Translation note: This article was translated with the assistance of AI.
GE Aerospace has granted approval for TURBONYCOIL 600, a synthetic turbine oil made by French manufacturer NYCO, for use in the GEnx-1B engine that powers the Boeing 787. The decision comes after several years of evaluation in day-to-day service at Air France.
Air France evaluated the lubricant in several engines for more than 36 months, during which they logged a combined total of nearly 7,000 flight hours. Periodic oil analyses assessed the lubricant’s thermal stability and its additives’ ability to protect against oxidation and wear.
Engine Inspections Confirm Wear Protection, According to NYCO
After the flight trials, the engines were taken apart for inspection. NYCO reports that the examinations verified effective wear protection for lubricated components and found only small quantities of carbon deposits (coking). These deposits can develop when lubricating oil encounters high thermal loads. They may restrict oil circulation and potentially impair operational safety.
TURBONYCOIL 600 has served aviation for several decades and already holds approvals for GE engine families including the GE90 and CF6. Approval for the GEnx broadens the lubricant’s scope of use in modern long-haul aircraft. Airlines operating multiple engine families may be able to streamline inventory management and maintenance logistics by using the same lubricant across those engines.