grade<\/th>\nViscosity<\/th>\nFilling behaviour<\/th>\nMachine constraint<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Fully synthetic oil<\/td>\n0W20, 5W30<\/td>\nVery fluid when cold<\/td>\nVery low viscosity, amplified drip risk<\/td>\nSmall-section valve key, mechanical piston, qualification at production temperature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Semi-synthetic oil<\/td>\n10W40<\/td>\nFluid<\/td>\nIntermediate and temperature-dependent viscosity<\/td>\nMechanical piston recommended, qualification at production temperature<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mineral multigrade oil<\/td>\n15W40, 20W50<\/td>\nSemi-fluid<\/td>\nMore stable viscosity but still temperature-dependent<\/td>\nMechanical piston, appropriate valve key<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transmission \/ gearbox oil<\/td>\n75W, 80W90<\/td>\nViscous<\/td>\nThick, flows poorly when cold<\/td>\nMechanical piston mandatory, temperature maintenance possible<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Brake fluid<\/td>\nDOT 3\/4\/5<\/td>\nVery fluid<\/td>\nHygroscopic, absorbs moisture, hermetic packaging required<\/td>\nPrecise anti-drip nozzle, small-section valve key<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Antifreeze \/ coolant<\/td>\nn\/a<\/td>\nFluid<\/td>\nColoured, may be slightly foaming<\/td>\nAdapted nozzle if foaming, mechanical piston or volumetric<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Why is the pneumatic piston insufficient for motor oils?<\/h2>\n

Pneumatic piston dosing is driven by a compressed air cylinder. Its performance depends directly on the stability and quality of the compressed air supply: any pressure variation in the network generates a variation in piston force and speed, which translates into a dosing deviation.<\/p>\n

For motor oils, where accuracy requirements are high and viscosity varies with temperature, this instability is unacceptable. Two technologies deliver the required accuracy.<\/p>\n

Mechanical piston dosing<\/h3>\n

The mechanical piston<\/a> is driven by a cam, independently of the compressed air supply. Its movement is determined by the cam geometry: the stroke is precise, reproducible, and insensitive to air supply variations. It is the reference technology for motor oils. More robust and lower-maintenance than the pneumatic piston.<\/p>\n

Servo-motor dosing<\/h3>\n

The servo-motor offers even higher positioning accuracy and greater flexibility on dosing profiles (programmable acceleration and deceleration curves). It is particularly suited to high-speed lines and applications where accuracy is critical across the entire product range. Programming the dosing profile allows the machine’s behaviour to be adapted to each reference without tooling.<\/p>\n

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The valve key: an often underestimated parameter<\/h2>\n

The valve key is the component that determines the liquid passage cross-section at the nozzle outlet. Its dimension is a critical parameter for dosing cleanliness on motor oils.<\/p>\n

A cross-section that is too large<\/strong> for a very fluid product (0W20 synthetic for example) generates residual inertia at the end of the cycle: the liquid continues to flow after the flap closes, producing drips and traces on the canister neck.<\/p>\n

A cross-section that is too small<\/strong> for a more viscous product unnecessarily slows dosing and can produce threads.<\/p>\n

The valve key dimension must therefore be selected according to the viscosity of each reference and validated during trials. For a multi-reference range including oils of different viscosities, interchangeable valve keys are required.<\/p>\n

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Why is qualification at production temperature essential?<\/h2>\n

This is one of the most specific constraints in motor oil filling and one of the least well anticipated during projects.<\/p>\n

Qualifying a filling machine consists of verifying, under defined conditions, that the equipment delivers the expected dose with the required accuracy. This qualification is only valid for the conditions under which it was carried out.<\/p>\n

If qualification is performed at a different temperature from the actual production temperature:<\/strong><\/p>\n