Transportation -- Salting the Gears (IMAGE) DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Caption ORNL researchers used a low-viscosity base oil mixed with a small amount of phosphonium-phosphate ionic oil to test the lubricant's performance on steel. They found the ionic oil mix yielded less surface damage compared to lubrication with commercial gear oil. Credit Jun Qu/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.