Lubricator (cylinder)

A cylinder lubricator is the metering unit that doses cylinder oil to the liner running surface through drilled quills set around the bore. Older engines use mechanical pump-stroke lubricators driven off the camshaft; modern two-strokes use electronically controlled units, such as the MAN Alpha Lubricator and the Wartsila Pulse system, that inject a measured shot timed to ring position and proportioned to engine load and fuel sulfur. Electronic timing places oil where the rings spread it and cuts the feed rate to the lowest value that keeps liner iron in the scrape-down within limits, often near 0.6 to 1.0 g/kWh. Under-dosing risks scuffing; over-dosing wastes oil and builds deposits.