The test procedure for characterizing the tribological behavior of lubricants and materials for the system “piston ring/cylinder liner” outside of engines is now operational and validated. The test parameters presented in this paper (F^N= 50 N; v= 0,3 m/s, s= 24 km) may act only as an indicator and should be adopted to the tasks regarded. It allows the check prior expensive engine testing, if a tribo-material, tribo-couple or new lubricant will reach a satisfactory engine performance.

The introduction of piston ring segments and cylinder liner as specimen into the test rig as well as the volumetric wear determined by means of stylus profilometry represented a big step forward in order to increase the transferability of “tribo-tests” to engine tests on an acceptable level.